(RALEIGH) -- Many children these days are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough of them are experiencing the outdoor world which surrounds them. That is the view of Liz Baird an educator at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh who is one of the founders of "Take A Child Outside Week," which is underway this week.

"One of the easiest ways that you can improve your kid's school grades, they do better if they've been outside.  You can improve their health and you can improve their relationship with peers just by letting them get outside and play," said Baird.

Baird's efforts are based on the concepts of author Richard Louv, who coined the term "Nature Deficit Disorder." Activities are taking place in all 50 states, but Baird said parents can also just take a walk with their children or visit a local park.