Nature Play SA Schools Coordinator Eric Nicholson shares his working knowledge of the wonders of worm farming, taking Nature Play to schools and families and the current generational trend of parental risk aversion.
This episode of the Sage Family Podcast is an engaging interview with Peter Gray, Evolutionary Psychologist, blogger and author of the inspiring book Free to Learn. Peter explains why the adult way of looking at childhood can have a negative impact on childhood learning and the consequences of disallowing inoculations of risk. Peter is a research professor of psychology at Boston College and founding board member and president of the alliance for self-directed education.
Subject Area: Risky Play
Why does the phrase “Drive fast, take chances” elicit both laughter and fear? Researchers have identified a kind of developmentally important play called “Scary Funny.” Listen to this engaging conversation between Occupational Therapist Kathleen Lockyer and Dr Mariana Brussoni, risk researcher from the University of British Columbia to learn more about how a little bit of risk can go a long way towards a child reaching their true potential.
Length: 1h : 33m : 00s
Subject Area: Risky Play
Dr Carla Gull of Loose Parts Nature Play, educator and mother to four energetic boys, begins her podcast series with exploration of the Theory of Loose Parts paper by Simon Nicholson, who argued that everyone should have the right to realise their creative potential and inventiveness, not just scientists and artists. This paper is a foundation piece in the study of loose parts play and nature exploration. With loose parts, there are so may variables in action within an environment that is always changing.
Length: 31m : 00s
Subject Area: Loose Parts
In this in-depth interview, author and activist Tim Gill urges parents to consider the level of freedom and types of experiences they had in childhood. He explains why allowing children to fulfill their need to test their own limits helps them assess risks, learn their capacities, gain confidence and become more resilient. Tim talks about unstructured play and what a great play space looks like; garnering peer support from other parents; and what can be done to help the growing number of children suffering from anxiety and depression. You’ll learn why it’s vital to weigh up the risks vs benefits of certain types of play and how to be a little less risk averse and a little more free range.
Length: 1h : 06m : 00s
Subject Area: Risk, urban planning
Entertaining and in depth conversation with author Hanna Rosin about modern Western society’s obsession with child safety, which asks whether we have stripped childhood of independence and the joys of discovery. Discusses why many parents are full of nostalgic memories of their own free range childhoods yet so fixed on the idea that the world is a more dangerous place than it used to be.
Length: 52m : 18s
Subject Area: Risk, safety
Host Robert Siegel interviews author Hanna Rosin about the downside to parents micro-managing their children’s physical and emotional risks. She discusses the drastic change in parental supervision over a single generation and the effect it is having on children’s ability to grow up into healthy, capable adults. Contains discussion around ‘The Land’ – an adventure playground in Wales where children are allowed to light their own fires and are in full control of the typography without a parent in sight.
Length: 8m : 09s
Subject Area: Risk, supervision
Ep 1 – Angela Hanscom on the rise in sensory issues in children.
Occupational Therapist Angela Hanscom, creator of TimberNook and author of ‘Balanced and Barefoot’ explains why a childhood disconnect from nature is having such a profound affect on children’s sensory integration. Angela clarifies why extended, unstructured and, for the most part, unsupervised outdoor play is a key component to healthy development.
Includes practical tips for parents to instigate children’s outdoor play.
Length: 4m : 25s
Outdoor Nature Art teacher Marghanita Hughes tells listeners about her childhood adventures in the Scottish highlands, where creativity was nurtured and inspired by the environment. Marghanita talks about the importance of role modelling positive, attentive relationships to each other and specialises in reconnecting children and adults with nature through meaningful art.
Length: 29m : 39s
With many modern playgrounds becoming more sterile, overprotected areas of parent-directed play, children are less likely to be enthused, active or impressed with the idea of getting outside.
Now there is a movement to create play spaces that challenge kids physically and socially, putting children in charge of their own play. Playspace designer, author and speaker Rusty Keeler outlines the benefits of ‘adventure’ style playgrounds and why letting your children build what their imagination dreams up (without critiquing every move) may increase their creativity and improve their mental capacity.