

Why Playing With Your Kids Actually Rewires Their Brain ft. Anna Housely Juster
18 snips Feb 3, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Anna Housley Juster, a licensed mental health clinician and author, dives into the importance of play in child development. She reveals how intentional play can enhance emotional regulation and strengthen parent-child relationships. Anna shares practical strategies for managing stress responses in kids and emphasizes the need for parents to validate their children's emotions. With a rich background in early childhood education, she discusses the transformative power of play for fostering resilience and emotional intelligence.
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Anna's Path to Sesame Street and Mental Health
- Anna Housley Juster's career began as a Head Start teacher, driven by a fascination with children's learning and play.
- Her childhood dream of working at Sesame Street stemmed from limited TV viewing, allowing her to appreciate the show's genius.
The Importance of Play in Child Development
- Play is crucial for connection and development, as it's how children explore and learn about the world.
- When adults engage in play, they tap into their innate connection mechanisms and build trust with children.
Larry's Playfulness Transformation
- Larry Hagner, after realizing his lack of playfulness, committed to daily playful interactions with his children.
- This led to increased excitement and positive energy in their relationship and stronger bonds.