DESE Podcasts
DESE Podcasts
The Decline of Free Play
The Decline of Free Play
The Decline of Free Play
Thursday 14th November 2024
Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild discuss the decline of free play and its impact on child development. Discover practical tips for incorporating more unstructured play.
20 minutes
Informative
Engaging
Supportive
Honest
Compassionate
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Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Sobriety Toolkit
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Parenting & Children
Healing from Sexual Trauma
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Get the buttons here!The Crucial Role of Free Play in Child Development
Episode Overview
- The decline of free play is impacting children's social skills and mental health.
- Traditional play-based childhoods foster essential skills like conflict resolution and empathy.
- Over-scheduled lives and helicopter parenting limit opportunities for unstructured play.
- Schools can incorporate more free play by extending recess times and opening playgrounds before and after school.
- Adventure playgrounds encourage imaginative play and allow children to experience manageable risks.
Can you imagine an adult coming out to the backyard and reffing your tag game?
In this episode of Arkansas A.W.A.R.E., Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild dive into the fascinating topic of free play and its decline in today's society. Drawing from Jonathan Haidt's book, 'The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,' they explore how the shift from physical, synchronous play to digital, asynchronous interactions is impacting children's development.
The discussion touches on the stark differences between traditional play-based childhoods and modern phone-based childhoods, highlighting the importance of embodied, synchronous play for developing essential social skills like conflict resolution and empathy. Betsy and Nicole share their personal experiences and observations from working in schools, noting how over-scheduled lives and helicopter parenting are limiting children's opportunities for unstructured play. They emphasise the critical role of free play in fostering creativity, teamwork, and task initiation skills.
The conversation is peppered with humour and relatable anecdotes, making it an engaging listen for parents and educators alike. The hosts also discuss practical steps schools can take to incorporate more free play into their schedules, such as extending recess times and opening playgrounds before and after school. They highlight innovative ideas like adventure playgrounds, which encourage imaginative play and allow children to experience manageable risks.
By the end of the episode, you'll be left pondering how you can create more opportunities for free play in your child's life or school environment. Betsy and Nicole's witty banter and genuine passion for the topic make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in child development and mental health in education. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice on fostering a healthier, more balanced childhood experience.