A year in the life of a forest kindergarten in Switzerland where being…
Rough and Tumble
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From the Rwanda jungle to the university laboratory, Rough and Tumble: Taking Play Seriously explores the beneficial role of human play through the play of wild gorillas, dolphins, dogs, and rats. The film draws connections between the study of play in non-human animals and the crucial role play serves in human development.
Human play is often thought of as a childhood pastime, but it imparts critical skills and experiences that are life-enhancing. Through play, we learn the rules of social behavior, how to bond with others and develop our imaginations, while improving our physical and emotional well-being. As unstructured play is supplanted by hours of screen time, what deficiencies will our children face as adults? While play may seem trivial in our lives, it may define who we are and how we came to be.
Experts featured in the film include primatologists Drs. Dieter and Netzin Steklis, educational psychologist Dr. Anthony Pellegrini, evolutionary biologist Dr. Marc Bekoff, the late neuroscientist Dr. Jaak Panksepp, as well as interviews with a Waldorf teacher, a social worker, and a nature writer.
"Visually rich and skillfully crafted, Rough & Tumble captures a wide range of vigorous, spontaneous, rough-and-tumble play among humans and animals. It thoughtfully weaves in expert commentary on rough-and-tumble play's profound contributions to the development of both individual and social competence. The film effectively distinguishes between true aggression and robust, high-energy play - a subtle but important line that can be difficult to discern when observed rather than experienced. Ultimately, the film successfully celebrates the role of unbridled play in fostering greater joy and competence, both for individuals and for society as a whole." —Stuart Brown, MD, Founder, National Institute for Play
"Rough & Tumble is a wonderful introduction to the fascinating world of play. The film captures the deep connections in play across different species, including humans, and helps us understand its fundamental importance in the development of social life. Filled with beautiful footage of play in a variety of animals, and interviews with world renowned experts, this film has something for everyone." —Greg Bryant, Professor of Communication, University of California Los Angeles
"This film highlights the ubiquity and importance of play in children and animals ranging from rats to dogs and apes. Leading experts explain how play is involved in preparing them to deal with risks and stress, improve communication and decision-making skills, improve emotional regulation, learn about rules and fairness, and develop bonding and other social abilities, all of which aid in living joyful and creative lives." —Gordon M. Burghardt, Professor of Psychology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Author, The Genesis of Animal Play
"Rough & Tumble describes first-hand the centrality of rough and tumble play to human and nonhuman species alike. The excellent footage of myriad species engaged in play illustrates the behaviors described by the experts in the film, who interpret the behaviors unfolding on the screen. Once thought frivolous and immature, play takes its long overdue central role in the healthy development of mammals, including humans, in this beautiful, persuasive film." —Tracy R. Gleason, Nellie Zuckerman Cohen & Anne Cohen Heller Professor in Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Wellesley College
"A beautifully filmed introduction to the importance of play. Compelling scenes of animals and children playing bring the commentaries of animal play researchers and child development experts to life-a must-see for parents, teachers, and education policymakers." —Michael Kamen, Professor of Education, Southwestern University
"Yuri Makino's Rough & Tumble: Taking Play Seriously makes the case that play, far from being frivolous or insignificant, is crucial for development in animals both human and non-human. By weaving footage of dolphins, gorillas and human children at play with interviews of notable researchers and educators expanding on the subject, Makino's documentary both instructs and delights." —David Toomey, Professor of English, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Author, Kingdom of Play: What Ball-bouncing Octopuses, Belly-flopping Monkeys, and Mud-sliding Elephants Reveal about Life Itself
"Rough & Tumble is a compelling exploration of the vital role of unstructured, child-initiated play in children's well-being and flourishing. By showcasing the deep roots of play in both human and animal behavior, the film makes a powerful case for free play as essential to children's physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development." —Rachel Severson, Professor of Psychology, University of Montana
"This is a captivating introduction to play with a multitude of beautifully-filmed, smile-evoking examples in species ranging from rats to dolphins to humans and dogs. These episodes are interlaced with insightful commentary by child development specialists and leading play researchers, including the late great Jaak Panksepp to whom the film is a tribute. I will use this film in my university classes to get students thinking about play and why it is more than terrifically fun - it is crucial for healthy development." —Angeline Lillard, Commonwealth Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia, Author, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
"What a beautiful montage of animals and humans playing, accompanied by the voices of some of the world's top play experts. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, teachers, and everyone involved with children should watch this film to be reminded of the joy and developmental value of play." —Peter Gray, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Author, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
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- Play research, in a sense,
has various serious percussions
00:00:23.477 --> 00:00:26.093
for understanding who we really are.
