Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play
"Playborhoodis important reading and an inspiration for all of us concerned with how childhood has changed." - Po Bronson, co-author ofNurture Shock: New Thinking About Children"The value of unstructured outdoor play, fading in the virtual age, is vital for children's health and happiness. This invaluable book,Playborhood, will inspire you create the kind of outdoor environment that nurtures the hearts of children - and parents."  - Richard Louv, author ofThe Last Child in the Woods"While there is an increasing amount of literature bemoaning our country's growing play deficit and community apathy, Mike Lanza has decided to do something about it. This book is bursting with practical inspiration on how to transform your block into a vibrant, communal space for kids to play. His case studies span inner cities, suburbs, and small towns alike, demonstrating that no matter where you live, you have the tools in hand to effect real, lasting change for your neighborhood's youngest residents. A must-read for any parent who wants to give their kids the same kind of childhood we enjoyed -- back when outdoor play was as simple as opening the front door."- Darell Hammond, author ofKaBOOM! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play"Want to be part of a revolution that can return free outdoor play--once the birthright of childhood--to today's kids?Playborhoodis a seriously subversive book, an inspiring "how-to" guide.  It outlines with zest and clarity approaches that parents in affluent suburbs or tough inner city blocks can take to create a safe space for shared, imaginative, vigorous outdoor play that kids will love and make their own."- Alice McLerran, author ofRoxaboxen"A culture of play helps children develop into happy, healthy, responsible, creative adults.  Single family approaches like cutting down on screen time or structured activities are a step in the right direction, butPlayborhoodhighlights the importance of families engaging in community action to create a culture of play for everyone."- Vicki Abeles, producer of the documentary film,Race to Nowhere"Play and love are the most formative forces for good and survival in our species' long term adventures on this planet. Good and credible neuroscience and a wealth of paleo-anthroplogic data now confirm that our 'pursuit of happiness' rests on these two elements that are foundational for our becoming fully human.   What Mike Lanza accomplishes inPlayborhoodis to bring his own deep love of his kids, and his transformative knowledge of play  into mainstream action, where it is most relevant and needed. The examples in the book of successful play based neighborhood activities in a wide variety of settings also confirms the power of play to bind latent community energies into a contagious pervasive play ethic. The positive implications of this readable and engaging book impact parenting, education and the building of a trusting, life-sustaining neighborhood."- Stuart Brown MD, Founder and President of The National Institute for Play"Playborhooddemonstrates how we can transcend the isolation of our neighborhoods to find engagement with others. Mike Lanza gives an intuitive sense for how to do this because he and the others he writes about are 'walking the walk.'  This book is full of tangible steps we can take in our neighborhoods to immediately improve our happiness, health, and sense of place."- Fred Kent, President of the Project for Public Spaces"Playborhoodis the new owner's manual for your block. Everything you need to transform your neighborhood into a healthy, playful, and lively place for children and families. Reclaim your streets, trees, and front lawns -  it's time to make space for free-ranging play. Mike Lanza has written the how-to manual for a new generation of families that want to do more living where they live.  - Gever Tulley, author of50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)"When I speak to groups of parents about the great value of children's self-directed outdoor play, the first question I'm usually asked is about how to make such play possible in today's world. My answer to date has generally begun with a reference to Mike Lanza's Playborhood website. Now I can refer them to this book!  This is not only a great resource; it's also a great read. You'll enjoy it, and it'll get you thinking, even if you don't have kids.  A better place for kids is a better place for all of us."  - Peter Gray, research professor and play specialist, Boston College