E81: Play is the Way: Saying 'No' to Too Much Structure

Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years and an adjunct professor at Sarah Lawrence College and Howard University. Her research interests include organizing activist research projects that examine grassroots movements to achieve racial justice in education, documenting the value of play as a tool for liberation with an emphasis on global approaches to play, and collaborating with parents and educators to foster positive racial, ethnic, and cultural identity development in the early years. Her first co-edited book, Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice, was published in December 2020 by Haymarket Books. She joins us today to remind us and share with us the value of having play in our lives and more importantly the lives of our young children. This is the next episode in our incredibly series with The Literacy Cooperative to better provide resources for those looking to continue their education, prepare their children for the world, or extend their lifelong learning. Donate to this amazing organization here. Listen in now! Key Takeaways [00:00:45] Definition of play  [00:03:45] Productive educational play exploration [00:08:34] The value of play [00:12:55] Importance of unstructured play [00:17:04] Solo play versus group play [00:22:19] Screen time  [00:25:34] Screen time and brain development [00:35:01] Lack of play effects [00:36:40] The Value of Homework [00:39:45] Afternoon restraint collapse in children [00:50:18] Importance of play in life [00:52:25] Children's liberation through play Where to Find Denisha Email – [e-mail] LinkedIn – Denisha Jones Instagram – @DrJonesEsquire Where to Find Defending The Early Years Website – DEY.Org LinkedIn – Defending the Early Years Instagram – DefendingTheEarlyYears Facebook – Defending the Early Years How to find us - Visit our website – hardnopodcast.com – for show notes, which include links to books and other helpful resources. Like what you hear? Please subscribe, rate and review so others can find us, and make sure to follow us on social media. We're @hardnopodcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn & YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices