b'Has children\\u2019s play become too safe? Research suggests that efforts to prioritize safety harms children\\u2019s mental and physical development during play and contribute to anxiety.\\xa0One solution: introduce risk into play. We visit an adventure playground where kids play unsupervised with anything from scraps of metal to hammers and nails. Plus, what are the evolutionary benefits of play? After all, we\\u2019re not the only species who like to roughhouse, sled, or chase balls. And, reclaiming play for those who have outgrown recess.\\nGuests:\\nDavid Toomey\\xa0- Professor of English, University of Massachusetts. Amherst and author of \\u201cKingdom of Play: What Ball-Bouncing Octopuses, Belly-Flopping Monkeys, and Mud-Sliding Elephants Reveal About Life Itself.\\u201d\\nMariana Brussoni\\xa0- Developmental psychologist who studies children\'s outdoor risky play, and professor at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Medicine\\nYoni Kallai\\xa0- Interim director, head playworker and co-founder of\\xa0play:groundNYC\\nPeter Gray\\xa0- Psychology researcher at Boston College and author of\\xa0"Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life"\\nFeaturing music by\\xa0Dewey Dellay\\xa0and\\xa0Jun Miyake\\nYou can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on\\xa0Patreon. Thanks for your support!\\nBig Picture Science is part of the\\xa0Airwave Media\\xa0podcast network.\\xa0Please contact\\xa0advertising@airwavemedia.com\\xa0to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science.\\n\\xa0\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'