Superintendent Misty Newcomb, Dean of Students Caitlin Honasan, and Principal Lindsey Nichols are back this week with an interesting podcast focused on the importance of unstructured play. They discuss what happens to children’s brains when they play, the social dynamics of play, and what happens when children don’t get engage in enough play. They also share how they are bringing more unstructured play and social interactions into both our elementary and middle school/high school experiences. 

In our overview of research on play, we pulled from our institutional knowledge as educators and from the following research articles. 

Play Science: What we Know so Far

Brain Building through Play. 

Prosocial foundations of academic achievement

The Decline of Pay and the Rise of Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents

The Importance of Play in Promoting Health Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

 1 Juster et al. “Major Changes Have Taken Place in How Children and Teens Spend Their Time,” 2004