I grew up in the 1950s with a public playground in my backyard. I spent all my free time there once my homework and chores were done. It became the bedrock of my early development and, in many ways, my best friend. Later, leading two corporations, I saw many younger employees who hadn’t grown up on a playground. They often relied on ‘group think,’ believing another meeting would solve their problems, yet struggled to take true ownership. At my employees’ and wife’s suggestion, I wrote The Death of the Playground to capture the principles of free play and creative thought—lessons once learned firsthand but now largely lost.
I wrote
The Death of the Playground: How the Loss of 'Free-Play' Has Affected the Soul of Corporate America
I was taken with David Elkind’s willingness to break from the herd mentality and emphasize how children can best spend their time. It isn’t about structure and format as the driving principles to a child’s growth, but rather a more organic and seamless development as nature intended.
Today's parents often worry that their children will be at a disadvantage if they are not engaged in constant learning, but child development expert David Elkind reassures us that imaginative play goes far to prepare children for academic and social success. Through expert analysis of the research and powerful examples, Elkind shows how creative, spontaneous play fosters healthy mental and social development and sets the stage for academic learning in the first place. An important contribution to the literature about how children learn, The Power of Play restores play's respected place in children's lives and encourages parents to trust their…
This book gets to the DNA of what young children need: the time and the ability to think freely away from the electronic screens that try to dominate their lives.
I was constantly reminded of the herculean efforts of my children in getting their kids, my grandkids, outside to play and away from their iPads, video games, and TVs.
Relatable Conversation Starter - this lighthearted and playful rhyming kids book will help young readers understand the importance of screen time limits. It’s a valuable addition to your kids picture books or classroom books collection! If you’re looking for childrens books ages 3-5, this preschool book has a message all kids should hear! But it’s not just a great pre k book. It is an important toddler book too because little ones are never too young to start this conversation. It also belongs in the kids books ages 4-6 and childrens books ages 6-8 categories too! It will inspire and…
While reading Peter’s book, I was constantly reminded of how important the concept of "Play" is and how vital it is to the development of functioning human beings. Play involves the creative use of time and taking an active role in what happens while playing.
So much of modern education is passive, one-way learning, where the child is supposed to act like a sponge. I know in my heart that this trend needs to be reversed. His book was a big pat on the back as to why I wrote mine so many years ago.
In Free to Learn , developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today's constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, he demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient. A brave, counterintuitive proposal for freeing our children from the shackles of the curiosity-killing institution we call school, Free to Learn suggests that it's time to stop asking what's wrong…
This book underscored how important it is to allow children to play early—right from the cradle. I believe in a more unstructured approach than Einon, but we both try to get to the same place by different paths.
Freedom engenders play, and play engenders creative thought. Every society, no matter how primitive or tribal, has recognized how important this is.
Parents of toddlers, as well as instructors in pre-K and kindergarten classes, will find a wealth of ideas and inspiration in this fascinating book. A child development expert presents 130 fun activities for boys and girls, ages 2Â6. Activities include word and number games, music games, and crafts projects, and are designed so that they can be carried out by one child or by a small group of kids. Dr. Dorothy Einon explains what a child can learn when taking part in each activity. She also includes checklists to help parents and teacher prepare for each play session. This unusually…
This book really struck a nerve with me because it gets to the heart of what writers do—and that is express themselves through the creative use of language.
Without constraint, she encourages kids to express themselves through something as simple as one letter of the alphabet or one color. Reiter tears down the fences of restricted learning and allows a child’s mind to run free.
The ultimate book of boredom busters from A to Z-perfect for any time you're stuck at home or in need of a little inspiration!Act out a playBounce a ballCall a friendDance down the hall Whether you're home with the flu or stuck inside on a snowy day, this lively picture book offers fun suggestions for families looking to step away from their screens. Julie Reiters's bold and graphic art style is sure to appeal to readers of all ages, and the poetic text makes for a smooth read-aloud. With options from A to Z, Bored No More! is sure to…
In a world dominated by screens, the magic of the playground has been lost. The special bonds formed when children played freely, without hovering parents, have been sacrificed for an artificial system that often harms more than it helps.
On the playground, kids made up their own games, set their own rules, and learned to live with the consequences and each other. These moments built a foundation for creative thinking and lifelong friendships—lessons once passed down seamlessly until the 1970s. Many playgrounds still stand, but under constant adult supervision, their souls are missing, waiting for children who no longer play freely. Free play was the DNA of public playgrounds—and of the successful, creative adults who were lucky enough to grow up there.
