"How outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children's cognitive development and growth. Tons of fun, engaging ways to help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. Today's kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But children need "rough and tumble" outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. A lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. How can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses? Using the philosophy 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 your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment. Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We've taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. Discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Angela J. Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook, a developmental and nature-based program. She has a master's degree in occupational therapy, and an undergraduate degree in kinesiology."--Provided by publisher.

Why can't my child sit still? -- The body and the senses -- From restricted movement to active free play -- The therapeutic value of outdoor play -- "Safety first" equals child development later -- What's wrong with the playgrounds and indoor play spaces of today? -- Rethinking recess and the classroom -- When is my baby ready for the outdoors? -- Getting children to play creatively and independently outdoors.