Thomas leads our discussion of Part 2: “The Backstory: The Decline of the Play-Based Childhood”  from The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.

Chapter 2: “What Children Need to Do in Childhood” (0:58 - 17:47)

• In light of the author’s comments about “safetyism” and supervised vs. unsupervised play, when do you recall the first times playing unsupervised? What were some of the most memorable (and possibly dangerous) moments?

Chapter 3: Discover Mode and the Need for Risky Play (17:48 - 40:27)

• What are some examples of activities you did as a kid that culturally would be deemed too unsafe and irresponsible to allow as a parent today? (17:48 - 23:56)
• What are your thoughts on the author’s comments that there has been a decrease of risky play in the physical world but an increase in risky play in the virtual world? (23:57 - 40:27)

Chapter 4: “Puberty and the Blocked Transition to Adulthood” (48:28 - 1:00:18)

• What rites of passage did you experience growing up? (48:28 - 58:17)
• A brief discussion about myelination and role it plays in “cementing” experiences during childhood development through a process of “neurons that fire together wire together”, thus emphasizing the importance of having proper and healthy development during pre-teen and teenage years (58:18 - 1:00:18)

Next week we’ll discuss Part 3 (chapters 5-8): “The Great Rewiring: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood” (pages 111 - 218)

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See you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.