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A review by 10_4tina
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
1. I needed no convincing of the benefits of unrestricted outdoor play. 2. I have no children to directly apply this with. 3. This book was still well worth my time.
Having just completed several months of occupational therapy, I found Hanscom's perspective as an OT really interesting. I generally understand how good outdoor play is, but some of the particular benefits were fascinating. I also appreciated the emphasis on unstructured play as opposed to only outdoor play. As a verbal noticer and avid discoverer myself, I struggle to allow children to make their own discoveries sometimes because I get caught up in showing them my discoveries. I loved the thoughts on materials for an unstructured resource without any descriptions, demonstrations, or even identifications. Children can find their own parts and decide if and how to play with them.
The premise is simple and yet I won't reduce it to a blogpost on playing outside that got dragged out. The content filled the book. I enjoyed it and learned new things even though I've read several similar books at this point.
Chapter 5:
Risky play typically occurs in free play (not organized by adult play) - in free play, kids learn to manage, control, and overcome fears by taking risks. It's a form of exposure therapy. Kids force themselves to do things they're afraid of to confront fears and overcome them.
Interesting things:
Chapter 7:
Loose parts for free play - no explanation or pointing them out - children will find them on their own and the discovery process gives kids ownership of their own loose parts. Clean slates sometimes, but also leave play schemes for days or weeks to let their playscapes grow.
Chapter 9:
When kids have friends over, they roam farther and play in the woods longer, getting more creative with their play. Tip: Schedule all-day play dates. Having friends over for the full day allows time to get bored, eat meals together, explore, imagine, and create new play opportunities <- my childhood trademark and my adulthood dream
Having just completed several months of occupational therapy, I found Hanscom's perspective as an OT really interesting. I generally understand how good outdoor play is, but some of the particular benefits were fascinating. I also appreciated the emphasis on unstructured play as opposed to only outdoor play. As a verbal noticer and avid discoverer myself, I struggle to allow children to make their own discoveries sometimes because I get caught up in showing them my discoveries. I loved the thoughts on materials for an unstructured resource without any descriptions, demonstrations, or even identifications. Children can find their own parts and decide if and how to play with them.
The premise is simple and yet I won't reduce it to a blogpost on playing outside that got dragged out. The content filled the book. I enjoyed it and learned new things even though I've read several similar books at this point.
Chapter 5:
Risky play typically occurs in free play (not organized by adult play) - in free play, kids learn to manage, control, and overcome fears by taking risks. It's a form of exposure therapy. Kids force themselves to do things they're afraid of to confront fears and overcome them.
Interesting things:
Chapter 7:
Loose parts for free play - no explanation or pointing them out - children will find them on their own and the discovery process gives kids ownership of their own loose parts. Clean slates sometimes, but also leave play schemes for days or weeks to let their playscapes grow.
Chapter 9:
When kids have friends over, they roam farther and play in the woods longer, getting more creative with their play. Tip: Schedule all-day play dates. Having friends over for the full day allows time to get bored, eat meals together, explore, imagine, and create new play opportunities <- my childhood trademark and my adulthood dream