Just What the Doctor Ordered: Using Parks to Improve Children’s Health

Nate Seltenrich covers science and the environment from Petaluma, CA. His work has appeared in High Country News, Sierra, Yale Environment 360, Earth Island Journal, and other regional and national publications. Background image: ©ooyo/iStockphoto About This Article open Citation: Seltenrich N. 2015. Just what the doctor ordered: using parks to improve children’s health. Environ Health Perspect 123:A254–A259; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.123-A254 News Topics: Children’s Health, Climate Change, Green Spaces, Mental Health, Neurologic Health, Noise Pollution, Obesity, Recreation Published: 1 October 2015 PDF Version (1.8 MB) “Park prescriptions” are gaining popularity as researchers learn more about the benefits of spending time in nature. There’s more to learn, however, about the ways in which nature imparts these benefits and the “dose” of nature required to achieve them. © Wave Royalty Free/Photo Researchers, Inc For children today, time spent outdoors is becoming more of a luxury—or in some cases, a chore—than a staple. In recent years “nature deficit disorder” among kids has evolved from a turn of phrase1 to a cultural indictment.2,3 Smartphones and other screens are increasingly vying for kids’ attention,4 but blame lies elsewhere, too: just as recess is being reduced or phased out in many schools, children’s activities are being increasingly structured and scheduled, and concerns over neighborhood crime and ...
Source: EHP Research - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Featured Focus News Children's Health Climate Change Green Spaces Mental Health Neurologic Health Noise Pollution Obesity October 2015 Recreation Source Type: research