00:00:27.680 --> 00:00:31.580
Play is slightly different
from species to species,
00:00:31.580 --> 00:00:33.290
but once you've seen it
00:00:33.290 --> 00:00:36.623
you can recognize it in
its many different forms.
00:00:43.400 --> 00:00:45.900
[dog barking]
00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:12.830
- People are really
interested in how the study
00:01:12.830 --> 00:01:17.540
of animal play can help us
learn more about human play.
00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:19.220
And there's a number of
different avenues.
00:01:19.220 --> 00:01:21.830
One is what animals do when they play,
00:01:21.830 --> 00:01:24.080
what do young human
animals do when they play?
00:01:24.080 --> 00:01:26.930
And we see the same
sorts of play signals
00:01:26.930 --> 00:01:29.360
and the use of play signals to say,
00:01:29.360 --> 00:01:31.433
"This is play," not aggression.
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.560
- Is play just a byproduct
of youth exuberance
00:01:42.650 --> 00:01:44.270
or does it serve a function?
00:01:44.270 --> 00:01:47.870
And we can look across
different animal species
00:01:47.870 --> 00:01:49.430
other than humans, right,
00:01:49.430 --> 00:01:51.607
and see, is play ubiquitous?
00:01:51.607 --> 00:01:52.808
Is it just everywhere?
00:02:04.160 --> 00:02:05.960
- In primates in particular,
00:02:05.960 --> 00:02:09.923
where brain growth is
delayed to after birth,
00:02:13.730 --> 00:02:16.910
this kind of activity
enhances brain growth.
00:02:16.910 --> 00:02:20.120
It actually is a part of
brain maturation.
00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:21.560
But if that's true,
00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:24.317
then having normal brain development
00:02:24.317 --> 00:02:27.353
might actually depend on
having a fair amount of play.
00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:32.240
You might see wrestling,
this sort of rough-and-tumble play.
00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.060
You might see that during an
actual aggressive encounter.
00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:38.718
But what makes all of this different
00:02:38.718 --> 00:02:40.040
is the fact that it's all relaxed.
00:02:40.040 --> 00:02:42.790
It's all appearing to be great fun.
00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:48.800
- We've observed a
couple of different ways
00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.043
that gorillas signal their
intent to play.
00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.430
It could be just running by
00:02:55.430 --> 00:02:58.043
and kicking someone off to the side.
00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:07.040
Or it could be a chest beat display,
but when they stop
00:03:07.040 --> 00:03:11.060
they're not showing that
aggressive stance or tight lips,
00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:13.160
which means they have tension.
00:03:13.160 --> 00:03:16.430
It's clearly a display to
get someone's attention.
00:03:16.430 --> 00:03:18.980
Then he'll go over there
and bite him a little bit.
00:03:59.325 --> 00:04:01.540
- It's clearly play
'cause they're not really
00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:03.560
biting one another hard,
00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:06.440
and then they run away to get
the other dogs to chase them.
00:04:06.440 --> 00:04:07.820
And they'll go for the forefeet.
00:04:07.820 --> 00:04:09.140
You notice they don't bite the lips
00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:12.236
or the ears or the mouth, the nose.
00:04:12.236 --> 00:04:14.540
It's amazing how much
coordination they have
00:04:14.540 --> 00:04:17.150
when they're playing
and moving so fast.
00:04:17.150 --> 00:04:19.766
Dogs use what we call a "play bow"
00:04:19.766 --> 00:04:22.023
to ask other dogs to play.
00:04:22.023 --> 00:04:23.630
And then they insert them
00:04:23.630 --> 00:04:26.870
when they're going to bite
another animal really hard
00:04:26.870 --> 00:04:28.760
or they just did bite another animal
00:04:28.760 --> 00:04:30.413
to just say, "This is still play."
00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:33.580
There was a quick bow there.
00:04:35.393 --> 00:04:39.050
And you can see there's nothing
competitive about it at all.
00:04:39.050 --> 00:04:42.620
So when dogs play, dominance
usually goes out the window
00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:45.230
and it's a safe environment for them.
00:04:45.230 --> 00:04:46.970
They don't bite as hard as they can,
00:04:46.970 --> 00:04:50.303
and they don't slam into one
another as hard as they can.
00:04:52.629 --> 00:04:54.560
In fact, dominant animals
will roll over.
00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.213
It's called self-handicapping.
