Big Picture Science - The Play’s the Thing
Has
children’s play become too safe? Research suggests that efforts to prioritize
safety harms children’s mental and physical development during play and
contribute to anxiety. One solution: introduce risk into play. We visit an
adventure playground where kids play unsupervised with anything from scraps of
metal to hammers and nails. Plus, what are the evolutionary benefits of play?
After all, we’re not the only species who like to roughhouse, sled, or chase
balls.
And, reclaiming play for those who have outgrown recess.
Guests:
- David Toomey - Professor of English, University of Massachusetts. Amherst and author of “Kingdom of Play: What Ball-Bouncing Octopuses, Belly-Flopping Monkeys, and Mud-Sliding Elephants Reveal About Life Itself.”
- Mariana Brussoni - Developmental psychologist who studies children's outdoor risky play, and professor at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Medicine
- Yoni Kallai - Interim director, head playworker and co-founder of play:groundNYC
- Peter Gray - Psychology researcher at Boston College and author of "Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life"
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