Our book and the short clip, Perscriptions for Play, begin with a discussion on why children should play. The Ted Talk on a play deficit discusses some of the outcomes that can arise when children don’t play.

BEFORE watching the video clip below please respond to the following:

• How do you define play?
• How do you play? (Not playing with children, but something for you that brings you enjoyment, that you chose to do, that you do just for the sake of doing it.)
• What do you think happens when children don’t have opportunities for play?
• What happens to you when you don’t have opportunities for play?

Now, please watch the following TED Talk:

AFTER watching the TED Talk, please respond to the following: 

• Would you now change your idea of what happens to children when they don’t have opportunities for play? 
• What did Peter Grey say can be the result of a deficit of play? Have you ever seen evidence of this?
• Look up and share how one of the following scholars/educators define play and its importance: Vivian Paley, Stuart Brown, Alison Gopnik. Make sure to cite your source! Where did you find your quote/information?
• Does this change your thoughts on how much you yourself engage in play?

I suggest writing your responses either on a piece of paper and then typing them into the reply or typing them on another text platform, so you can cut and paste the before and after in the replies below.

Hey class,

Here are my answers before watching the videos:

• How do you define play?

I can define play as an activity children do to have fun. There are different types of play – kids can play outdoors with others for example, or they can use toys or