As I read the first section I
became more and more interested in the reading. As a Special Education major as
well as having two children with Autism, I found this reading especially
relevant to my life in many ways. I never heard of Nature-Deficit Disorder or
the Restorative Environment before but it really makes sense to me. I notice
that my kids live to be outside and always seem to be calm after they come
inside. Initially I thought that they were just so tired from playing outside
all day long that they were just not able to run around anymore. After the
reading I have changed my ideas on that to perhaps nature is a natural calming
element for them.
The first page of the reading
discussed the fact that many schools are cutting recess out of the daily routine
for the students. “With all of the testing in schools there is no time for
physical education, let alone exploring the outdoors” (Florida Gulf Coast
University, 2011). A few years ago my kids attended a school where there was
not a physical education program and recess was one day a week. I found this to
be a terrible injustice to our kids. I was thankful when my kids were
transferred to their current school. They have a physical education program as
well as daily recess. They also are given “brain breaks” through out the day.
When I thought about the differences for my kids, I notice, at the new school,
both of my children have progressed beyond any expectations that anyone had.
They are able to focus and actually learn academic work compared to displaying
constant disruptive behavior. Granted the differences in the schools are night
and day, the staff at their new school is amazing and always working with them.
After reading this section, I can agree that having the students outside can
help them calm down and allow them to focus more when they return inside the
classroom. It is interesting to read about the effects that nature can have on
us.
The second quote that I think
really struck me was “Our brains are set up for an agrarian, nature-oriented existence
that came into focus five thousand years ago” (Florida Gulf Coast University,
2011). After reading the text about the
little boy in the photograph playing on the beach, and then learning that the
said boy was Ansel Adams was very interesting. I hate to continue to refer back
to my boys, but, they love the beach. They would spend every moment of their
life there if I let them. They seem at peace and so relaxed when they are
there. I on the other hand am a nervous wreck the entire time.
I am guilty of becoming someone
that is so connected to technology today, that not having my phone or access to
some electronic device, I feel lost at times. Over the summer my husband and I
went to the Dry Tortugas for a day. I initially was afraid to go snorkeling. I
had never done it before and was certain that I would be to lucky one to meet a
shark and die. Thankfully I was encouraged to get into the water and just try
it out. Instantly I saw amazing coral, and the fish that swam around were just
amazing to me. I cannot even describe the beauty that I saw. I spent the entire
day snorkeling all around the fort. I was sad when it was time to leave. I felt
so relaxed and did not think about any type of technology at all. The only
think I wish I had was an underwater camera. We will try and bring one the next
time. I agree that nature can be a restorative environment for us.
