Ever wondered why play is crucial for children's mental health and early childhood development? Self directed play, driven by intrinsic motivation, is a natural way for children to learn, boundaries, creativity, and resilience. It teaches them to manage emotions, develop social skills, and handle stress effectively. In this episode, we explore how play fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, helping children become well-rounded individuals. With expert insights from Dr. Peter Gray and Nikki Eisenhauer, we discuss the profound impact of play on children's mental health. Discover the essential role of play in nurturing emotional and psychological growth and early childhood development.  Dr. Peter Gray: https:/www.petergray.org Check out our Sponsors: Happy Mammoth - Hormone Harmony Use Code EMOTIONAL for 15% off your entire order Babbel.com/emotional Get 60% off your Babbel Subscription Emotional Badass Resources: Join our Patreon Community & Get Exclusive Bonus Episodes & Video 30 Days to Peace Course CODE: BADASS for 30% Off Download the free Morning Routine PDF to learn our techniques to help conquer your day! Work 1:1 with Nikki Subscribe to our newsletter Follow us on Social Media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/emotionalbadass IG: https://www.instagram.com/emotional.badass FB: https://www.facebook.com/emotionalbadass Thank you for supporting this show by supporting our sponsors: https://www.emotionalbadass.com/sponsors Advertising: Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Emotional Badass is part of the Airwave Media Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices