Play
Louv writes, "Americans around my age, baby boomers or older, enjoyed a kind of free, natural play that seems, in the era of kid pagers, instant messaging, and Nintendo, like a quaint artefact." Playing has transformed absolutely due to the technological innovations which discourage children from participating in the conventional outdoor plays. Instead of playing, the contemporary children allot their time to technology.
Nature
Louv explicates, “For children, nature comes in many forms. A newborn calf; a pet that lives and dies; a worn path through the woods; a fort nested in stinging nettles…Unlike television, nature does not steal time; it amplifies it. Nature offers healing for a child living in a destructive family or neighbourhood." Nature is utterly mystical; hence it cannot be equated to technological gadgets like TV. The supernatural dynamic nature is evident when it soothes a child by delivering unexplainable therapy. Accordingly, spending time in nature is worthier than bestowing it to TV.
Birches
Louv cites Robert Frost: “When I see birches bend to left and right…I like to think some boy’s been swinging.” Birches are emblematic of nature and its contribution to children’s physical activity. The imagery of a boy swinging of the birches is impressive because it means that the boy has been playing and interacting with nature. The absence of trees such as beeches in the environment would deny children ample playing settings.
Woods
Louv writes, “I spent hours exploring the woods and farmland at the suburban edge. There were the Osage orange trees, with thorny unfriendly limbs that dropped sticky, foul fruit larger than softballs." The woods comprise a variety of trees; thus, they are epitomes of diversity. Exploring the woods is healthy for it offers a clean and serene ambiance which soothes the body.
Books
Louv admits, “Shelters, Shacks and Shanties happens to be one of my favorite books because…Beard epitomizes a time when a young person’s experience of nature was inseparable from the romantic view of the American frontier." Louv cites the book because it underscores the essence of the outdoors. The ideology of the book encourages the readers to explore and appreciate the outdoor environments. Besides, the romantic perception would encourage readers to seek nature's therapy.
