Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods. Richard Louv. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2005.

Rising levels of childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder, drug abuse, and sexual activity among younger and younger children represent some of the issues currently facing today's youth. Although the root causes of these problems are multifaceted, author Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, argues that many negative aspects of childhood occur as a result of youth spending less and less time outside. This review examines some of the book's main points, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of Louv's arguments.

Louv argues that the experiences of today's children are more defined by urban than natural influences. Perhaps the best support for this point is couched within one young boy's comment during a Louv led discussion regarding nature: "I like to play indoors better, 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are" (Louv, 2005. p. 10). Louv suggests that the decreasing connection between kids and nature has serious mental, physical, and educational ramifications.

Louv presents findings from a growing body of research that suggests a variety of positive benefits accrue when individuals interact with nature. One such study found that inmates in cells with windows affording farmland views had 24% fewer cases of illness as compared to inmates with non-nature views. Similar studies focusing on children indicate that kids with more green space at home and school have lower levels of mental illness and score higher on positive mental health indicators than nature deprived children. Such research seems especially pertinent considering increasing levels of childhood physical and mental ailments.

Louv also discusses research that indicates that contact with nature leads to more creative and sensory aware children. For example, research findings suggest that children engage in more creative play in parks that contain natural, green areas. Additional studies have shown that children develop more egalitarian social structures based on creativity, language and social skills, in natural green areas as opposed to structured playground environments. Unfortunately, even in the face of the growing body of research regarding the positive benefits of contact with nature, Louv laments that we have created...