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Join us at noon CT (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) on Tuesday, May 31, for an hour-long chat about children, the outdoors and "nature deficit disorder," with Chicago Tribune health reporter Julie Deardorff and panelist Richard Louv.

Topics will include the health benefits of nature for kids, whether there's good evidence showing exposure to the outdoors can help children with attention deficit disorder, and how and why spending time in the natural world can strengthen families, friendships and communities. Louv, who calls the natural world "Vitamin N"--and would rather fish than write--will also give parents tips on how to reconnect their children with the outdoors.

Richard Louv is the author of eight books on the connection between family, nature and community. Louv coined the term "nature deficit disorder" in his book "Last Child in the Woods" and is the chairman of the Children & Nature Network. He has served as adviser to the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World award program and the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Louve's latest book, "The Nature Principle," argues that adults, like children, suffer from nature deficit disorder and that "the more high-tech we become, the more nature we need."

If you are unable to make the chat, or would like to send your question in advance, e-mail Julie Deardorff at jDeardorff@tribune.com or follow her @JulieDeardorff.

Health Chat: Nature deficit disorder

(05/31/2011)

  

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11:50

Julie Deardorff:  Hello everybody! Welcome to today’s Chicago Tribune health chat on kids and the outdoors. We will be getting started at noon. Tuesday May 31, 2011 11:50 Julie Deardorff

11:50

[Be Right Back Countdown]

10 minutes  Tuesday May 31, 2011 11:50

11:55

[Be Right Back Countdown]

5 minutes  Tuesday May 31, 2011 11:55

12:01

Julie Deardorff:  Hello! I'm Julie Deardorff, and I'll be moderating today's chat on the health benefits of getting your child outside. We're fortunate to have Richard Louv as our guest, the man who helped ignite the “No Child Left Inside” movements. Louv's first book "Last Child in the Woods" made a convincing case for exposing children to nature. His new book "The Nature Principle" talks about how we can end what he calls "Nature Deficit Disorder" for both children and adults. Welcome, Richard. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:01 Julie Deardorff

12:02

Richard Louv:  Hi Julie! Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:02 Richard Louv

12:02

Julie Deardorff:  I'd like to start off by asking what you mean when you say, "The more high tech we become, the more nature we need." Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:02 Julie Deardorff

12:03

Richard Louv:  First, I'm not anti-tech. It'll be with us, one way or another... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:03 Richard Louv

12:03

Richard Louv:  But we do need an antidote to some of the downsides. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:03 Richard Louv

12:03

Richard Louv:  The natural world offers us that antidote. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:03 Richard Louv

12:03

[Comment From johnjohn: ]  Any suggestions on how to keep young boys interest, attention in nature. We have tried hikes/ nature walks, but they "are bored " quite quickly. Of course we try to point out all sorts of things that we find interesting, but without a truck or a ball they lose interest quickly. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:03 john

12:04

Richard Louv:  Here's one thing to keep in mind -- regarding fishing as an example... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:04 Richard Louv

12:05

Richard Louv:  Many times parents will start kids fishing too early. Before five years old, the best thing to do is just take them with you when you're fishing, and if they'd rather dig around in the water and the rocks and the mud.....that's great! Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:05 Richard Louv

12:05

Julie Deardorff:  What about hiking, though? We ended up carrying my two kids on a hike and it wasn't that long. Is it just that they are too young? Should we have stayed in one place? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:05 Julie Deardorff

12:06

Richard Louv:  Kids that young like to start and stop, start and stop. To a parent, that can be maddening. But every time they stop and pick up an interesting rock and put it in their pocket, that's a great experience for them. Forces you to slow down too. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:06 Richard Louv

12:08

Julie Deardorff:  Tell us a little bit about why you decided to write "The Nature Principle." Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:08 Julie Deardorff

12:14

Richard Louv:  Before I get to "The Nature Principle," here's one tip. A friend puts a "wonder bowl" on the TV. When the kids get home from being outside, they put their treasures (rocks, sticks, dead bugs) in the bowl. This keeps the treasures out of the washing machine. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:14 Richard Louv

12:15

Julie Deardorff:  That's a good one. Our house is stocked with "treasures." Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:15 Julie Deardorff

12:16

Richard Louv:  After "Last Child in the Woods" came out, I heard from many adults (one of them actually grabbed me by the lapels) and said, "Listen to me, adults have nature deficit disorder too." I said..."Let me go." Actually, I wrote down that idea.... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:16 Richard Louv

12:16

Richard Louv:  The second reason for writing "The Nature Principle" was.... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:16 Richard Louv

12:18

Richard Louv:  ...that I realized that people have a very grim view of the future, as post-apocaplyptic (Blade Runner, Mad Max) and without a positive view, we may well get what we imagine.... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:18 Richard Louv

12:18

Richard Louv:  So "The Nature Principle," within my limited abilities, is an attempt also to describe a future in which our lives are as immersed in nature every day as they are in technology, where we live, learn, work and play. And how we can build that world for ourselves right now. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:18 Richard Louv

