"In the United
States, as the federal and state governments and local school boards have
pushed for higher test scores in the first decade of the twenty-first century,
nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools either eliminated or were
considering eliminating recess."
This
seems crazy to me especially for elementary school children. Young kids cant
sit inside all day and expect to focus 100% of the time. Recess allows them to
almost reset their minds and allows them to be more focused the rest of the
day. I remember when I was in elementary school we had a big open field to play
on along with a jungle gym and basketball courts. It would allow us to go
outside and explore outside instead of sitting indoors all day looking at the
whiteboard. Every elementary student should have recess and not just them
running to the fence and back.
 |
| Kids at recess posted on PinStake |
I
like this way of treating disorders such as ADHD. I think in the modern age we
are quick to recommend medicine to kids because how readily available we can
get them. These medicines can cause all sorts of problems to the children that
take them. If we take kids away from all the technology and distractions that
modern technology has given us and put them back into nature I think it will
have a calming effect in most cases. Just taking a walk in the park, going for
a hike, or going fishing seem to have a calming effect on people that do it. I
know when I get stuck on homework or get frustrated with something just taking
a walk by myself calms me down. I agree that we should explore this for kids
with ADHD instead of medicating them right away.
 |
| Lynn Canyon Vancouver, BC, Canada by Zachary Frederick |
"Another
parent reported that his son could hit golf balls or fish for hours, and that
during these times the boy was 'very relaxed' and his attention-deficit
symptoms minimal."
I
think a lot of this is because when you are out fishing or hitting golf balls
you only have one thing to focus on. While Im writing this blog post I have
Facebook open, Netflix going, my phone sitting right next to me, and Im reading
my book. Young kids these days also have all these distractions. They are
worried about what is happening on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram 24 hours a
day. This may not be the total cause of ADHD but it doesn’t help. When you are
fishing or golfing you don’t care what is happening on Facebook or watching the
next episode of The Office. It simplifies life for you and it allows you calm
your body.
 |
| Child Fishing posted on http://blog.kidobi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/child-fishing.jpg |
"For
years, Ybarra had dreamed of puling at-risk kids out of their urban environment
and exposing them to nature. with the blessing of the judge, he acted." (Louv 2011)
I think this way of rehabilitation will only work for
a certain type of person. They have to be willing to change or realize what
they have been doing to get in this position is wrong. I know a lot of people
that haven’t traveled outside the town they live in or the city they live in
and that is wrong. I think everyone needs to travel and experience what true
nature is. This past summer I went to Lake Joffre in British Columbia and when
we hiked to the top of the mountain I saw a glacier for the first time. You
always hear about them on TV or in books but when you see them in person it is
a different story. I think if kids who are troubled go into nature or travel to
a remote village they see what they are doing to get themselves in trouble
really doesn’t make sense and they can
begin to change their way.
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| Lake Joffre Glacier Pemberton, BC, Canada by Zachary Frederick |
Louv, R. (2011). Nature-Deficit
Disorder and the Restorative Environment. In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future (pp. 1-14). Acton, MA:
Copley Custom Textbooks.
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