In the second episode of the Why We Play series, we’re digging into why we play for mental health. It’s not just something we think is true or that sounds nice, it’s a claim that’s backed up by science and statistics. There’s something about play that is essential to developing and maintaining our mental health. We’ll dig into those findings and what they mean for our youngest learners.
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Notes from the Show:
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Learn about Dr. Stuart Brown’s story in this interview in the Journal of Play.
Dr. Peter Gray’s articles:
The Decline of Play and the Rise of Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents (2011)
American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report:
The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children (2018)
Summary of research on agency and choice:
Born to Choose: The Origins and Value of the Need for Control (2010)
Recent Research in the UK published in Child Psychiatry & Human Development:
Child’s Play: Examining the Association Between Time Spent Playing and Child Mental Health (2022)
Dr. David Whitebread’s note in the Lancet:
Free Play and Children’s Mental Health (2017)
Why We Play
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