Go Out and Play

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, which affects about 3 to 5 percent of U.S. children, may be alleviated with a simple treatment: outdoor activity in green areas such as parks, farms and even backyards. A study of 452 parents of children with ADHD, to be published in the September issue of the American Journal of Public Health, showed that activities in natural settings seemed to calm the children; afterward they were better able to focus, listen and follow instruction. The findings have "exciting implications," the researchers say, and suggest that "green" time could help many children -- and even reduce their need for medication. Kids playing outside? What a radical notion.
-- Debra Jones