Growing up digital may present a hidden health hazard for today’s youngsters, and not just the ones you might suspect. One expert says cell phones, MP3 players, hand-held games and other electronic gadgets increasingly deprive children of any meaningful interaction with nature. For many kids, the closest they may come to experiencing the great outdoors is watching “Animal Planet” on TV.

Dubbed “nature-deficit disorder,” Richard Louv, who coined the term in his book Last Child in the Woods, says the absence of interaction between children and nature leads to diminished use of senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of emotional and physical illness. “New research strongly suggests that childhood experience in nature is a vital element, perhaps necessity, for healthy child development,” offers Louv.

What can you do to bring your child back to nature? Louv suggests family activities like hiking, fishing and camping, or simply spending time in rustic, undeveloped areas. Luckily for us, Atlanta has some amazing places for doing just that!