According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011 statistics, 11 percent of children ages 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD , accounting for 6.4 million cases nationwide.
Although a lot of cases are successfully treated with behavioral therapy and stimulant medication, not every patient is so fortunate. For some, it seems, a dose of Vitamin N ( a creative way of saying nature) could help do the trick in effective treatment.
ADHD in kids could come from many different sources, whether it be neurotransmitter imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, trauma, environmental toxins or genetic predispositions. What most doctors, or people in general, don’t take into consideration is the deficit many patients experience from not spending enough time in nature.
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A paper published in the American Journal of Public Health discusses the use of nature as therapy for ADHD in great detail while also analyzing data from previously published studies. The intent of the paper was to determine if children showed a reduction in ADHD symptoms when participating in various activities within a green outdoor setting, which was defined as any “mostly natural area — a park, a farm, or just a green backyard or neighborhood space.”
Our current reality involves a lot of sitting at computers, being on our phones, high-stimulus activity without much time spent just being with the outdoors, observing without needing to document it or think about what should happen next. This is the reality our kids are living in. So what can we do to make a difference?
Here are some ways to bring your child’s vitamin N levels back in balance:
– Take a 20-minute walk outdoors before starting homework. Take a route which offers plenty of opportunities to view and interact with a natural and green setting.
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– Add plants and other natural items to your child’s study area.
– Locate your child’s study area where s/he can see the sky, trees and other greenery while engaging in school work.
– Take frequent outdoor trips on weekends and holidays including hiking, camping, fishing, swimming and visiting nearly any body of water including oceans, streams, lakes and rivers.
– Enjoy bike rides with your child through nature trails in the evenings and on the weekends.
– Create a peaceful environment in your home with nature-inspired music, fish tanks and plenty of plants where your child can sit quietly to read and study.
– Take weekend trips to local farms, community gardens, botanical gardens, Community Supported Agriculture and “U-Pick” locations.
– Grow a garden on the patio or in the backyard. Teach them to plant and care for seeds or small starter plants. Easy to grow plants include flowers, mints and other herbs, radishes, lettuce and zucchini.
– Encourage imaginative play. Create forts, castles, and cities amongst the bushes and shrubs in a yard or a safe neighborhood location where they are easily monitored by responsible adults.
– Encourage your child in unstructured play including jumping in piles of leaves, climbing trees, and collecting bugs.
– Let them get their feet and hands into sand, mud, dirt, snow and water when in a safe natural environment.
[Photo from flickr user Photography by Dale Marie]