28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • June 2022 28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • June 2022
Sunny skies and warmer temperatures mean it's time for less
screentime and more green time. And not just for the kids!
Summer is the perfect excuse for the entire family to set aside
their electronic devices and get plugged into Mother Nature.
Back in 2005, author Richard Louv coined the term "nature-deficit
disorder." It's based on the idea that children are spending less
time outdoors than ever before and experiencing negative conse-
quences to their physical and social wellbeing as a result. Nature-
deficit disorder isn't recognized by most medical institutions.
However, there's plenty of research to show that spending time
outdoors plays a key role in keeping our bodies and minds healthy.
Increased immunity, better sleep, more exercise and less anxiety
are just a few of the benefits to spending time in nature. But for
families, perhaps the most important benefit to be gleaned is the
quality of time spent together during outdoor family time in con-
trast to at-home family time, which doesn't always include a lot of
interaction.
Fortunately for Fredericksburg families, the area provides
an array of outdoor adventures to keep summer
fun and interesting.
Fantastic
Outdoor
WRITTEN BY RHIANNON ELLIS
In and Around Fredricksburg
Adventures
In and Around Fredricksburg In and Around Fredricksburg
