The book 'Balanced and Barefoot' by Angela Hanscom explores the importance of nature play for children's development. It highlights the negative impacts of a lack of unstructured outdoor play, such as decreased motor skills, sensory issues, and reduced creativity. The author argues for allowing children to take calculated risks and engage in independent play to foster their cognitive and emotional growth.
Angela Hanscom's 'Balanced and Barefoot' delves into the critical role of nature play in child development. As a pediatric occupational therapist, Hanscom presents compelling research showing how the decline in outdoor, unstructured play has led to various issues in children, including poor motor skills, sensory integration problems, and diminished creativity. The book emphasizes the importance of allowing children to take risks and engage in independent play, which are essential for their cognitive and emotional development. Hanscom's arguments are well-supported by her findings, making a strong case for integrating more nature-based activities into children's lives. For educators and parents, this book offers valuable insights into how to support children's growth through play and exploration in natural environments. The practical advice and research presented can help adults understand the benefits of nature play and encourage them to create opportunities for children to engage in these activities.
Quick quotes
There is a common thread that runs through the development of healthy motor, sensory, social-emotional, and cognitive skills. Any time there is a kink in that thread…your child is at risk for a range of problems, from having difficulty making friends to paying attention in school to controlling emotions to even losing the ability to imagine — not to mention being at risk for a range of physical injuries.
When we constantly say no — ‘No climbing,’ ‘No riding your bike to Henry’s house,’ ‘no running,’ ‘There’s no time for that,’ ‘Don’t touch that,’ or ‘Get down from there,’ — we’re likely to see effects on children’s development.
When children are deprived of both child-led and play experiences, they may struggle with higher-level thinking skills, such as coming up with their own ideas, problem solving, and other forms of creative expression.