Balanced and Barefoot by Hanscom, Angela J. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Contents Contents Foreword Introduction

How Playing in Nature Contributes to Healthy Children What This Book Can Do for You

Chapter 1: Why Can’t My Child Sit Still?

Does My Child Need Therapy? Why Can’t My Child Pay Attention? Why Can’t My Child Physically Keep Up?

Poor Posture Is the New Norm Decreased Stamina Frail Like Your Grandmother’s Fine China

Why Does My Child Fall So Often? Why Does My Child Have an Endless Cold? Why Is My Child So Aggressive? Why Does My Child Have Difficulty Reading? Why Is My Child So Emotional?

Trouble with Emotional Control Rise in Anxiety

Why Doesn’t My Child Like to Play? In a Nutshell

Chapter 2: The Body and the Senses

The Body

Gross Motor Skills

The Importance of Building Strength Core Strength Upper Body Strength Endurance Postural Control Gross Motor Coordination

Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor Strength Fine Motor Coordination

The Senses

Touch Proprioception Vestibular Sense Sight Listening Taste and Smell What Is Sensory Integration?

The Mind

Social-Emotional Skills Cognitive Skills

In a Nutshell

Chapter 3: From Restricted Movement to Active Free Play

The Effects of Daily Restrictions on Movement

Beware of the Baby Devices! The “Sit Still” Mandate Screen Time Is Taking Over Overscheduled and Overwhelmed

Active Free Play

Give the Gift of Free Play to Your Child The Right Kind of Movement Active Play Builds Strong Muscles and Bones The Benefits of Heavy Work The Benefits of Spinning Strengthening the Immune System

How Much Active Play Is Enough? Specific Tips for Fostering Strong and Capable Kids In a Nutshell

Chapter 4: The Therapeutic Value of Outdoor Play

Why Outdoors?

The Outdoors Offers a Perfectly Balanced Sensory Experience The Outdoors Inspires the Mind The Outdoors Offers Risk and Challenge

How Is Nature Therapeutic?

Nature is Calming Nature Improves the Visual Sense

Simply Looking at Nature Impacts Children Play Outdoors Improves Eye Function

Nature Fosters Listening Nature Enhances the Sense of Touch

Hygiene Hypothesis Going Barefoot

Nature Enhances the Sense of Taste and Smell Outdoor Experiences that Engage the Senses

Promote Barefoot Babes Go Fruit or Berry Picking Garden with Children Go Birding Play in the Dark Interact with Animals Play at the Beach Encourage Tree Climbing Cook Over an Open Fire Immerse Your Child in Nature

In a Nutshell

Chapter 5: “Safety First” Equals Child Development Later

What Adult-Driven Safety Looks Like

Constant Supervision Fear of Strangers Right to Roam Fear of Injuries An Abundance of Rules

What Child-Driven Play Looks Like

Children Know What They Need Children Were Born to Take Risks Children Take Pride in Independent Play Experiences Taking Physical Risks Improves Safety Awareness

Common Sense Safety in the Outdoors In a Nutshell

Chapter 6: What’s Wrong with the Playgrounds and Indoor Play Spaces of Today?

The Playground Dilemma

Playgrounds of the Past Rise of the Regulations Change in Playground Equipment

Merry-Go-Rounds Swings and Slides Jungle Gyms Teeter-Totters

What to Look for in a Good Playground

Natural Components Space to Move Easy on the Colors Simple but Challenging Equipment

Indoor Play Spaces In a Nutshell

Chapter 7: Rethinking Recess and the Classroom

Rethinking Recess

Recess Can Make Your Child a Better Student Ways to Make Recess a Play Experience

Extend the Time Fewer Rules Loose Parts Free to Get Dirty

Rethinking the Classroom

Keep Things Visually Simple Get Moving in a Meaningful Way

Sit and Attend for Brief Periods of Time Change Positions Often Think Beyond the Chair Get Up and Dance Project-Based Learning Experiences

Nature in the Classroom Bringing the Classroom Outdoors

Rethinking Day Care

Spend Most of Your Time Outdoors Consider a Multiage Approach Use the Environment Offer Loose Parts Encourage Risk Taking

In a Nutshell

Chapter 8: When Is My Baby Ready for the Outdoors?

Newborns in Nature (Zero to Six Months)

Taking Walks Outdoors

Leaving the Containers Behind Sensations from Being Carried

Stepping Outdoors Ignites the Senses Time Outdoors Calms Babies “Floor Time” Outdoors Ways to Get Infants Outdoors

Babies in Nature (Seven to Twelve Months)

Play Outdoors Develops Competence

Uneven Terrain Challenges Growing Infants Laying the Foundation for Language and Memories

Ways to Get Older Babies and Toddlers Outdoors

A Little Less No, A Little More Yes In a Nutshell

Chapter 9: Getting Children to Play Creatively and Independently Outdoors

Overcoming Barriers to Independent Play

Overcoming Fear Moving Beyond Boredom

Ways to Encourage Independent and Creative Play

Giving Children Space

The Backyard The Park The Streets The Woods

Giving Children Time Bringing Friends into the Picture Using the Environment as Inspiration

Loose Parts

Providing Simplicity

In a Nutshell

Acknowledgments Recommended Reading References Index

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