The Anxious Generation – and why this book matters for free play
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist who has spent decades studying moral development, social behavior, and the changing nature of childhood. His book The Anxious Generation has sparked a global conversation about why anxiety and depression have risen so sharply among children and teenagers over the past decade. The book argues that a major shift […]
Lack of Free Play: A Major Cause of Childhood Anxiety
We’re in the middle of a childhood mental health crisis, and if you look closely, the roots stretch beyond diagnoses and labels. They dig into everyday life—screen time, school pressures, over-involved parents, and ultra-structured schedules. But there’s one cause hiding in plain sight, and it may be the most important one of all: the decline […]
Are Kids Getting Older Younger?
Childhood today looks very different from what it did a generation ago. Many children now get smartphones by age 10, giving them access to a constant stream of information—news, social media, influencers, and trends that once belonged firmly in the adult world. Some say this early exposure is forcing kids to grow up too fast, […]
Don’t let a little mess stop a playdate
One one of the biggest obstacles to free play? Us. Specifically, the way we overthink playdates. Too often, we turn a simple opportunity for free play into an event. And in doing so, we sometimes end up avoiding playdates altogether. Let’s rethink that. The Real Obstacle to Free Play When thinking of inviting our children’s […]
Play as an endangered species
An article published in the World Economic Forum sheds light on the scale of steady play decline. According to research commissioned by Edelman Intelligence, 56% of respondents in a survey of 12,710 parents in 10 countries said their kids spent less than an hour every day playing outside—less time than prisoners in a maximum security […]
Decline of Play by Peter Gray
Free play is essential for children’s healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development. The decline is linked to the rise in childhood depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Change in how children play
The way children play has changed in various ways over the last 20 years. Some of the main changes we see: Increased use of technologyChildren today have much greater access to technology, including smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles, which has led to an increase in screen-based activities. Increase in organized activitiesMany children today participate in […]