Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Desmond Morris and Play

Friday, February 19th, 2010

In this short blog post about Desmond Morris (most famous for his book “The Naked Ape”) the writers discuss his work, his art, and the importance of play in all he does. They also discuss neoteny–how the juvenile feature of play is extended and conserved well into adulthood in humans and how this helps us.

The rise in anxiety and depression and the decline in play

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Boston College professor Peter Gray argues that the rise in anxiety and depression among kids is tied to a lack of a sense of control over their fate and a move toward emphasizing external goals over internal ones. A sense of control over one’s life and narrative, and internal rewards are things that play provides.

Learning and Play

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Susan Engel makes a passionate case for the essential role of play in the learning process.

Stuart in Time magazine article on overprotective parents

Monday, November 30th, 2009

helicopter Stuart is quoted in this Time magazine article about helicopter parents. It is currently one of the most popular articles in Time.

Everything in life can be learned at the playground

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

stanton_peeleStanton Peele has a nicely personal description of his observations about the benefits of free play.

NY Times Magazine article: Can Play Teach Self Control?

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

How play succeeds while other methods fail in giving kids better planning abilities and emotional modulation. Could work for adults, too.

Lack of Play Makes You Rigid, Depressed

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

This article from the New York Times is about stress, but it also about life without play. And about what can happen when play is reintroduced.

Let the Children Play

Monday, June 15th, 2009

nochildinsideHelen Guldberg has a provacative blog entry about the decrease in unsupervised play among children.

The Power of Play in Learning, Part II

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

playingonbeachsmallerIn his second post on this subject, Charles Lee Kelly talks more about training dogs with play and what this has to do with teaching kids and avoiding ADHD.

Star Review

Monday, May 18th, 2009

Take a look at this great review of the book from the Kansas City Star.