The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 663: Childhood Without Free Play Is a Health Crisis | Rusty Keeler, Adventures in Risky Play
Dec 29, 2025
Rusty Keeler, a natural playscape designer and author of Adventures in Risky Play, shares insights on the importance of childhood free play. He discusses how experiences in Europe inspired his shift from traditional playgrounds to wild, nature-rich environments filled with loose parts. Rusty emphasizes that kids thrive when given freedom and trust to explore, experiment, and engage in risky play. He challenges societal norms, advocating for a reevaluation of how we approach children's play and development.
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Design Career Sparked By Play Job
- Rusty Keeler moved from industrial design to playgrounds after a job at Big Toys sparked his interest in play design.
- A later Europe visit shifted him from equipment focus to whole natural environments full of plants, hills, and loose parts.
Equipment Often Tries To Be Nature
- Rusty realized playground equipment often mimics what nature already provides, like trees and hills.
- He began designing entire landscapes with nooks, loose parts, and natural materials instead of just equipment.
Kids Outside Shape Community Spirit
- Lack of visible child play in public spaces makes towns feel less playful and alive.
- Rusty suggests losing public play diminishes adult connection to childhood and communal liveliness.