These are my words:
Summer is a magical time for kids. They learn from unstructured play and learn curiosity about the world around them. It is only nice outside for a few months of the year where we live. The book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv, illustrates just how important outside time is on child development. Today we see dramatic increases in childhood obesity, attention difficulties and depression. These cost the health care system lots of money. The research shows that time outside can greatly reduce these problems we face as a society.
Summer break gives kids with working parents a chance to go to camps and have outside time that is much different than school. During the school year the outside time is limited by poor weather, disappearing access to natural areas, competition from television and computers, dangerous traffic and homework.
We have some fantastic outdoor programs in our city during the summer. All-year school will basically eliminate them.
Lynette Rogers North Vancouver
