When pediatric OT Adele Hopper and early childhood educator Jess Warner stepped outside the clinic and classroom, everything changed—regulation improved, anxiety eased, and play exploded into real learning. In this powerful, hope-filled conversation from Australia, we trace children’s journeys from cautious observers to joyful risk-takers, and the way true, child-led play builds executive function, social courage, and deep confidence. You’ll hear how TimberNook’s long, unhurried blocks of outdoor time create what school and screens can’t: mixed-age “neighborhood play,” sibling bonding, and communities where grandparents pull up a chair and stay. Parents report calmer evenings and better sleep; facilitators witness science, literacy, and problem-solving emerge organically—no adult-made toys required.

Adele and Jess also open the door for parents itching to bring this to their towns: how they found land, partnered with Scouts, and let nature (plus a few loose parts) do the heavy lifting. If you’ve felt that tug to start something, this episode is your green light—and a reminder that childhood thrives when it’s ungoverned by four walls. Listen in, share it with a friend, and then take the first step outside.

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