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....
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.
Why Walking Laps at Recess Time Isn’t a Good Idea
By Angela Hanscom I was in the middle of feeding my baby boy, when the phone rang. “I need your help,” the person on the other line said. It was an old friend of mine. “Our school is making it mandatory that the children walk laps during recess time.” She went on to...
How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Helps Children Find Their Voices
By Becky Bowen, M.A. CCC-SLP I had a fantastic summer, because I got to spend it at camp. As a speech-language pathologist, I was interested in not only what the campers were doing at TimberNook, but what they were saying as well The benefits of free play in the great...