Children are spending too much time on screens and not enough time in nature | Opinion
At the start of the new year, I found it meaningful to reflect on wisdom from the past and words that have stood the test of time to channel my resolve and courage.
Rumi, a 13th-century Turkish-Persian poet wrote: “Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.”
In that same century, St. Francis said: “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
For me these have been words to live by.
As last year was ending, a dear friend who had heard of my transportation troubles, surprised me with a new car. I never saw this miracle coming, and like other people who are recipients are such great generosity, I was stunned, shocked and remain daily, overwhelmingly grateful.
In the 21st-century, we have shortened Rumi’s lyrical words to “Have an attitude of gratitude” and St. Francis’ to “Take action to be the change you want to see”.
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
The times before cell phones created beautiful memories
My generous friend longs to restore the aging red barn at the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee’s Camp Sycamore. My daughter and granddaughter were beneficiaries of this amazing outdoor wonder when they were Girl Scouts.
Camp Sycamore was established in 1958 on 742 acres of beautiful bluffs and meadows in Ashland City in Cheatham County. As a child, I was a Brownie in Germany where my Air Force family was stationed and when Dad was transferred to the Pentagon, I was a Girl Scout in Alexandria, Virginia. I have fond memories of being outdoors, making crafts and helping others. Of course, there were no cell phones in the 1950s and 1960s and screen time was the television.
I lament overwhelming numbers of young people are literally attached to their devices and detached from the bountiful natural resources that are our treasures in Tennessee. It is the mission of Girl Scouting to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
I recently rewatched “Anne with an E” on Netflix. It is set at the end of the 19th century in the panoramic, visually awe inspiring and delightfully pleasing outdoor wonders of Prince Edward Island in Canada and reminds me of the beautiful scenic treasures we are so generously blessed with here in Middle Tennessee.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
Children spend far more time on screens than outdoors
Last September, I attended the Girl Scout Luncheon in Nashville where I met Agenia Clark, the president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. She is so inspiring and most definitely lightning in a bottle! Kelsea Ballerini performed and spoke about how instrumental being a Girl Scout had been to her growing up.
Helping restore the Camp Sycamore barn is crucial to continuing the critically important mission of instilling and nurturing courage, confidence and character in young girls by getting them out into the great outdoors and interacting with nature and each other.
In this 21st century there is a movement called 1000 Hours Outside. It is an attempt to match nature time with screen time. Children are on media screens about 1,400 to 3,300 hours a year. Children spend an average 4 to 7 minutes playing outside, or 24 to 42 hours a year, according to the Child Mind Institute.
“Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv documents the decreased exposure of children to nature, and how this “nature deficit disorder” is harmful to children and society.
Camp Sycamore encourages love and respect for our fragile earth, its vanishing wildlife, forests, and ever-increasing pollution. I hope kindred spirits will help support efforts to restore and renew this most important barn.
Many magical learning lessons happened in the Green Gables barn. I believe Girl Scouting also cultivates compassion and kindness. Let us learn to live in gratitude for our blessings and take action to encourage character building traits in children and ourselves.
To donate: gsmidtn.org.
Laura Turner is an advocate and educator in Williamson County.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Children are spending too much time on screens and not in nature
