Can overemphasis on keeping kids safe actually be causing more harm than good? This episode highlights how much has changed in the level of freedom and childhood experiences over the years and the long term implications that may result. This is a conversation with Brenda Richards, an occupational therapist who offers a program called Timbernook. The program uses nature-based play experiences to foster mental, emotional and physical health to kids of all abilities. We discuss:
- Some of the challenges in the current environment of allowing kids more responsibility and freedom to roam
- Whether the crime statistics match current perceptions
- Brenda’s story of how she transitioned from working in a nursing home to opening her own private practice working with children
- How a current trend in deficits of “typically developing” children may correlate with how kids are being raised including Container Baby Syndrome, safer playgrounds and a lack of unstructured, unsupervised outdoor play experiences
- The benefits of mixed age group play and healthy risk taking
- The hygiene hypothesis and other research of the benefits of outdoor play
- What the Timbernook philosophy and experience is and how it can benefit kids in the current climate
If you are interested in more information on Timbernook or The Center for LifeSkills, contact Brenda Richards, OTR/L
Brenda.Richards@Timbernook.com
grow@center4lifeskills.com
Timbernook of Greater Cleveland