Raising Boys & Girls Episode 341: Why Your Kids Need You To Play at Every Age and How To Do That with Whitney and Alex Kimerling
Jan 15, 2026
Whitney and Alex Kimerling, co-founders of Hootenanny Games, delve into the importance of family play. Whitney transitioned from a law firm to create screen-free games during COVID, while Alex brings experience from the game industry. They discuss how unstructured play enhances kids' emotional health and why adults need play too. The Kimerlings share their game designs that foster connections and core memories, along with recommendations for promoting fun and laughter in family life, emphasizing that simple moments can create lasting joy.
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Play Decline Links To Youth Mental Health
- Free, unstructured play has steadily declined while kids' mental health problems have risen.
- Play builds social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills that protect mental health.
Play Is Brain Building
- The American Academy of Pediatrics calls play brain-building and links it to lower cortisol.
- Play increases neuroplasticity and develops skills that protect mental health.
Grandma's Pot-and-Pan Parades
- David shared how his mom let grandchildren drag out pots and pans for noisy parades.
- That memory became a treasured family video and proof connection matters more than order.