| After exhaustive studies, the medical fraternity has | | | | environments, compared to the restorative elements |
| discovered a simple remedy for the growing numbers | | | | of a natural one. |
| of children diagnosed with attention deficit | | | | Add to this new found knowledge the unequivocal |
| hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Mother Nature. | | | | fact that ADHD kids focus better when they 're on |
| Interacting with a natural environment is as effective | | | | the move and taking your attention-bereft child to |
| as drugs | | | | natural play areas, or even areas where they can |
| The really startling factor that will have parents of | | | | participate in a particular sport like cricket or soccer |
| ADHD children whooping for joy is how the great | | | | fields, should provide a double whammy for their |
| outdoors rivals Ritalin when it comes to improving | | | | improvement. |
| dwindling concentration levels. Green environments | | | | Parents have reported how an activity as simple as |
| can and do have a significant impact on the well-being | | | | gardening has had positive effects on the |
| of your child without having to resort to drugs, which | | | | development of their child. Many of us find working |
| all have negative side effects in some form or | | | | with the soil and enjoying the warmth and bounty of |
| another. | | | | nature therapeutic, but it is those actions that |
| Studies conducted at an American university and | | | | engage more than a single sense that are particularly |
| published in the Journal of Attention Disorders | | | | helpful to the child diagnosed with ADHD. Gardening |
| indicated that children are able to concentrate better | | | | ropes in a number of senses, including olfactory, |
| and for longer periods of time after they have been | | | | tactile and visual as well as prompting our kids to |
| in and interacted with a pleasing natural habitat like a | | | | move around and be active - all of which are natural |
| city park, golf estate or conservation area. | | | | elixirs for the hyperactive. |
| However, when the same subjects were placed in | | | | The easy answer is an active life in a pleasant natural |
| both rather slumberous residential areas and the | | | | milieu |
| more bustling central business districts, they failed to | | | | The easy answer to the improved health and well |
| exhibit the same heightened levels of concentration. | | | | being of any child living with ADHD is quite simply an |
| City environments demand more interpretation | | | | active life in a pleasant natural environment. So if |
| City environments appear to require a lot more | | | | your child happens to be one of the ADHD statistics, |
| interpretation by the affected child and are | | | | the solution appears to be simple - pack those bags |
| consequently rather tiring for them. In fact, | | | | and head for rural surroundings, such as small |
| researchers have dubbed urban areas fatiguing | | | | holdings, farms or golf property estates. |