大家都說現(xiàn)在的小孩子很幸福，萬千寵愛于一身，想要什么就有什么。果真是這樣嗎？他們知道在游戲中如何爬樹翻墻，現(xiàn)實(shí)中卻可能連成片的樹林都沒有見過。他們耳邊聽著世界各地的流行音樂，卻從未欣賞過林間小鳥清脆的歌聲。這就是我們今天要說的“大自然缺失癥”。其實(shí)，他們的生活少了很多樂趣。

Relating to contemporary children and young people, nature-deficit disorder refers to the increasing tendency to spend very little time outdoors in the open countryside. The contention is that today's kids do not play and interact with nature in the way that their parents did, instead spending most of their leisure time inside. 21st century kids are more likely to watch TV or play on computers or games consoles. If they do engage in a physical activity, it's likely to be some kind of organized sport under the watchful eye of adults.

“大自然缺失癥”指的是現(xiàn)在的青少年到戶外、空曠的鄉(xiāng)間活動(dòng)的時(shí)間越來越少這樣一個(gè)趨勢。這個(gè)說法表達(dá)的意思是，現(xiàn)在的孩子不再像他們的父輩那樣在大自然里自由玩耍、跟大自然交流了，他們大部分的時(shí)間都待在室內(nèi)。21世紀(jì)的孩子們更多的是在看電視、玩電腦或游戲。就算他們參與一些體育活動(dòng)，很有可能也是有人組織并且在家長的看護(hù)下進(jìn)行的。

The expression nature-deficit disorder was coined in 2005 by American author Richard Louv. The term originates from his bestselling book on the same topic entitled Last Child in the Woods – Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

“大自然缺失癥”（nature-deficit disorder）這個(gè)說法是由美國作家理查德?勒夫在2005年提出來的，最早出現(xiàn)在他的同主題暢銷書《失去山林的孩子: 拯救大自然缺失癥兒童》。

Though this might just appear to be a general observation on the way technology has changed childhood, the premise of nature-deficit disorder goes beyond a simple lack of exposure to the countryside. The suggestion is that this is more like an illness, with symptoms which might include depression, hyperactivity, boredom and loneliness.

雖然這個(gè)說法表面上看來只是總結(jié)了科技對童年帶來的改變，但“大自然缺失癥”所傳遞的信息并不僅僅限于跟大自然接觸太少這一事實(shí)。這個(gè)說法提醒人們，這一狀況更像是一種疾病，可能的癥狀包括抑郁、多動(dòng)癥、無聊以及孤獨(dú)。

As well as the lure of instant electronic entertainment, suggested causes of nature-deficit disorder include parental fears about traffic and predatory strangers, health and safety rules, and laws against collecting fossils or wild flowers.

引起“大自然缺失癥”的原因除了電子娛樂設(shè)備的誘惑以外，父母擔(dān)心孩子出交通意外或被陌生人擄走、健康及安全方面的規(guī)定，以及嚴(yán)禁撿拾化石或采摘野花等相關(guān)的法律都是導(dǎo)致這一狀況出現(xiàn)的原因。

相關(guān)閱讀

頤養(yǎng)身心的“森林浴” forest bathing

露營也有“豪華版”

讓我們一起“找回童真” Down Aging

環(huán)保先鋒“土食者” locavore

（中國日報(bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）

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