We live in a wonderful world, where nature offers us the best landscapes and the best entertainment ... But anxiety, stress and the current lifestyle makes us have a blindfold that prevents us from realizing all this. Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) is a reality that sadly affects the immune capacity and that it is much more serious than it seems.
Human disconnection with nature can take a physical and emotional toll on both children and adults. The current lifestyle is a social problem that must be considered and above all, it must be avoided so that we can enjoy a much fuller life and that some diseases caused by sedentary life end forever.
It is important to be aware of where we live and get closer to natural environments without replacing them with urban and virtual environments. Our nervous system needs to feel close to nature, but how to avoid Pro-Deficiency Disorder in adults and for children to learn to live again connected to the world instead of being connected in a virtual way?
How to avoid Nature Deficit Disorder
Be a good example
If you want your children to enjoy nature, you must show them the importance of nature in your lives. Disconnect from your mobile and new technologies and go out to enjoy your surroundings. Children if they see you excited about something, they will also be excited. So, Model the behavior you want your kids to emulate, and they will.
Show your ability to enjoy nature and share what you like to do outdoors with your children. It can be riding a bike, walking in the morning, or whatever you like the most. Also model respect for nature in your daily activities such as recycling and not littering anywhere. Your motivation towards nature respecting it is the best teaching for your children.
Enjoy nature as a family
The ideal is to make a weekly or fortnightly plan to enjoy nature as a family. For example, every Sunday or one every two weeks you can take a trip with your children to an area where nature brings you all its benefits. It can be to go to a river, to the beach, to the mountains, to a nature reserve or to a park or green areas that have the place where you reside.
Children will enjoy nature and also spending time together. In this way you will enjoy nature and enhance the family bond, so important for children. You can also organize a more sophisticated excursion at any time, like every three or four months to go to swamps, state parks, to go fishing, to enjoy a camping in the middle of nature during the holidays ... they will feel that love towards nature so important
Limit technological life
Yes, we live in a technological society where screens have almost taken over the power of people's lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you spend no more than one or two hours in front of the screen and that if you are, it should be with quality content. Children do not have to spend more than this time in front of the screens because then they will be wasting a lot of free play time and enjoying their childhood.
It limits the time and that the children do not have as a habit filling their hours with technology and yes more with free time of play and enjoyment with other areas and quality time.
Daily family walk
Walking is a good exercise for the whole family and that is why it will never be too much for you to schedule a daily walk together as a family. Find a little bit a day where you can go for a walk in nature or in the green areas of the place where you live. It can also be a walk around the neighborhood looking at urban nature ... Enjoy the outdoors with your children.
Outdoor activities
Instead of targeting your child in activities where he is within four walls, think better of activities that have to do with contact with nature. There are children's associations for the little ones to enjoy the outdoors, which can be, for example, a playroom with garden areas.
Go family camping
As we have pointed out above, going camping is a great idea to enjoy nature as a family when you have a few days of holidays. There are many parks and green areas where there are great campsites to enjoy with the family. You can enjoy in the small booths that are usually available to customers, in tents or if you have a family caravan, It can also be cost effective and very educational for children. Get out and enjoy the trip in the middle of nature.
Plant a garden at home
To have a garden at home it is not necessary to have a large plot, having a little space and pots can be more than enough. You can plant vegetables in pots, on your terrace, patio or balcony. Gardens only need creativity to achieve good results, you can even plant vegetables to later consume at home.
Children will learn the magic of nature and how from seeds can germinate plants that can feed it. They will learn about nutrition and make better choices about eating in the future. You will only need a little space outside and experiment with vegetables, herbs or other plants.
Nature education
Education about nature is very important, information is the basis of respect for nature and all that it encompasses. Not only plants, but also the life of other beings. Human beings are part of nature and it is reason enough to respect it and to learn to live with it and not to destroy it just out of greed or misinformation.