Scientists Say Child’s Play Helps Build A Better Brain

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain

NPR Morning Edition, Jon Hamilton

Summary

  • “The experience of play changes the connections of the neurons at the front end of your brain, [sic] And without play experience, those neurons aren’t changed.” It is those changes in the prefrontal cortex during childhood that help wire up the brain’s executive control center [sic]. But to produce this sort of brain development, children need to engage in plenty of so-called free play [sic]. No coaches, no umpires, no rule book.
  • “Countries where they actually have more recess tend to have higher academic performance than countries where recess is less.”
Hamilton, Jon. “Scientists Say Child’s Play Helps Build A Better Brain.” NPR, NPR, 6 Aug. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain.