自然笔记伴随青少年成长

The second Shenzhen Nature Notes event kicked off recently, with students from nearly 200 primary and secondary schools across the city taking part.

Organized by the Educational Science Research Institute of Shenzhen, the event aimed at reconnecting children with nature.

A survey on the relationship between children in cities and nature conducted by the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation and four other institutions in 2014 showed that 16.33 percent of the surveyed children display symptoms of nature-deficit disorder.

Nature-deficit disorder occurs when human beings, especially children, spend insufficient time outdoors, which can result in a wide range of behavioral problems. According to American nonfiction author and journalist Richard Louv, nature-deficit disorder is not meant to be a medical diagnosis but rather to serve as a description of the human costs of alienation from the natural world. Children with this disorder are more likely to suffer attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), have poor emotional coordination abilities and environmental adaptability, lack curiosity and be at higher risk for obesity.

Writing nature notes is a good way for children to reconnect with nature. Wu Jiang, a researcher with the Educational Science Research Institute of Shenzhen, said that nature notes help children get close to natural things and explore the beauty of them. Children can take notes of their joy, observations and discoveries about nature.

This year’s event has two themes — wetlands systems, and flora and fauna on campus or in communities. Children are required to keep observing some of the plants or animals in their surrounding natural environments (i.e., wetlands, schools or communities) and then write or draw about their surprising discoveries.

Pu Ying, a part-time researcher with the Educational Science Research Institute of Shenzhen, recommended that children conduct their observations in Mangrove Tree Park, Shenzhen Central Park, Litchi Park, Shenzhen Waterlands Resort and Pingshan Wetlands Park or even the ponds in schools and communities.

Tan Liqi, head of the animal epidemic prevention supervision authority of Futian District, suggested the city government formulate laws and regulations to encourage schools to conduct education on nature. Tan added that schools should expand channels for natural education and hire more nature course teachers.

(Yang Mei)