Time spent outside has been replaced by time in front of screens. For example, the Fisher Price Summer 2009 catalog just arrived. They proudly advertise a new tot “Smart Fit Park” for children 3 to 6. “Kids can hop, skip, jump, walk and run their way through multiple levels of learning…” The toy includes software and a play mat you can hook up to you TV. Ugh.

In 2005, Richard Louv coined the phrase “nature-deficit disorder” in his book, Last Child in the Woods.http://richardlouv.com/ He and others have been advocating for more time outside, connected to nature. In fact, the National Wildlife Foundation has a campaign aimed at getting all kids outside for an hour everyday. “The National Wildlife Federation recommends that parents give their kids a ‘Green Hour’ every day, a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. This can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play. They have great ideas for parents and others. Check it out here: About This Campaign – NWF Green Hour

Finding safe outdoor spaces can be a challenge for families today, so it is helpful to know there are folks working hard to bring outdoor time back into the school day. Teachers can find ideas in the great book No Child Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard by Jane Kirkland http://www.takeawalk.com/no-student/ In the face of NCLB, it is good to find allies in the fight to keep outdoor play and connections with nature central to kids’ lives. Louv, Kirkland and the National Wildlife Federation are all part of the solution. Fisher Price, however, should think more about what’s good for children.

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