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  • Home
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    • About Darcia Narvaez, PhD
    • Mission, Vision, Our Team
    • THE BOOK - Neurobiology
    • The Science
    • Why Be Concerned?
  • Learning Center
    • Nine Components Overview
    • 1. Perinatal Experiences
    • 2. Breastfeeding
    • 3. Positive Moving Touch
    • 4. Positive Climate
    • 5. Self-Directed Play
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    • 28 Days of Self-Calming
    • 28 Days of Solo Play
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5. self-directed social play

Learn About The Nine Components Of The Evolved Nest

Below you will find an overview and resources pertaining to one of nine of the Evolved Nest's Components. Click here to return to the Evolved Nest's Components' Overview page to see the full list and to click on the other eight components' pages.

overview of nine components

Self-Directed Social Play

Evolved Nest Component #5 of 9

SELF-DIRECTED SOCIAL PLAY is free social play with multiple-aged playmates. 


What to do:

  • Try not to interfere in your child’s natural play instinct. For example, create a space where you can let baby and toddler explore on their own without interference.
  • Build into your child’s day several self-directed social playtimes.
  • Let your child be outside on his or her own.
  • Encourage social play with differently- aged playmates. Although adult-directed sports or other play activities might be good too, self-directed free play is different and important.


Why?

Humans are mammals. Young mammals play when they feel safe and well. People who have little self-directed social play experience tend to be more aggressive and have other behavior disorders (e.g., van den Berg et al., 1999), as well as diminished academic achievement (Barros, Silver & Stein, 2009). 



Click on the image to visit the Evolved Nest's Overview of the Nine Components' Page

articles

BLOG SERIES ON PLAY


Discover the Evolved Nest articles on Kindred Media here.


Discover Darcia Narvaez's posts on Psychology Today here.


Social Play: A Longstanding Way To Cope

How To Play As An AdultHow To Play As An Adult

Attachment Social Play For Self-Transformation

How To Play With Your Baby

Parent Touch, Play And Support In Childhood Vital To Well-Being As An Adult



Happiness and Growth Through Play

Playing with Heart

Children May Be Playing, But Their Brains Are Working

Is Pretend Play Good For Kids?

Playing at School: More Important Than We Thought?

Does Too Much Screen Time Make Kids Sick?

Infant Couch Potatoes

What’s Better: Indoor or Outdoor Play?

Why Play with a Child?

How to Play as an Adult

Social Play: A Longstanding Way to Cope

The Benefits of Play Events in Your Community

Start a Play Club in Your School

Community Service: Teens Make Great Play Advocates

Inter-generational Games Night

Make Play Part of a Planned Community Event

“The Emperor’s New Groove,” A Movie that Teaches Ethics 

Why Close a Street to Play as a Community?

Pushing Play in the Community

How to Plan a Play Day in Your Community

How to Start a Play Committee in Your Community

The Play Lady Tells Us How to Become Play-ers

Video

Darcia Narvaez and Mary Tarsha discuss one of the nine components of the Evolved Nest: self-directed social play. Find out more at the website www.EvolvedNest.org. 

resources

Resources for Free Play

Free Range Kids

How to Encourage Free Play

Let’s Play America

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