12:19

< Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:19

12:19

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  I think children AND adults need to get out and connect with nature. Too often, they always want to be entertained. So quick to say "I'm bored" or "Now what are we gonna do?" Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:19 Guest

12:21

Richard Louv:  I agree. This is for adults, too. Over 100 studies show that getting outside in nature is a stress reducer. Most of those studies have been done on adults. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:21 Richard Louv

12:21

Richard Louv:  And we do need to set the example. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:21 Richard Louv

12:21

Julie Deardorff:  Richard, camping, of course, isn't the only way to enjoy the outdoors. What do you recommend for folks who want to be outside but don't like to camp? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:21 Julie Deardorff

12:25

Chicago Tribune:  Thank you for joining our chat. Please hold for technical difficulties. Feel free to submit questions in the meantime. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:25 Chicago Tribune

12:26

Julie Deardorff:  I'm still here though! Richard is rebooting. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:26 Julie Deardorff

12:28

[Comment From Sherry - West suburbsSherry - West suburbs: ]  I have a 7 yr old girl and she would rather stay in an play the Wii game. YES, its exercise and get her moving & active, but its not exploring. How can I stimulate her interest? I'm considering a library visit for us to find some outdoor books. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:28 Sherry - West suburbs

12:29

Richard Louv:  I'm back. The computer let go of my leg. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:29 Richard Louv

12:29

Julie Deardorff:  Hi Sherry, There are some great ideas on Childrenandnature.org. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:29 Julie Deardorff

12:30

Richard Louv:  Interesting about the library.....some libraries are starting to create outdoor reading areas, and emphasizing local nature..... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:30 Richard Louv

12:32

Richard Louv:  ...it's also tough for us to pull away. Yes, there's a period of resistence, but once they get outside they'll get their hands dirty and feet wet, they tend to get very involved in nature. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:32 Richard Louv

12:34

Richard Louv:  When we give kids nature, we give them the gift of memory. They'll likely remember that camping trip longer than the time they scored well on Grand Theft Auto. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:34 Richard Louv

12:36

[Comment From TrineTrine: ]  Sherry: Maybe this won't ignite your daughter's interest, you just never know, it's kid by kid like everything, but we have had luck with birdwatching. We got an Illinois Birds guidebook, and a big list of birds in Illinois and we have been trying to find every bird on the list. It's been a good way to get our kids to pay attention when we are outside, and to be actively involved with nature. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:36 Trine

12:38

[Comment From SueSue: ]  I do a yard project each year with my daughter (now 8 yrs old). In the past we've done sunflower houses. This year a tepee made of five 8-ft tall wood dowels that will have gourd plants vining up and over the tepee, making a play area inside. Great ideas from book called "Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots" by Sharon Lovejoy. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:38 Sue

12:39

[Comment From Rob DOughertyRob DOugherty: ]  The Clinton Book Shop's Politically Incorrect Book Club is reading Last Child In The Woods and would like to ask: If we continue the course we are on, where do you think we will be in 50-years Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:39 Rob DOugherty

12:41

Julie Deardorff:  Rob, I was thinking that this morning as I rode in and the Chicago lakefront was strewn with garbage from Memorial Day. Plastic bottles were literally everywhere. One of Richard's points in his book is that we need to take better care of the planet because it's the only one we have. Getting kids out in nature at young ages can help with that. (Though the people on the beach were out in nature and they didn't seem to get it.) Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:41 Julie Deardorff

12:41

[Comment From BeccaBecca: ]  Richard, you mention that your book, The Nature Principle, includes ideas for getting more nature in your life every day. I would love that but, my question is, HOW? I work all day. My kids are in school long hours. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:41 Becca

12:45

Julie Deardorff:  Becca, I'm often in the same situation. Sometimes you have to cram nature in on the weekends. I know parents who take moon walks at night or rain walks after it rains. Richard is going to follow up on this one. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:45 Julie Deardorff

12:46

Richard Louv:  I think we do the things, and find time for the things, that we value most. We may have to drop other activities. Like soccer. Nothing against soccer, but..... The other approach to recognize nature close to home. Nearby nature is important, and can be found in the back yard. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:46 Richard Louv

12:46

[Comment From Debbie GreeneDebbie Greene: ]  To Becca: Garden with them. Spend some time in parks. Watch the start. clouds bugs in the yard. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:46 Debbie Greene

12:47

Chicago Tribune:  Circling back to Julie's question: Richard, camping, of course, isn't the only way to enjoy the outdoors. What do you recommend for folks who want to be outside but don't like to camp? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:47 Chicago Tribune

12:48

Richard Louv:  Question long time ago (technical difficulties here) about alternatives to tent camping. Well, I had a VW Eurovan weekender that I used with my kids. After a while it was so dented, a neighbor said it was an eyesore. I said, "No it's not, it's performance art." I miss it terribly. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:48 Richard Louv

12:49

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  We have a nature preschool in Joliet at Pilcher Park Nature Center promoting play in nature 3-5 year olds. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:49 Guest

