Play Nature Podcast

Ep 11 | Why Children Play—and What Adults Have Forgotten: Peter Gray on the Instinct to Play


Listen Later

Play is not just fun—it’s essential. It’s how children explore, create, stumble, and soar. It’s how they learn to be brave, solve problems, and build their world. 

In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, we dig into the deep roots of play and why letting kids run wild (in a good way!) may be the most important thing we do for their growing brains.

Rusty is joined by Dr. Peter Gray—play researcher, freedom fighter, and author of Free to Learn. Peter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College, but he speaks fluent playground. He talks about what real play looks like, why it’s fading from childhood, and how that’s affecting kids everywhere. 

Spoiler: play isn’t optional. It’s nature’s secret weapon.

Top three takeaways from part one with Peter Gray:

  • True play is self-directed, open-ended, and full of joy—no adult agendas allowed.
  • Kids need independent play more than ever, especially in our over-scheduled, screen-heavy world.
  • Want happier, more resilient kids? Let them climb, dig, imagine, and roam—play is the path to well-being.
  • Come back for part 2 with Peter Gray on an upcoming episode of the Play Nature Podcast! 

    Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

    Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Play Nature PodcastBy Rusty Keeler

    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    5 ratings


    More shows like Play Nature Podcast

    View all
    Radiolab by WNYC Studios

    Radiolab

    43,774 Listeners

    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    90,802 Listeners

    The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

    The Rachel Maddow Show

    36,383 Listeners

    Criminal by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Criminal

    37,411 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,337 Listeners

    Pod Save America by Crooked Media

    Pod Save America

    86,492 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    110,865 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,021 Listeners

    In Defense of Plants Podcast by In Defense of Plants

    In Defense of Plants Podcast

    1,217 Listeners

    Crime Junkie by audiochuck

    Crime Junkie

    366,279 Listeners

    Maintenance Phase by Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes

    Maintenance Phase

    16,429 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,405 Listeners

    The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

    The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

    10,284 Listeners

    ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

    ZOE Science & Nutrition

    2,036 Listeners

    The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

    The Mel Robbins Podcast

    19,373 Listeners