I have often written about the danger that the current rates of (over)diagnosis of ADD/ADHD poses to our children. Not only does it lead to unnecessary exposure to dangerous psycho-stimulants, it also often obscures the true reasons behind a child’s health problems. Many parents are thus ‘reassured’ that the issues are being addressed while this [...]
Why Nutrition Matters
If you have been reading “3 Steps ADD” and/or the articles on this site you would have noticed that I place a great deal of emphasis on nutrition as a vitally important part of any strategy for dealing with the effects of ADD/ADHD. You may also be aware that many people are quite critical of an ADD/ADHD strategy that majors on healthy eating supplemented by essential vitamins and oils. This may come as a surprise until you ask a few questions about the background and credentials of the critics.
Is ‘Attention-Deficit’ at least partly due to ‘Nature Deficit’? (Part 2)
In my last article I focused on the negative impact that a lack of exposure to nature can have on children. I also profiled some research that showed dramatic increases in the ability of children to concentrate after they took a walk in a natural setting. It is an undisputable fact, although not one widely recognised in our society, that outdoor play should be one of the cornerstones of a child’s education. This recognition forms the basis of the ‘No Child Left Inside’ initiative.
The recommendations that form the basis of ‘No Child Left Inside’ are not revolutionary but rather a restatement of ‘back to basics’ principles that we ignore at our peril. The suggestions below may help you to get these foundational principles right:
Is ‘Attention-Deficit’ at least partly due to ‘Nature Deficit’?
Recent studies about the effects of nature on ADD/ADHD symptoms have yielded surprising results. Consider the following:
* A wide-ranging survey asking parents about the effects of different settings on the ADHD symptoms of their children consistently showed that these symptoms were less severe in green settings than indoors.
* An even more surprising insight can be found in the results of an experiment where children with ADD/ADHD were taken for a walk in different outdoor settings (a downtown area, a neighbourhood and a park). The positive influence of this activity on the ADD/ADHD symptoms was directly proportional to the amount of interaction with nature! (With the downtown area scoring lowest and the park the highest)
Could it be that something in our natural make-up predisposes us to paying more attention and feeling more alive in natural settings? There are certainly many people who believe that this is exactly the case. One of them is Richard Loev author of a groundbreaking book called Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. (It should be noted that the title could be a little misleading. Loev does not attribute all cases of ADD/ADHD to a lack of contact with nature, nor does he teach that contact with nature is the only thing that this required to overcome the condition). Loev’s work has led to the growth of a movement called ‘No Child Left Inside’. Although not exclusively focussed on the treatment of ADD/ADHD the principles and methods advocated by this movement could prove invaluable to those struggling with the condition. At its most basic the message is: Make sure that your child has sufficient ‘green time’! Please check back next week for a more detailed and practical summary.
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