In his bestselling book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv described "nature-deficit disorder" as a group of symptoms in children when they are cut off from nature. How did this happen? The author points to the proliferation of technology: cable TV, video games, home computers, and the Internet have all cut into the time children could spend outdoors. Kids in the wired generation may be able to spout data about the Amazon rain forest but they've logged no time in the nearby woods. In one interview a fourth grader in San Diego said, "I like to play indoors 'cause that's where all the outlets are."
April Pulley Sayre, the award-winning author of 60 children's books, makes a good case for wildlife gardening as a worthwhile activity that immerses children in the natural world where they can become more attuned to the beauties and the bounties of plants, flowers, animals, and the seasons. As a special added treat, she suggests simple ways to attract birds, butterflies, toads, and more to your garden. Parents will appreciate Sayre's positive attitude and her respect for the wonders of wildlife and the ideal of fostering in children a loving and caring relationship with the Good Earth.