00:04:57.080 --> 00:05:00.860
And dominant animals will
allow themselves to be chased,
00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:03.230
which they don't do outside
of the context of play.
00:05:03.230 --> 00:05:05.690
And it's the same in
wolves and coyotes.
00:05:05.690 --> 00:05:07.313
That's what's just great about play.
00:05:07.313 --> 00:05:10.610
They can go from social play
to object play with a ball,
00:05:10.610 --> 00:05:12.876
or just solitary play.
00:05:12.876 --> 00:05:15.170
[singer vocalizing]
00:05:15.170 --> 00:05:17.180
Dogs play for a number of reasons.
00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:18.800
There's four major reasons.
00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:22.133
The first is for social
development and socialization.
00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:27.092
[singer vocalizing]
00:05:29.540 --> 00:05:31.223
Second is physical development.
00:05:33.050 --> 00:05:36.623
It builds muscles,
tendons, joints, and bones.
00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:40.620
The third function would
be cognitive development.
00:05:42.140 --> 00:05:46.073
They learn how hard they
can bite and be safe.
00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:51.774
And the fourth is called training
for the unexpected, where,
00:05:51.774 --> 00:05:53.510
because the sequences are variable,
00:05:53.510 --> 00:05:56.033
it trains animals to
expect the unexpected.
00:05:59.542 --> 00:06:01.643
And that seems to cross species.
00:06:04.970 --> 00:06:09.970
- We started our work
on rat play about 1978.
00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:13.970
I just went into the laboratory
and started observing them
00:06:13.970 --> 00:06:18.350
and spent many, many hours
and weeks in the laboratory
00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.173
measuring dozens of behaviors.
00:06:22.310 --> 00:06:24.915
One of the first things
we discovered about play
00:06:24.915 --> 00:06:28.760
was that play releases
opioids in the brain.
00:06:28.760 --> 00:06:31.430
We have these molecules in our brain,
00:06:31.430 --> 00:06:32.910
and they lead to us becoming
00:06:32.910 --> 00:06:35.360
socially attached to each other.
00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.610
You can't have friendships without joy,
00:06:37.610 --> 00:06:39.680
without sharing positive things.
00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.293
And play is the primary
vehicle for that.
00:06:44.810 --> 00:06:47.780
- I love the fact that
dolphins have been documented
00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:51.443
to spend three quarters
of their lives at play.
00:06:55.250 --> 00:06:59.540
With dolphins, every time I am
with them they play with me.
00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:02.570
I've seen dolphins tease
each other underwater
00:07:02.570 --> 00:07:05.660
and feint something, like
come speeding towards you,
00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:07.970
at the last minute speed off.
00:07:07.970 --> 00:07:09.620
That's hilarious to them.
00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:11.420
That's one of their favorite games.
00:07:11.420 --> 00:07:15.950
And they also will come, if
they trust you, float belly up,
00:07:15.950 --> 00:07:18.817
which for any cetacean
to float belly up and
00:07:18.817 --> 00:07:22.158
the blowhole really in a
vulnerable position underwater,
00:07:22.158 --> 00:07:24.293
is a sign that you are accepted.
00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:36.590
- Why would we study animal play?
00:07:36.590 --> 00:07:40.606
Because that's the only way to
really understand human play.
00:07:44.696 --> 00:07:47.529
[group laughing]
00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:53.900
- The first five years is
when the human being has the,
00:07:53.900 --> 00:07:58.370
I will say the biggest
development, meaning you just--
00:07:58.370 --> 00:08:00.830
It's not about growing,
physically speaking,
00:08:00.830 --> 00:08:04.700
but you develop coordination,
you develop language,
00:08:04.700 --> 00:08:07.100
you develop problem-solving skills.
00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:10.880
There's many things that the
human being start acquiring
00:08:10.880 --> 00:08:13.310
during those first years
to be part of a society
00:08:13.310 --> 00:08:15.083
or to be a human.
00:08:16.105 --> 00:08:18.050
[both laughing]
00:08:18.050 --> 00:08:20.835
- We're recognizing that
rough-and-tumble play
00:08:20.835 --> 00:08:22.868
is different from aggression.
00:08:22.868 --> 00:08:25.042
Rough-and-tumble play is social play.
00:08:25.042 --> 00:08:27.380
It involves reciprocal role-taking.
00:08:27.380 --> 00:08:30.740
So when you wrestle, you
start off as being on top,
00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:32.630
then go on bottom.
