Go outside, even if it's cold out!
Nature deficit disorder, as explained by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, occurs when children who are plugged into TV and video games for ever-increasing amounts of time, lose their connection to the natural world and do not get a chance to exercise all of their senses, which he claims is necessary to develop properly.According to an article on Green Living Online, the average North American child spends less than 15 minutes per day outside, but up to five hours a day playing video games or watching TV. And in the winter, it's probably even worse.
So make an extra effort to get your kids outside even in the winter, except for the coldest of days. Get a sled and find a hill if you have snow around. Or even just go for a walk, or if it's mild enough, a quick trip to the park. Even though it's chilly, it's still good for your kids (and for you!).












