Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

090 Risky Play, Fun, and the Life of Faith

Jul 25, 2024

Why do kids love climbing trees and running wild? Discover the fascinating benefits of risky play and its connection to spiritual attachment. Unstructured play fosters independence and emotional well-being, while joy in worship brings us closer to God. Personal stories and research reveal the thrill-seeking behaviors of children and their impact on family dynamics and spiritual growth. Embrace adventure, celebrate accomplishments, and explore the playful nature of faith for a richer spiritual experience.

22:43

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Quick takeaways

Risky play is vital for children's development by promoting confidence and essential social skills through exploration and collaboration with peers.

Secure attachment enhances both risky play and spiritual growth, as it encourages individuals to explore their faith joyfully and adventurously.

Deep dives

The Value of Risky Play

Risky play is essential for children's development, as it includes activities that challenge their physical abilities and encourage exploration. Engaging in risky play, such as climbing trees, riding bikes, or exploring heights, allows children to test their limits and develop confidence. This type of play has been observed to decline in favor of safer play structures, which often leads children to seek thrills in alternative ways, such as climbing on top of playground equipment. Allowing kids to engage in these activities not only reinforces their courage but also fosters important social skills, as they often collaborate with peers during play.

Intro

3min

The Balance of Adventure and Safety in Play

6min

Celebrating Independence and Support in Family Dynamics

2min

The Joyful Spirit of Worship

8min

The Balance of Ambition and Parenthood: Embracing Unstructured Play

3min

Why do kids climb trees, run really fast, and spin until they fall over? What is the benefit of risky play? And what does that have to do with attaching to God and our spiritual life?

In this episode, we look at the research regarding play and how it connects to attaching to God.

Baggage Claim: Don't miss the new segment where we finish by claiming some overproductive tendencies we share.

Resources:

The Circle of Security (website)
"Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children’s Mental Well-being" (article PDF)
The Anxious Generation (book)

Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.

Starting Nov. 12 (2024), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm (EST).
Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohort

Stay Connected:

NEED spiritual direction or coaching that aligns with this podcast? Connect with Cyd Holsclaw here.
Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

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