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A bird in the hand…er…maybe not

Richard Louv , author of seven books about people, being connected and being in the great outdoors, has some stuff to say about ‘gettin out in the woods.’ In Australia we might say ‘bush’ but same same. In an article in Orion he says:

‘A growing body of scientific evidence identifies strong correlations between experience in the natural world and children’s ability to learn, along with their physical and emotional health. Stress levels, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive functioning—and more—are positively affected by time spent in nature. “In the same way that protecting water and protecting air are strategies for promoting public health,” says Howard Frumkin, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “protecting natural landscapes can be seen as a powerful form of preventive medicine.” In October, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis, and the University of Washington reported that greener neighborhoods are associated with slower increases in children’s body mass, regardless of residential density. Such research will be immensely helpful as we rethink our approaches to urban design, education, and health care, in particular our societal response to childhood obesity.’

Sitting with bums on seats-usually hard (seats that is)- and surrounded by our four walls maybe aint the way to go in our schools.

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