00:08:32.630 --> 00:08:34.640
You start off as being the chaser,
00:08:34.640 --> 00:08:36.203
and then you become the chasee.
00:08:37.160 --> 00:08:40.730
It involves where
there's physical contact,
00:08:40.730 --> 00:08:45.730
soft contact or open-hand
contact or miss.
00:08:46.479 --> 00:08:47.312
Positive affect.
00:08:49.371 --> 00:08:50.810
It's known as a play face.
00:08:50.810 --> 00:08:54.080
If you look at dogs,
they have a play face.
00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:56.600
If you look at lions,
they have a play face.
00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:58.073
Kids have play faces.
00:08:59.512 --> 00:09:02.179
[both laughing]
00:09:13.910 --> 00:09:16.790
- It doesn't necessarily
always stay positive.
00:09:16.790 --> 00:09:19.798
It takes you into problematic places,
00:09:19.798 --> 00:09:22.344
but that help you learn how
00:09:22.344 --> 00:09:24.263
to live properly in the social world.
00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:28.210
- No, stop!
00:09:28.210 --> 00:09:30.203
I don't need your help!
00:09:30.203 --> 00:09:32.353
- [Friend] I'm gonna keep
working on that.
00:09:32.353 --> 00:09:35.436
- [Child] No, I don't need your help!
00:09:36.590 --> 00:09:40.970
- The young children know
how to be with one another.
00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:42.680
And if they don't know, they learn.
00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:46.130
They learn very quickly from
one another how far you can go
00:09:46.130 --> 00:09:47.720
or where you can touch someone
00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:49.820
or where you can roll
around on the floor.
00:09:51.015 --> 00:09:53.765
[group laughing]
00:09:57.590 --> 00:10:02.570
- You can identify the play by
there being lots of laughter.
00:10:02.570 --> 00:10:06.620
The laughter is the
indication to each other
00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:08.363
that you're having a great time.
00:10:09.871 --> 00:10:12.538
[both laughing]
00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:22.400
- And when I think about the nervousness
00:10:22.400 --> 00:10:24.230
that a lot of schools have, for example,
00:10:24.230 --> 00:10:26.870
about kids playing in the schoolyard,
00:10:26.870 --> 00:10:29.220
we're worried about it
turning into aggression.
00:10:31.010 --> 00:10:35.330
There seems to be too ready a response
00:10:35.330 --> 00:10:39.140
to disallow those kinds of interactions.
00:10:39.140 --> 00:10:42.020
This is play, and this
is important play.
00:10:42.020 --> 00:10:43.610
There's some slapping and wrestling
00:10:43.610 --> 00:10:45.500
and there's roughhousing going on,
00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:48.050
but it's actually important
socializing function
00:10:48.050 --> 00:10:49.118
for these kids.
00:10:49.118 --> 00:10:51.830
And again, speaking to some
of this emotional regulation,
00:10:51.830 --> 00:10:53.270
it's good practice.
00:10:53.270 --> 00:10:56.000
So this is a very
important kind of activity,
00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.210
perhaps as important
as what you're learning
00:10:59.210 --> 00:11:00.460
inside the classroom.
00:11:02.013 --> 00:11:04.930
[indistinct chatter]
00:11:08.390 --> 00:11:10.907
- I want to get down!
00:11:14.047 --> 00:11:17.330
- When we're looking at play
across different species,
00:11:17.330 --> 00:11:22.250
one thing to also consider is
the different play partners.
00:11:22.250 --> 00:11:23.083
Right?
00:11:23.083 --> 00:11:25.250
You might have youngsters
playing with each other.
00:11:25.250 --> 00:11:26.083
Peer play.
00:11:26.083 --> 00:11:28.850
We see that commonly in a
lot of different species.
00:11:28.850 --> 00:11:31.910
You may have mothers playing
with their youngsters.
00:11:31.910 --> 00:11:34.610
You know, that's seen
in a variety of species.
00:11:34.610 --> 00:11:39.610
What's more rare is fathers
playing with youngsters.
00:11:39.830 --> 00:11:43.490
We only see that in
terms of the great apes,
00:11:43.490 --> 00:11:45.980
our closest living relatives.
00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:50.243
We see that in chimpanzees
and gorillas and humans.
00:11:59.450 --> 00:12:03.410
We're interested in this
play relationship
00:12:03.410 --> 00:12:06.770
between the silverbacks
and the youngsters
00:12:06.770 --> 00:12:09.554
and how that can play an important role
00:12:09.554 --> 00:12:12.323
in their social competency later on.
