Play is serious business! In this episode, Rusty Keeler takes us on a delightful stroll to explore why play matters so much for kids. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty explains the ultimate question, what is play?

He talks all about how play should be wild, wonderful, and a little muddy. No instructions needed—just curiosity, imagination, and maybe a hot bowl of “soup” from the mud kitchen.

Rusty shares thoughts on how play is freely chosen, personally directed, and fueled by that irresistible spark of joy. He talks about why it’s crucial for kids of all ages to experience both unstructured play and a little bit of chaos. Forget the rigid academic expectations—turns out, digging in the dirt and building forts might just be what lays the groundwork for future learning.

Stay tuned to the end to hear listener questions answered. Today’s questions cover hill slides and tree cookies.

This episode is your gentle reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do for kids is stand back and let them play. Listen, share, and play on!

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