Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Kelly Dornbier

Abstract

Background: Early childhood experiences are the building blocks for all future behavior and health (Warmbold,2015). These experiences, whether positive or negative, build the foundation of the brain's architecture (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2016). The developing brain comprises neural connections that develop through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2016). This capstone project aims to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of naturebased practices through the lens of occupational therapy. Ginsburg et al. (2007) stated that play is essential for optimal child development. The benefits of play include fostering creativity, developing imagination, enhancing dexterity, and promoting physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. However, various factors have significantly affected play, including increased technology use, reduced parental time, and an overwhelming number of scheduled activities (Ginsburg et al., 2007). Lee et al. (2021) argued that nature-based play is influenced by individual circumstances, parental involvement, social environments, and ecological factors such as seasonality and rurality. Alarmingly, children average only four to seven minutes of unstructured outdoor play each day while spending approximately seven and a half hours on media (National Recreation and Park Association, n.d). Sugiyama et al. (2023) found a direct correlation between higher screen time at age two and suboptimal development in communication and daily living skills by age four. This study concluded that outdoor play mediates the relationship between screen time and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The decline in playtime can negatively impact a child's ability to store new information and may increase stress and anxiety (Ginsburg et al., 2007). Nature-based practices offer a solution, with established evidence showing they enhance children's physical activity and social, emotional, and cognitive development (Dankiw et al., 2020).

Purpose: This product was designed to give professionals a thorough understanding of the benefits of integrating occupational therapy principles, specifically the Sensory Pyramid of Learning, into nature-based practices (Williams & Schellenberger,1996). Combining these approaches can significantly enhance child development. Professionals who incorporate these methods into their work and provide education to parents can create opportunities to promote development. Supporting children's play in nature enriches their immediate experiences and positively influences other areas of their lives (Dankiw et al., 2020; Ginsburg et al., 2007).

Methodology: A model-driven literature review was completed to explore the therapeutic benefits of nature-based practices, specifically focusing on how these practices can influence early childhood development from an occupational therapy perspective. The literature review was analyzed through the Ecological Model of Human Performance lens, emphasizing the importance of context (EHP; Dunn,2017). This approach aligns with the project's objective of examining how the context of nature impacts health and well-being in early childhood development (Dunn, 2017). During a 14-week doctoral experiential placement at Teton Science School, many collaborative meetings were conducted with the staff and the early intervention program director to understand the need from their perspective based on their expertise and experiences. Teton Science School is a school that utilizes a combination of nature-based, placebased, and Reggio Emilia approaches, making it a good match for the project. A collaborative plan was established to create a guide for professionals to increase their knowledge of the therapeutic benefits and use of Nature-based practices with children by using the Sensory Pyramid of learning as the foundation and instructing parents and providing them with handouts. (Williams, M.S., & Shellenberger, S.,1996).

Conclusion: The product is a resource guide designed for professionals to enhance their knowledge and application of the therapeutic benefits of nature-based practices. The guide contains information on the benefits of these practices, activity ideas, parent handouts, evidence supporting nature-based approaches, and an observation checklist to identify when children may require additional support and referral to occupational therapy. Professionals can use the guide to educate parents about the advantages of nature-based practices for their children and offer examples of ways to engage in nature-based activities together. Professionals and parents will better understand how these practices positively impact child development, with the overall goal of encouraging increased use of nature-based practices.

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