00:12:13.250 --> 00:12:17.450
We are so focused in human
society on the role of fathers
00:12:17.450 --> 00:12:21.080
in providing resources
or providing connections,
00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:23.960
or, you know, bringing home the bacon.
00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:28.415
Perhaps the critical additional
piece to human fathering
00:12:28.415 --> 00:12:31.370
is playing with the kids,
00:12:31.370 --> 00:12:33.950
doing especially this
rough-and-tumble play,
00:12:33.950 --> 00:12:38.123
teaching social competency
through emotional regulation.
00:12:45.260 --> 00:12:47.510
That could be an important
piece that is added
00:12:47.510 --> 00:12:51.051
into our understanding of
the importance of fathers
00:12:51.051 --> 00:12:54.863
and how it results in positive
outcomes with your children.
00:12:56.531 --> 00:12:59.198
[indistinct chatter and splashing]
00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:08.780
- Parents can encourage kids to play
00:13:08.780 --> 00:13:13.043
by giving them supportive
environments to play.
00:13:14.149 --> 00:13:17.452
[group laughing]
00:13:17.452 --> 00:13:20.270
I mean, some of these places
have these play dates,
00:13:20.270 --> 00:13:22.220
but it's regimented.
00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.980
You know, play with
balls in certain ways,
00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:27.140
sing songs in certain ways.
00:13:27.140 --> 00:13:29.240
That's not play, those are games.
00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.292
- When I say "play" I'm referring to
00:13:31.292 --> 00:13:35.060
child-initiated creative
free-play opportunities.
00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:37.580
Not the type of play that's structured
00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:39.500
or guided by the adults,
00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.330
the type of play that allows children
00:13:41.330 --> 00:13:45.290
to reach into themselves
and create scenarios.
00:13:45.290 --> 00:13:48.003
And it's how they learn.
It's how they grow.
00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.930
In their play, they're taking risks.
00:14:17.930 --> 00:14:21.860
They're learning about
sympathy and antipathy.
00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.900
They're learning how to
relate to one another
00:14:23.900 --> 00:14:25.820
and how to share.
00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:30.263
So their social-emotional
capacities are being developed,
00:14:31.513 --> 00:14:36.513
but also the seeds of morality
are being put into place.
00:14:36.770 --> 00:14:40.585
I mean, children are really
learning from one another
00:14:40.585 --> 00:14:43.550
how to be respectful.
00:14:43.550 --> 00:14:46.310
- You learn social cues
00:14:46.310 --> 00:14:50.390
from either looking at their
faces or their body moving,
00:14:50.390 --> 00:14:52.657
or even just to learn to behave,
00:14:52.657 --> 00:14:54.331
like waiting your turn.
00:14:56.450 --> 00:14:58.100
- Listen, could you move, please?
00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.873
- I can get over.
00:15:04.744 --> 00:15:07.661
[indistinct chatter]
00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:12.373
- My turn.
00:15:14.673 --> 00:15:17.180
- I was trying to figure
out some grand theory
00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:19.805
about the evolution and
development of play,
00:15:19.805 --> 00:15:23.333
and I came up with this
concept called "wild justice",
00:15:23.333 --> 00:15:25.525
which basically argues that play is
00:15:25.525 --> 00:15:28.010
very important in moral development,
00:15:28.010 --> 00:15:30.893
animals learning what's
right and what's wrong.
00:15:33.830 --> 00:15:34.970
And over the years,
00:15:34.970 --> 00:15:37.760
the data are supporting the
fact that play is important.
00:15:37.760 --> 00:15:40.360
And that would be part of
the socialization process.
00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:46.580
We're animals, and we
evolve from other animals.
00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:48.500
So if you can find patterns
00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:51.470
that are similar in other
animals, you have a good feeling
00:15:51.470 --> 00:15:53.780
for maybe the roots of moral behavior,
00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:55.850
the roots of fair play.
00:15:55.850 --> 00:15:57.530
The animals who don't play a lot,
00:15:57.530 --> 00:15:59.810
don't bond with
litter mates, for example,
00:15:59.810 --> 00:16:02.690
or with their families, and
they tend to leave their group,
00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:05.090
and they tend to
suffer higher mortality.
00:16:05.090 --> 00:16:08.870
The same thing happens with
animals who don't play fair.
00:16:08.870 --> 00:16:12.170
- So you have these antisocial
kids, these pathological kids
00:16:12.170 --> 00:16:14.330
who can't distinguish aggression
00:16:14.330 --> 00:16:17.983
from rough-and-tumble play, for example.
