Children need to get outdoors because the world’s future lies in nature

WE HEAR a lot these days about a condition known as nature deficit disorder — the ill effects on children resulting from lack of direct contact with the natural world — while at the same time there were never more school programmes on the environment, writes Donal Hickey.

Youngsters are more restricted in their movements than previous generations were, and are spending much more time indoors. Those of us who grew up in the last century, especially in rural areas, were lucky enough to enjoy the freedom of the fields, and most of our play was outdoors.

Children seem to have an instinctive love of nature. Just look at the way they are drawn to animals. If that love is nurtured, it will continue into adulthood and make them protectors of the environment.