As a kid, I roamed the neighborhood barefoot and caused chaos on the playground. During the summers, I was the queen of the local pool. I enjoyed going on camping trips and hiking with my parents and friends. I learned how to do cartwheels in the grass of suburban backyards and I picked berries with my t-shirt as a basket. This is not something I recommend unless your mother likes to wash purple juice stains out of your clothes constantly. My point is that any free time I had I spent outside. Through these adventures, I began learning about the world. Unfortunately, today’s kids are spending less time outside. As occupational therapists, it’s important to encourage outdoor play because it can actually help enhance a child’s pediatric occupational therapy experience. Kids are spending less time roaming outside because there aren’t as many safe spaces for them to play in. We need to try and reverse this problem because young children need time outside in order to learn new skills and develop properly. This is especially important for children struggling with disabilities, as they are less likely to spend quality time outside. The paranoia surrounding outdoor play has changed pediatric occupational therapy strategies for the worse, so we need to do everything we can to make our outdoor spaces safer. As many as  16% of elementary-age youth have some type of sensory processing issues. For children that show signs of delayed development, a visit to an occupational therapist can help them improve their abilities for completing daily tasks. Stepping out off the office and into nature is one of the best ways therapists can help improve the lives of their youngest clients. Outdoor activity is the number 1 way to get children motivated and able to start learning real-world tasks through fun and rewarding activity. Pediatric Occupational Therapy – The Perks of Parks The benefits of outdoor play have the potential to revolutionize the world of pediatric occupational therapy. Spending more time in nature is associated with: Increased brain development and functionality through exploration, imagination, and creativity while playing outside. Opening up one’s emotions and sense of self, which is ideal for children working through psychological distress. Better immune system health and healing from injuries. Lower BMI rates and ADHD symptoms. Improved social skills. Stronger visual skills. It’s evident that one of...