Friday Book Club: Last Child in the Woods

Every Friday is book review day for the Harried Parent's Book Club, and this week's selection, Last Child in the Woods, suggests that today's kids are suffering from "Nature-Deficit Disorder," and that many of the common ailments of contemporary childhood -- like obesity, ADHD, and depression -- could be eased by more outdoor time.

This is the second edition of the book by Richard Louv, which was originally published in 2005 to much acclaim. New this time is a Field Guide that includes an update on efforts to bring nature back into everyday life, and a list of "100 Actions We Can Take" for parents, community leaders, businesses, educators, and the government. That adds a nice coda of practical action to a book that is more about tracing problems and presenting large-scale solutions.

Read the Book Club review, then stop by the Harried Parent's Book Club Forum to add your opinion and ask questions. Coming next week: Sensory Integration: Answers for Teachers and Sensory Integration: Answers for Parents.