We all want our kids to have happy, magical childhoods (I hope).
And, due to changes in our society -- technology addiction, over-scheduled childhoods, and decreased participation in community activities, to name a few -- many adults feel like they don't have many friends in their neighborhood. In fact, one in four of us say we have "no close friends to talk to." There's a simple way to address both of these issues.
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Photo credit: Alastair Muir
I recently attended the San Francisco Opera's Carmen, and absolutely loved it. But before I get into why, let me just tell you about a conversation I have at least once before every time I go to an opera. 
Are you really expressing yourself -- or are you just dressing a certain way? Are you really showing the world your true self -- or are you just putting on a performance for an audience?
Read any good books lately? I have: Peggy Ornstein's New York Times bestselling Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches From the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture.
After finishing a chapter about Mattel and the American Girl Dolls, I was particularly struck by one of Ornstein's observations: 
A few months ago, I wrote that, by 1979 standards, your first-grader is probably emotionally and physically stunted. Indeed, according to education expert Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D., here are the 1979 prerequisites for 1st grade:
1. Will your child be six years, six months or older when he begins first grade and starts receiving reading instruction?
Last night, a real estate developer gave the nation his expert opinion... on medicine. During the GOP candidates' debate, Trump argued a link between autism and vaccines, despite the fact that medical studies have widely shown there is no proven link between the two. Experts call his claim "false," "dangerous," "damaging" and "repugnant."
I, too, am appalled. And I just can't stop asking myself, "Why is a real estate developer giving medical advice?" 
Today, someone on Quora asked if there is a way to classically condition yourself to be happy. More specifically, they asked:
As a psychologist, I found the question a little irresistible. Here's the answer:
Somehow, it's been ten years since I graduated from my high school, Phillips Exeter Academy. And I just returned from my ten-year reunion. Which was fabulous and amazing and looked something like this: 
Bridge juuuuuuuumping!!!!
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a "world play expert." And though I talk about several other topics in The Happy Talent... everything always comes back to playfulness and leisure skill development.
Which is probably why two Quora questions caught my eye recently. 1. Why don't they build playgrounds for adults? 2. How can adults have fun at the playground? (You know -- in addition to questions like, "Why don't adults play tag?" and "How can I become more playful as an adult?")
So I decided it was time for me to write a post about adult playgrounds.
Last week, I published By 1979 Standards, Your 1st Grader is Physically and Emotionally Stunted. The TL;DR is that being able to walk 4-8 blocks alone -- to a friend's house, a playground, school, the store -- was once a prerequisite for 1st grade! Most 1st graders today have never done anything alone, ever.
Even at freaking Chuck E. Cheese! Seriously. I've been to Chuck E. Cheese with a couple of different families. And each time, the parent hovered constantly over the child. They either inserted the tokens into the coin slots for their kid, or took the child's hand in theirs and guided it the whole time. |
About the Author
Eva is a content specialist with a passion for play, travel... and a little bit of girl power. Read more >
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