We hear stories about new disorders arising each year that result from our overuse of electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers. Children today who spend a significant amount of time staring at a computer screen experience eyesight problems their ancestors never did. Children whose tablets or cell phones never leave their hands are now being diagnosed with “smartphone thumb,” a condition that doctors used to see primarily in factory workers.

Nature Deficit Disorder is very real and affects children in many different ways. As a former park naturalist, one of the most common things I noticed when I presented nature programs to visiting school groups was just how out-of-touch with the natural world kids have become. I frequently watched in morbid fascination as children jumped and squealed at the sight of a bee landing on a nearby flower, not realizing how unlikely it was the insect even knew they were there. 

When it comes to kids connecting with nature, studies have shown that children who don’t play outside regularly have a greater risk of developing various health issues as they age. Comparing the overall health of children who play outside with those who don’t results in some very concerning trends. A sedentary lifestyle has been linked to increased obesity, diabetes, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Another growing problem we’re facing today is allergies. Think about how much more prevalent allergies are for our children than they were for our ancestors. We don’t know for sure why food (and other) allergies have been on the rise over the past 20-30 years, but some scientists suggest a possible connection to vitamin D deficiency. Your body makes vitamin D in response to sun exposure, so you’re more likely to experience this deficiency if you don’t spend time outdoors.