"Last Child in the Woods"-A Book Report
Jul. 7th, 2007 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
petmoosieThe first section of this book is a review of natural experiences in the childhoods of current adults. The author adds some statistics about children spending time in front of TV, and some rules about things that children aren't allowed to build anymore (tree houses, caves, traps, etc.). Also some studies of ADHD symptom reduction after spending time out doors. Those studies show a stronger effect for girls than for boys.
There is a theory mentioned that people pay attention to things in two ways; deliberate attention and fascination. And the theory is that spending time in fascination restores your deliberate attention ability.
The next section seems to be a review of mentions of nature in the biographies of famous people.
The third section is telling us that there aren't enough scientists who can distinguish species and know anything about their life courses, and too many molecular biologists and biochemists. Hey!!!!!! I'm a biochemist!!!
Part IV is the best with the most suggestions.
1) Boredom can be creative.
a) Young children say that they are bored when they need attention from parents.
b) Turn off the TV. TV can lead to boredom.
c) Balance between planned activities and unstructured time.
2) Children need to be introduced to nature, and taught some of the games that they can play. It's not just a natural understanding.
3) An interested adult is more inspiring than an educated adult.
4) Short periods in the backyard nature more often are more worth it than big once-a-year trips.
The last section is about land-use policies, living in rural or exurban areas, Green Cities, etc. I guess the whole first 4 sections are supposed to be WHY to design in natural (and especially "wild") space and the last part is HOW to design and support others who are designing that space into human settlements.
There is a theory mentioned that people pay attention to things in two ways; deliberate attention and fascination. And the theory is that spending time in fascination restores your deliberate attention ability.
The next section seems to be a review of mentions of nature in the biographies of famous people.
The third section is telling us that there aren't enough scientists who can distinguish species and know anything about their life courses, and too many molecular biologists and biochemists. Hey!!!!!! I'm a biochemist!!!
Part IV is the best with the most suggestions.
1) Boredom can be creative.
a) Young children say that they are bored when they need attention from parents.
b) Turn off the TV. TV can lead to boredom.
c) Balance between planned activities and unstructured time.
2) Children need to be introduced to nature, and taught some of the games that they can play. It's not just a natural understanding.
3) An interested adult is more inspiring than an educated adult.
4) Short periods in the backyard nature more often are more worth it than big once-a-year trips.
The last section is about land-use policies, living in rural or exurban areas, Green Cities, etc. I guess the whole first 4 sections are supposed to be WHY to design in natural (and especially "wild") space and the last part is HOW to design and support others who are designing that space into human settlements.
