1KHO 610: Children Have a Right To Play | Russell York, COSMO

Nov 3, 2025

In an engaging conversation, Russell York, CEO of Cosmo, discusses the vital role of unstructured play in childhood. He explains how their kid-friendly smartwatches help balance safety and independence, allowing children to explore freely while staying connected to parents. Russell highlights the benefits of neighborhood play in fostering community and enhancing children’s social skills. They also tackle the importance of restoring children’s right to roam, emphasizing how intentional technology can reclaim outdoor freedom essential for mental health and growth.

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ADVICE

Gift Experiences That Unlock Outdoor Play

Give experiential gifts that promote outdoor activity and independence like the Cosmo x 1000 Hours Outside bundle.
Pair the watch with outdoor gear or a tracker sheet to encourage sustained play and memories.

INSIGHT

Large Play Blocks Enable Full Developmental Cycles

Long uninterrupted blocks of unstructured play (1–2+ hours) let kids invent games, recruit friends, and resolve conflicts.
Short outdoor stints don't deliver the full developmental cycle that builds social and problem-solving skills.

INSIGHT

Kids Rebuild Neighborhood Community

Neighborhood play increases communal ties and creates a domino effect that brings more kids outside.
Kids serve as social glue, and their presence revives community interaction across generations.

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In this powerful and timely conversation, 1000 Hours Outside founder Ginny Yurich sits down with Russell York, CEO of Cosmo, a leading kids smartwatch company, to explore one of the most pressing issues of modern childhood: the loss of unstructured play and freedom.

They also discuss the brand new partnership between their organizations and the launch of the Cosmo x 1000 Hours Outside Adventure Bundle, available here!

This is a limited-edition offer designed for families like ours who value connection, freedom, and real-world adventure. With the bundle you'll get:

✅ FREE JrTrack 5 Kids Smartwatch

✅ FREE custom 1000 Hours Outside wrist band

✅ FREE extra teal wrist band

✅ 1000 Hours Outside logo sticker

✅ 3 months of Cosmo Membership FREE

During the episode, Russell and Ginny unpack how our culture’s shift toward constant supervision, fear, and screens has reshaped childhood, and how technology, when designed with intention, can actually help restore kids’ independence.

Russell shares how Cosmo’s innovative smartwatch gives families the best of both worlds - connection and freedom - allowing parents peace of mind while giving kids room to explore, play, and build real-world friendships. Ginny and Russell reflect on the developmental importance of long stretches of playtime, the social “glue” kids create in neighborhoods, and why reclaiming outdoor independence is vital for children’s mental health, confidence, and sense of community.

You’ll hear stories, research, and insights that challenge the norms of over-parenting, highlight the transformative power of free play, and celebrate a shared mission between Cosmo and 1000 Hours Outside, to reconnect families and rebuild neighborhoods through trust, autonomy, and adventure.

Tune in to learn:

Why unstructured outdoor play is essential for mental health and development
How a sense of control builds resilience in kids (and adults)
What “un-parenting” really means, and why it matters
How Cosmo Smartwatches are helping families safely rediscover the magic of neighborhood play

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