Episode 89: Restoring the Occupation of Childhood

Episode 89:
Restoring the Occupation of Childhood

Guest: Angela Hanscom

Hosted by: Marina Robb

Angela Hanscom

Angela J. Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook - an award-winning developmental and nature-based program that has gained international popularity. She is the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children. Hanscom is also a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and in 2019 won the Small Business of the Year Award for the State of New Hampshire.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts

In this episode ...

In this 1st episode of Season 12, Restoring the Occupation of Childhood, I’m joined by Angela Hanscom, a paediatric occupational therapist, Author of Balanced and Barefoot.
She is also the founder of TimberNook that programmes designed to immerse children in sensory-rich, authentic play in nature and are found in over 51 locations in 4 countries!
Angela’s work invites us to look again at the rising challenges we’re seeing in children today - anxiety, attention difficulties and disconnection, and to ask a different question.
What if these aren’t problems within the child… but reflections of the environments we’ve created around them?

In this episode, we explore what children truly need to flourish - and how outdoor play, movement, and freedom are not extras, but essential foundations for healthy development.

Topics include:

In this episode, we explore what children truly need to flourish - and how outdoor play, movement, and freedom are not extras, but essential foundations for healthy development.
A “flourishing child” is not defined by academic success, but by their ability to adapt, regulate, take risks, and keep going when things are hard.
The environments children spend most of their time in are shaping their development - often more than we realise.
Outdoor environments offer rich, multi-sensory experiences that support brain organisation and sensory integration.
Uneven ground, natural sounds, and changing conditions constantly challenge balance, awareness, and attention.
Many modern children are significantly under-moving, with long periods of sitting impacting posture, attention, and overall development.
Movement - especially spinning, climbing, and going upside down - is essential for developing the vestibular system and the ability to focus.
When children are restricted from movement, they often appear fidgety or inattentive - but this may reflect unmet developmental needs rather than behavioural issues.
Risky play helps children develop internal risk assessment, confidence, and safety awareness - overprotection can have the opposite effect.
Play is the primary “occupation” of childhood and the most meaningful way children develop physically, socially, and emotionally.
Child-led, unstructured play supports executive functioning, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and social skills.
Outdoor play offers far greater therapeutic benefit than controlled indoor environments due to its complexity, freedom, and full-body engagement.
A major barrier to children’s play is adult fear - often driven more by social perception than actual risk
Reducing demands and giving children time and space outdoors can significantly support mental health and reduce anxiety.
Restoring outdoor play is not just about individual children — it has the potential to shift culture, education, and how we understand development.

Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com