Leave
No Child
Inside
To help reverse the growing
disconnection between children
and nature, The Glenview Park
District, along with Chicago
Wilderness and more than 200
organizations, are committed
to “Leave No Child Inside”.
Nature offers us wondrous places
to explore and opportunities
for learning and discovery,
says The Grove’s Director. As a
child, Lorin spent lots of time
in the woods with her family,
camping, fishing and hiking. She
talks about what most people
instinctively know: enjoying the
outdoors with your children is fun,
healthy and a great way to spend
quality time with your family.
Q: How did the Leave No Child Inside movement begin?
The movement was inspired by author Richard Louv,
who in his groundbreaking book Last Child in the Woods:
Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, cited
kids’ lack of direct experience with nature is largely to
blame for alarming increases in obesity, attention deficit
disorder and poor social skills. The goal of Leave No Child
Inside is to promote children’s health through outdoor
play and exploration, and foster caring for nature and the
environment in today’s children and future generations.
Q: What are the benefits of getting
kids to spend time outdoors?
Every year, a smaller percentage of Americans are
engaging in nature-based activities. Kids are so plugged
into television and video games that they’ve lost their
connection to the natural world. Children benefit from
time in nature outdoors! Even if it’s just exploring
in the backyard or at the park down the street, the
outdoors provide an opportunity to engage all your
senses — see, hear, touch, taste and feel — in a way
electronics can’t. Kids who are exposed to nature
early and often usually are more aware, have higher
energy levels and increased levels of self-confidence.
The evidence of needing nature for healthy childhood
development is far more than just anecdotal.
Q: What can parents do?
One of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children
is to share their love of nature. Consider efforts to get
your children hooked on nature as an investment in
your family’s health. Turn off the cell phone, put away
the wallet and get outside! Getting involved is not as
difficult as you might imagine. There is an abundance
of simple, accessible, and magical outdoor places
here in the Glenview Park District that connect us with
nature, our environmental and our history. Simply
being able to play freely, in a safe place, in the out-ofdoors,
and on a regular basis is where it all begins.
FOR MORE IDEAS ON WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE WITH YOUR KIDS, GO TO:
Chicago Wilderness The Nature Conservancy Children and Nature Network
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