Green Hour

Green Hour is an educational program of the National Wildlife Federation, created to respond to a growing disconnect between nature and children, coined Nature deficit disorder, in Richard Louv's book, "Last Child in the Woods". One of the primary symptoms of nature deficit disorder is the replacement of outdoor activities with "screen time," -- time in front of a computer, television or some other electronic device.

The National Wildlife Federation recommends that parents give their kids a "Green Hour" every day, a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. This is recommended to help curb what is proposed as a growing problem, called Reversing Nature Deficit. Suggested unrestricted play can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play.

Green Hour's web site [ [http://www.greenhour.org Green Hour's Website] ] , was launched in March 2007 and provides parents outside activities that are designed to take place in a backyard or a city park as part of the family "green hour." The Green Hour blog presents different perspectives on the rise in children's "screen-time" and practical ways of reconnecting youth to nature. The Green Hour Community Corner allow users to sign up as members and talk with other parents and caregivers.

Green Hour sites a Kaiser Family Foundation [ [http://www.kff.org/ Kaiser Family Foundation] ] , study that found that the average American child spends 44 hours per week -- or more than six hours per day -- staring at some kind of electronic screen. Studies have also linked excessive television viewing to obesity, violence, and even lower intelligence in kids.

Sources:

(1) http://www.nwf.org/playandobserve/(2) http://www.miamiherald.com/360/story/551908.html(3) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/25/AR2007122500717.html(4) http://drive.subaru.com/Winter08_Feature.asp(5) http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Development/Fun-for-Earth-Day(6) http://grist.org/advice/how/2008/06/10/?source=weekly

References