Climbing UP the Slide

Going UP the slide is good for kids, but it's hard on parents. - photo by Emily Plank

If you’ve ever been on a U.S. playground, you know one of the biggest controversies is this: should kids be allowed to go up the slide? The fact the question exists at all shows there’s a split between what’s good for kids and what’s good for parents.

Playing Dead

Playing dead is important work in early childhood.

It’s easy to idealize childhood. Sometimes we forget just how much young kids have to grapple with. Death, for instance. Even kids who have not been personally touched by death are trying to understand mortality.