The Richmond area had been covered in snow and ice for weeks, and residents — both adults and children — were anxious for more time outside. That meant Angela Hanscomb’s visit came at just the right time for the Steward community. Hanscomb is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook, a research-backed, nature-based outdoor play program for children. 

Ms. Hanscom is the inspiration for much of Steward’s Nature Play programming, shared Megan Young, dean of programs and innovation strategy in the Bryan Innovation Lab. 

“Angela Hanscom’s perspective as a pediatric occupational therapist deepens and affirms what many of us instinctively know about the importance of getting children outside,” Ms. Young said. “Outdoor experiences provide the movement and sensory input children need for healthy development, supporting not only their overall well-being but also their ability to focus, regulate, and learn effectively in the classroom.”

All Lower School teachers read Ms. Hanscomb’s book “Balanced & Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children” in the summer of 2025. They have implemented many of her suggestions this school year, including changing the Lower School program to include Nature Play time for every grade level at least once per octo.

Following Ms. Hanscomb’s in-person professional development session, which was open to educators across the Richmond area, Steward teachers at every grade level are brainstorming more opportunities for learning and playing outside. This aligns with our schoolwide theme this year of Nature, and priorities outlined in our strategic plan, Compass 2028.

During her visit, Ms. Hanscom also led a session for parents about the importance of outdoor play and offered practical ways families can support unstructured play at home. She explained how changing cultural norms restricting outdoor playtime have negatively impacted children’s development, both physically and emotionally. Nature is rich in sensory experiences, while the indoors can be dysregulating, she shared. Children need long stretches of outdoor playtime with limited adult intervention to learn skills like healthy risk-taking, collaboration, agency, and choice. The sensory input also improves children’s balance, proprioception (body awareness), core strength, emotional regulation, and attention span/focus.

Following her talk, Ms. Hanscom met with students in grades JK, 2, and 4 in Steward’s Nature Play space by the Bryan Innovation Lab. While the students played, she advised teachers on when to intervene and when to let kids figure things out for themselves. She also offered guidance on how to best use Steward’s natural spaces and ideas on large loose parts to incorporate, such as pallets, tires, bricks, and more bamboo.

“I have been so excited to see the positive outcomes (cooperative, creative play in nature; problem solving; learning to take safe risks, etc.) of our Nature Play program, and I look forward to implementing some of the strategies that Ms. Hanscom suggested upon seeing our space in action,” said Suzanne Casey, Lower School Bryan Innovation Lab Specialist. “We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from her in person as well as through her book and podcasts.”