Episode 25: The Importance of Play & Nature During Childhood with Angela Hanscom
I absolutely loved this beautiful conversation with Angela Hanscom. Angela is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and the founder of TimberNook a developmental and nature-based program that has gained international popularity including one here in Australia. Angela also has a highly viewed TEDx Talk and is the author of one of my all-time favourite books, Balanced and Barefoot.
Angela shares her story as an Occupational Therapist and the creation of TimberNook.
We then discuss:
- The harm children are experiencing from reduced unstructured outdoor time
- Adults as a barrier to children’s neurological development and why adults need to step back when children play
- Why staging children’s learning is detrimental to their development
- Nature being superior to man-made playgrounds and organised sports
- Play is where children learn and work through traumas
- How play can help children who experience sensory issues
- Plus so much more
Where to Find Angela
TimberNook Website
TimberNook on Facebook
Resources
Balanced & Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom
Angela’s TEDx Talk
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
ABOUT ANGELA
Angela J. Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook—an award-winning developmental and nature-based program that has gained international popularity. She is the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children. Hanscom is also a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and in 2019 won a Small Business of the year award for the State of New Hampshire.
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