12:49

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  I have found that you can spend HOURS with small children just letting them explore. Let them THROW rocks in the creek. That can take up an entire afternoon. Don't have an agenda. Let them lead you. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:49 Guest

12:50

[Comment From TrineTrine: ]  I find myself being pulled into my Blackberry when I am outside which is terrible...how to unplug? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:50 Trine

12:50

Richard Louv:  I know the Blackberry problem. I have an iPhone and it's hard to leave it at home... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:50 Richard Louv

12:51

Richard Louv:  But we have to set an example and not take it out every few minutes. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:51 Richard Louv

12:51

Richard Louv:  Something for adults as well as kids. In "The Nature Principle" I talk about exercise. Studies suggest that there's an added value that goes beyond, say, time on an indoor treadmill, even though the expenditure of energy is the same. Researchers in Sweden have found that joggers who exercise in a natural green setting, with trees, foliage, and landscape views, feel more restored and less anxious, angry, or depressed than people who burn the same amount of calories jogging in a built urban setting. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:51 Richard Louv

12:52

[Comment From Debbie GreeneDebbie Greene: ]  Rich, what was it they said at NCTC? Pick Blackberries instead of using a blackberry? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:52 Debbie Greene

12:52

[Comment From TrineTrine: ]  Hi! My kids love being outside, and spend a lot of time outside, but don't enjoy wild nature, really. They live in an urban suburb. Ideas for exposing them to wild nature? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:52 Trine

12:54

Richard Louv:  Trine, that's a very big quesiton. In "Last Child in the Woods" there's a special section in the updated version of 100 actions parents and communities can take. Parents can't do this alone. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:54 Richard Louv

12:54

Richard Louv:  Also, here's a good link: www.naturerocks.org -- it has lot of great things to do. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:54 Richard Louv

12:54

Julie Deardorff:  Why, exactly, is nature good for kids? What does the science show? Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:54 Julie Deardorff

12:55

Richard Louv:  In a study of over 1,850 participants, researchers at the University of Essex (in England) found three broad health outcomes from green exercise: Improvement of psychological well-being (by enhancing mood and self-esteem, while reducing feelings of anger, confusion, depression and tension); generation of physical health benefits (by reducing blood pressure and burning calories); and the building of social networking. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:55 Richard Louv

12:56

Richard Louv:  Appears to help too with ADHD, and with test scores. There's evidence for both children and adults that spending time in nature helps us learn and think better and to be more creative and productive. Businesses are figuring this out, by the way, which I cover in "The Nature Principle." Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:56 Richard Louv

12:56

[Comment From Sherry - West suburbsSherry - West suburbs: ]  I'm still attempting to go to the Morton Arbourtuem in Lisle for a visit. Planned to last summer, but of course, the 3 months wizzed by. So it on my agenda for this summer again. But I fear, the "this is boring" statement. I'll just have to endure the whinning and at the end, she will be glad just to be outside. We did bike riding on the Prairie Path last year and she liked that, but the focus was the biking activity. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:56 Sherry - West suburbs

12:57

Julie Deardorff:  Sherry, I highly recommend the Morton Arboretum. They have a great area for kids and it's not the least bit boring. There's stuff to climb, streams to wade through -- it's really awesome. It's one of my favorite places near Chicago. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:57 Julie Deardorff

12:57

[Comment From MikeMike: ]  How do you get other families involved? I'd like to do more outside but my kids would be way more willing if their friends were there. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:57 Mike

12:58

Richard Louv:  Great question, Mike. I'd highly suggest that you go to C&NN (www.childrenandnature.org) and download the free toolkit for starting a family nature club... Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:58 Richard Louv

12:59

Julie Deardorff:  Also, Debbie on the chat mentioned that greenhearts.org has good ideas. Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:59 Julie Deardorff

12:59

Richard Louv:  Family nature clubs are springing up around the country, over 100 of them -- some of these clubs have hundreds of families as members. Multiple families agree to show up at the park for a hike on Saturday, for example.....and when multiple families do this, their kids have lots of kids to play with. The whining tends to decrease. (Of the parents, too.) Tuesday May 31, 2011 12:59 Richard Louv

1:00	Julie Deardorff:  Richard, for our final question, can you talk about how to tackle the boredom issue with kids? Tuesday May 31, 2011 1:00 Julie Deardorff

1:01

Richard Louv:  Re boredom: it's underrated. I was just on a TV show in Toronto, and the host said she, as a girl, would get bored and then go into the woods behind the house and pretend -- that she was a TV host! She said if it wasn't for those woods, that boredom and the independent play, she wouldn't have a TV show today. Tuesday May 31, 2011 1:01 Richard Louv

1:02

Julie Deardorff:  That's all we have time for. I just want to thank Richard for his time and great answers and remind everyone that our next chat is on Tuesday, June 7 at noon, CT. The moderator is Tribune reporter Judy Graham and the topic is hospital safety. Tuesday May 31, 2011 1:02 Julie Deardorff

1:02	Richard Louv:  Thanks to everyone, and to Julie!! Tuesday May 31, 2011 1:02 Richard Louv

1:02