Now, more than ever, we need nature as a balancing agent.
Richard LouvRead
We are telling our kids that nature is in the past and it probably doesn't count anymore, the future is in electronics, the boogeyman is in the woods, and playing outdoors is probably illicit and possibly illegal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the disconnection children have with nature due to societal emphasis on electronics and indoor activities.
Richard Louv's quote criticizes the contemporary attitude towards nature, expressing concern that children are being taught to view nature as a relic of the past and are increasingly drawn toward a digital world. By suggesting that outdoor play is seen as dangerous or illicit, he calls attention to the detrimental effects this mindset has on children's ability to connect with the natural environment, which is vital for their development and well-being.
Themes
NatureChildrenElectronicsOutdoorsSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about child development and well-being, this quote could emphasize the importance of outdoor play.
More from Richard Louv
All quotes →The future will belong to the nature-smart...Th e more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.
Richard LouvRead
We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist.
Richard LouvRead
Nature-deficit disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. The disorder can be detected in individuals, families, and communities.
Richard LouvRead
A lot of people think they need to give up nature to become adults but that's not true. However, you have to be careful how you describe and define 'nature.'
Richard LouvRead
Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.
Richard LouvRead
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