The Decline of Outdoor Play – And the Rise in Sensory Issues
- Speaker:
- Angela Hanscom, MOTR/L
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 15 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Apr 22, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS065726
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
As we continue to decrease children’s time and space to move and play outdoors, we are seeing a simultaneous rise in the number of children that are presenting with sensory and motor deficits. At the same time, classroom teachers are observing more and more children having trouble with attention, falling out of their seats in school, increased clumsiness, and even aggressiveness with games like tag on the playground.
So, how can we reverse this alarming trend of sensory and motor issues in children? How can we ensure that children are fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses?
Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program – that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis – Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help children thrive in outdoor environments using a therapeutic approach to nature play.
- Developmental changes that are taking place in children
- Why more and more children are presenting with sensory, motor, and social issues
- The decline in creativity and imaginative play abilities
- Sensory and motor development, creativity, and independence with outdoor play in all environmental settings
Credit
Speaker
Angela Hanscom, MOTR/L Related seminars and products
Angie is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook. She is also the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children. Awarded a “Hometown Hero” by Glamour magazine for her innovative work with TimberNook, Hanscom has also been a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and was featured on the NPR education blog, Children & Nature Network, Edutopia, and Johnson & Johnson TEDx Talks. In her spare time, she enjoys sharing her life and love with her three children and husband in rural New Hampshire.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Angela Hanscom is the founder of TimberNook. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Angela Hanscom has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
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Objectives
- Identify the developmental changes associated with decreased outdoor play and their impact on children’s sensory, motor, and social skills.
- Analyze the relationship between limited nature play, rising sensory and motor issues, and declines in creativity and imaginative play.
- Apply therapeutic strategies that utilize outdoor environments to foster sensory integration, motor development, creativity, and independence in children.
Outline
The Decline of Outdoor Play
- Trends in children’s reduced time and space to play outside
- Rising rates of sensory, motor, and social challenges
- Classroom observations: attention issues, clumsiness, and aggressive play
Developmental Consequences
- Impact on sensory integration and motor development
- Decline in creativity and imaginative play
- Social-emotional implications of limited free play
Nature as the Ultimate Sensory Experience
- Why outdoor environments support healthy brain and body development
- The role of unstructured play in fostering independence and resilience
- Linking outdoor play to improved physical and psychological health
- Limitations of the research and potential risks
Strategies for Reversing the Trend
- Practical ways to integrate outdoor play into daily routines
- Designing therapeutic, nature-based activities for children
- Supporting teachers, parents, and communities in creating play opportunities
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Educators
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapist assistants
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Physical Therapists
- Speech-language Pathologist
- Social Workers
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