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Richard Louv

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Famous Richard Louv Quotes

“A generation of children is not only being raised indoors, but is being confined to even smaller spaces. Jane Clark, a University of Maryland professor of kinesiology . . . calls them "containerized kids"--they spend more and more time in car seats, high chairs, and even baby seats for watching TV. When small children go outside, they're often placed in containers--strollers--and pushed by walking or jogging parents. . . Most kid-containerizing is done for safety concerns, but the long term health of these children is compromised. (35)”

ChildrenPlayParentingConfinementSedentary
Book:Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
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“The physical exercise and emotional stretching that children enjoy in unorganized play is more varied and less time-bound than is found in organized sports. Playtime—especially unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play—is increasingly recognized as an essential component of wholesome child development.”

ChildrenPlayFoundSportsEnjoyEmotionalDevelopmentExerciseEssentialsBoundsOrganizedComponentsImaginativeStretchingChild DevelopmentPhysical ExercisePlaytimeOrganized Sports
Book:Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
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“It takes time--loose, unstructured dreamtime-- to experience nature in a meaningful way. Unless parents are vigilant, such time becomes a scarce resource, not because we intend it to shrink, but because time is consumed by multiple, invisible forces; because our culture currently places so little value on natural play.”

WayLittlesPlayValuesCultureForceParentNaturalResourcesMeaningfulInvisibleTake TimeMultipleShrinksConsumedScarceVigilantIt Takes TimeScarce ResourcesDreamtimeNatural Play
Author:Richard Louv
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“From 1997 to 2003, there was a decline of 50 percent in the proportion of children nine to twelve who spent time in such outside activities as hiking, walking, fishing, beach play, and gardening, according to a study by Sandra Hofferth at the University of Maryland.”

ChildrenPlayStudyWalkingActivityPercentUniversityNineBeachProportionFishingTwelveGardeningDeclineHikingMaryland
Book:Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
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“Stress reduction, greater physical health, a deeper sense of spirit, more creativity, a sense of play, even a safer life-these are the rewards that await a family then it invites more nature into children's lives.”

ChildrenPlaySpiritNatureCreativityGreaterStressRewardsDeeperInvitesReductionPhysical HealthStress Reduction
Book:Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
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“What happens when all the parts of childhood are soldered down, when the young no longer have the time or space to play in their family's garden, cycle home in the dark with the stars and moon illuminating their route, walk down through the woods to the river, lie on their backs on hot July days in the long grass, or watch cockleburs, lit by morning sun, like bumblees quivering on harp wires? What then?”

LongPlayHomeHappensYoungLyingStarsNatureDarkSpaceWalksWatchesMorningSunChildhoodMoonGardenRiversHotWoodsGrassCyclesRoutesLitWireJulyHarpsIlluminatingMorning SunLong Grass
Book:Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
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