1. Cultivating a Sense of Wonder
with the Natural World
through the Practice of
Mindfulness
Thomas Falkenberg
Michael Link
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12. Significantly
decreased rates of
outdoor experiences
over the past 20 years
(Burdette & Whitaker, 2005;
Kellert, 2005; Taylor & Kuo, 2006).
A typical week is too
scheduled to simply “go
outside and play”
(Clements, 2004).
Link between structured
childhood and rising health
concerns (Louv, 2008).
13. E.O. Wilson’s
Theory of Biophilia
The innate
connection with
nature that is
beneficial for our
health and wellbeing
(Wilson, 1984; 2001).
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16. Nature-deficit disorder describes the human costs
of alienation from nature, among them: diminished
use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher
rates of physical and emotional illnesses (Louv, 2008).
17. Influences of Electronic Media and the Connection to Obesity
The average time spent with electronic media, among 8-18 year
olds, now stands at 7.5 hours per day (Roberts et al., 2010).
18. The average eight-year-old was better able to identify Pokémon
characters such as Pikachu, Metapod, and Wigglytuff than
native species in the community where they lived (Balmfold, Clegg,
Coulson and Taylor, 2002).
During the past 25 years, the chances for
children to directly experience nature
during playtime has drastically declined.
(Kellert, 2005).
19. Increase of
childhood
obesity over the
past 50 years -
4% in the „60s to
close to 20% in
2004,
(Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention, 2006).
20. Older children, who spent more time outdoors, tended
to be more active and had a lower prevalence o
overweight than children spending more time indoors
(Cleland, et al, 2008
21. Children are more active
when they are outside
(Ekelund, 2004; Ferreira, 2006;
Sallis, 2000).
22. Nature Deprivation and Mental Health
Considerable benefits for mental health through contact with nature
(Health Council of the Netherlands, 2004; Maller, 2006; Rohde and Kendle, 1994; Frumkin, 2001;
Prosser, 2008; Seymour, 2003).
23. Nature-
deprivation is now
being examined
as a potential
source of stress,
anxiety and
depression in
children.
(Ginsburg, 2007)
24. Direct exposure to nature is
essential for children‟s
physical and emotional
health, improving their
cognitive abilities and
resistance to negative
stresses and depression
(Burdette & Whitaker, 2005; Kellert,
2002; Wells, 2003).
25. Direct experience
with nature reduces
The signs of ADHD
ADHD
(Kuo & Taylor, 2004;
Link
Talyor, Kuo &
Sullivan, 2001).
Watching TV, or
outdoor play on
asphalt, increases
ADHD symptoms
(Louv, 2008).
