Browsing Category

Play

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.”

– Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child

Play is one of the nine components of our Evolved Nest, our millions year-old, evolutionary pathway to wellbeing.

What everyone needs to thrive and reach their potential

A dearth of play in US childhoods, including kindergartens (Miller & Almon, 2009), has been linked to increase childhood stress and impaired achievement (Sahlberg & Doyle, 2019). In fact, the best schooling system in the world—with the highest achievement scores—are Finnish schools which routinely incorporate active play throughout the day and into high school (ibid).

How Does Self-Directed Social Play Help Children Grow?

Humans are social mammals. Young social mammals’ lives are filled with social play as part of self-development and self-organizing around well-functioning social relationships (Burghardt, 2005).

Self-directed social play is play that children organize and manage themselves, including rule making.

ACES, Adverse Childhood Experiences Adultism Adverse Childhood Events, ACES Alloparenting Attachment Parenting / Bonding Babies Birth Psychology (Prenatal and Perinatal Experiences)

Why 1000 Hours Outside?

"There is much existing and emerging research recommending kids get long periods of time to play in nature....…