00:16:17.983 --> 00:16:20.990
These kids need close adult supervision
00:16:20.990 --> 00:16:22.640
and close adult scrutiny.
00:16:22.640 --> 00:16:23.780
But for normal kids,
00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:26.900
I think what you want to
do is get out of the way.
00:16:26.900 --> 00:16:28.610
- We have a diagnosis now
00:16:28.610 --> 00:16:32.542
called Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorders.
00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:35.340
That is a very serious problem
00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:39.648
because these kids are not
all that well socialized,
00:16:40.598 --> 00:16:43.910
and they act out in class a lot.
00:16:43.910 --> 00:16:46.730
So one possibility is that, you know,
00:16:46.730 --> 00:16:48.590
that's just biological,
00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:51.920
but it could also be
environmentally induced.
00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:55.190
So we deprived young rats of play,
00:16:55.190 --> 00:16:58.070
and they show symptoms of ADHD.
00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:00.290
If you don't have enough early play,
00:17:00.290 --> 00:17:03.983
you don't develop a
well-regulated nervous system.
00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.668
- [Brenda] So many children now
00:17:07.668 --> 00:17:09.893
are not outside enough playing
00:17:09.893 --> 00:17:11.960
that they're noticing depression,
00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.513
health problems, and obesity.
00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.960
- Ten years ago,
00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:21.080
the American Academy of
Pediatrics had some guidelines
00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:22.880
for screen time for the parents,
00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.059
and the original approach was that
00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:29.150
no screen time for children
five years or younger.
00:17:29.150 --> 00:17:31.350
Of course then the pandemic occurred,
00:17:31.350 --> 00:17:32.840
and we had to change.
00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:35.242
And even the American
Academy of Pediatrics
00:17:35.242 --> 00:17:39.230
updated their suggestions
and their guidelines.
00:17:39.230 --> 00:17:41.150
Their current suggestion is
00:17:41.150 --> 00:17:43.297
for children up to three years old,
00:17:43.297 --> 00:17:45.260
it's okay to have some media
00:17:45.260 --> 00:17:47.810
but as long as they are
accompanied by an adult.
00:17:47.810 --> 00:17:49.700
And of course, limiting the time.
00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:52.088
The child by itself
00:17:52.088 --> 00:17:54.680
probably won't learn
anything from the media,
00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.810
but a parent can support that learning.
00:17:56.810 --> 00:18:00.410
When we allow our children
to have too much screen time,
00:18:00.410 --> 00:18:03.500
we are depriving them
of a natural process
00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:07.280
of developing other skills,
00:18:07.280 --> 00:18:09.263
other strategies that are needed.
00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:16.072
- And we don't realize how when
we don't allow kids to play,
00:18:16.072 --> 00:18:17.090
we break their spirit.
00:18:17.090 --> 00:18:17.956
And the slogan is,
00:18:17.956 --> 00:18:20.848
"Better a broken bone
than a broken spirit."
00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:28.340
- Humans are the most playful species.
00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:29.930
They play as youngsters,
00:18:29.930 --> 00:18:32.101
they play when they're juveniles,
00:18:32.101 --> 00:18:34.130
fathers play with their kids,
00:18:34.130 --> 00:18:36.560
and they continue to
play into adulthood.
00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:41.082
So, play is really central
to the human condition.
00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:49.370
- And I think of play
among fellow creatures
00:18:49.370 --> 00:18:51.020
as the final frontier,
00:18:51.020 --> 00:18:54.080
because it's where the
imagination is involved,
00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:58.523
and the imagination is where
we advance our species.
00:19:02.101 --> 00:19:04.340
- You know, I think once we recognize
00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:08.000
that, you know, there are other animals
00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:13.000
and they are spiritual
creatures as much as we are,
00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:18.640
we might develop a very
different culture of interaction.
00:19:54.874 --> 00:19:55.816
- It's the spirituality,
00:19:55.816 --> 00:19:59.032
it's the spontaneity of play.
00:19:59.032 --> 00:19:59.990
It's the lightness.
00:19:59.990 --> 00:20:02.630
It's like you can just laugh at yourself
00:20:02.630 --> 00:20:04.967
and not take yourself so seriously.
00:20:06.723 --> 00:20:09.806
[dog barking]
00:20:22.882 --> 00:20:25.882
[children laughing]
00:20:31.479 --> 00:20:36.146
[singer vocalizing]
00:21:00.465 --> 00:21:05.132
[singer vocalizing]