The evening glow is settling in. As the trail dips down, I feel a cool pocket of air around me. The trees are bursting with new growth, and I see three deer bounding up a hill in the distance. There is hardly anyone else around even though I’m in a park in the...
Balanced and Barefoot Blog
Outdoor play and the unrestricted freedom of movement-based programs are vital for children’s cognitive and physical development, and help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced and resilient adults.
Creating Child-friendly Environments During Tricky Times
In 2019, I would have said that in an increasingly overscheduled world, play is even more important. Now, just 4 months later and in the midst of a global pandemic, I repeat the same message, and for a similar reason-- play brings joy. The benefits of play are...
Why Adults Should (Frequently!) Refrain from Directing Children’s Play
By Elizabeth Wilkins & Angela Hanscom The woods are unusually crowded with adults. As a TimberNook provider, I am used to being one of only a few adults in the forest. However, today we have our parent/child group out exploring the space. The parents appear just...
Building Confidence & Competence through Play
Growing up, the neighborhood kids and I had a special place where we liked to play. We called it, “the dirt field” and that is exactly what it was -- a large wide-open space of red clay with a small patch of trees on the backside of a neighboring farm. We loved it,...
A Case for Space: Easing the Mind of the Anxious Child
By: Jenna Trumbull We have all known that child. The one whose parents spend every morning convincing them to come. The one who spends the day with tears in their eyes, quietly observing from the sidelines. They become overwhelmed and shut down when they have to...
“Occupational Therapy” in a Way That Makes Sense
By Jade Rogers Jade is a pediatric occupational therapist and the director of TimberNook Elgin in Ontario, Canada. She talks about why she feels TimberNook is a form of occupational therapy and what lead her to this program in the first place. Learn more about Jade’s...
Rough and Tumble Play – Develops Strong & Capable Children
By Angela Hanscom Three young boys and two girls scramble up a large dirt hill, almost in unison. One boy gets to the top first and screams, “King of the hill!” Another child laughs and playfully pushes the boy aside, “No. I’m king of the hill!” Each child takes a...
Why Are the Playgrounds Empty?
By Pam Lobley This is a playground in the middle of my busy, family-centered town. Where were the kids? Yes, there are often moms or nannies here with little children: babies on swings or toddlers dashing around. But school aged kids are mostly absent.This depresses...
The Case For Recess – Why We Need to Bring Back Free Play
By Angela Hanscom Are children’s physical and mental health and recess related? You bet. Recess is important. It’s the opportunity for children to move their bodies, make new friends, and jump into imaginary worlds. If done correctly, recess can be an invaluable...
Sample Letter to Superintendents – The Case for Recess
By Angela Hanscom Sometimes we forget the role that recess plays in developing young minds and bodies. Schools are busy places, and teachers are busy people, so it's not surprising that recess is often the first thing to get cut or taken away as a form of punishment....