I strongly believe in the importance of play.
In this talk, Dr. Peter Gray compellingly brings attention to the reality that over the past 60 years in the United States there has been a gradual but, overall dramatic decline in children’s freedom to play with other children, without adult direction. Over this same period, there has been a gradual but overall dramatic increase in anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness, suicide, and narcissism in children and adolescents. Based on his own and others’ research, Dr. Gray documents why free play is essential for children’s healthy social and emotional development and outlines steps through which we can bring free play back to children’s lives.
The decline of play | Peter Gray | TEDxNavesink
The No Child Left Behind Act resulted in less play and more academics. The students educated under this are adults now. And suffered because of the lack of understanding around the importance of play. Sadly, we haven’t pushed to restore it.
And this one got me into TED Talks:
Polymath Parent 