Outline


 * Outline:**

I. Introduction
 * thesis (will be revised):Over the past few decades, the entire essence of the “childhood experience” has been turned on its head. Where once children climbed trees and explored the great outdoors, today, kids prefer to watch television or play video games where all the creative exercise has already been done for them. Electronics and simplicity have brutally squeezed out nature and free play from the lives of children, causing a wide array of both mental and physical problems. The question remains however, why one lifestyle can only exist at the expense of the other? It is undeniable that advancing technology and electronics have become a central aspect of today’s popular culture, however this should not mean that humanity must give up its roots and connection to nature, especially in light of the recent evidence regarding the important role it plays in maintaining our health. Therefore, the problem is not how we should attempt to bar children from electronics and the modern American culture in order to get them outside, but rather it is how we can create a balance between them so that children gain an understanding of how it is possible, and easy, to have a healthy relationship with nature while still being able to use all the gadgets and gizmos that have come to define our modern lifestyles.

II. Changes that have occurred in the past few decades (intro to "the problem")
 * topic sentence/intro to section:
 * statistics
 * more electronics
 * 65% of 8+yr olds have tv in room (singer, 66)
 * in average house, tv on for 7hrs 40mins per day (woodward, 2000 - in Singer pg 66)
 * in 2003, average american devoted 327 more hours to electronics than in 1987 (Pergams and Zaradic, 2006 --in Louv pg 148)
 * Same study: 97.5% of drop in national park attendance is due to increased time using electronics
 * 8-18yr old kids spend average of 6.5 hours/day "plugged-in" electronically, 25% of which is spent using multiple devices simultaneously (Louv, 119)
 * less free play in nature
 * in 2001 the # of ppl camping in national parks dropped by 33% (Louv, 149), visits dropped by 25% b/w 1987-2003 (Louv, 148)
 * more pressure to "succeed" (from media, school, parents, govt)
 * "In the era of test-centric education reform and growing fear of liability, many districts consider recess a waste of potential academic time or too risky" (Louv, 99)
 * 40% of US schools eliminated or considered eliminating recess (Louv, 99)

III. Effects: Problems that have come about because of these changes (short summary):
 * topic sentence/intro to section:
 * ADHD, depression, obesity etc.
 * lack of nature worsens, more nature helps
 * "My son is still on Ritalin, but he's so much calmer in the outdoors that we're seriously considering moving to the mountains" -a mother (Louv, 102)
 * use of stimulants increased 600% b/w 1990-1995
 * 8 million kids in US suffer from mental disorders
 * spending on ADHD for preschoolers increased 369% b/w 2000-2003
 * 90% of kids placed on meds are boys (Louv, 101)
 * spending time in nature reduces stress/anxiety -- has been proven in over 100 studies (Louv, 50)
 * "A 2003 survey published in the journal Psychiatric Services, found the rate at which American children are prescribed antidepressants almost doubled in 5 years", 66% increase among preschoolers (Louv, 49)
 * Swedish Study:ppl who live with access to outdoors have twice as many friends as people with restricted access due to traffic (Louv, 51)
 * obesity crisis is not because of less exercise: "the obesity epidemic coincides with the greatest increase in organized children's sports in history" (Louv, 48)
 * less desire to preserve nature
 * children in more danger when actually in nature (and even inside)
 * cannot identify dangerous plants, animals
 * "A British study discovered that average eight-year-olds were better able to identify characters from...Pokemon than native species in the community where they lived" (Louv, 33)
 * decreased ability to use all their senses at the same time (electronics are only audio + visual)
 * according to EPA, INDOOR air pollution is US's greatest environmental threat to health (Louv, 131)
 * diminished cognitive ability
 * less problem solving, less creativity
 * "preschoolers who were heavy viewers of television were less imaginative that lighter viewers" (1981, Singer) (pg 5)
 * multisensory experiences help build cognitive constructs necessary for intellectual development --Robin Moore (Louv, 86)
 * diminished physical ability
 * (strength,balance, control, knowledge of abilities)
 * for kids b/w 6-17yrs, 40% of boys and 70% of girls cannot do 1 pull-up, 40% show signs of heart/circulation problems and 66% cannot pass a basic physical. (Louv, 132)
 * "preschoolers who played in natural environments had better motor fitness, especially in balance and agility, than those who played on typically flat playgrounds" --controlled study in Sweden/Norway (Louv, 48-49)

IV. Causes (short summary): cultural aspects
 * topic sentence/intro to section:
 * electronics
 * takes time away from outdoor activities + sedentary + no creativity
 * parents/schools
 * overschedueling, more emphasis on structure and success
 * "No child left behind" and standardized state testing
 * less time for free imaginative play, no recess
 * idea that nature is too "far away"/inacessible
 * fear
 * media coverage creates fear

V. Combining nature and "plugged-in"/modern culture: Solutions VI. Conclusion
 * topic sentence/intro to section:
 * using tech to enhance nature rather than replace
 * photography, "apps", geocaching,
 * nature as an education tool
 * "no child left inside"
 * nature kindergarten/school - benefits
 * reiterating idea that nature can exist in backyard as well, not just in national parks etc.