Susan Linn

Love. Love. Love.

As the mama of a kid coping with a chronic illness (Type I diabetes) and its invasive treatment and monitoring, hospitalizations, and generally all-consuming nature, I found this book's case studies of using play as a way to work through the rage and anger that accompanies illness in kids insightful and heartening.

Her broader views and recommendations about incorporating more free play and less character/media/screen play into everyday life are totally on point with what show more we're trying to do in our family (and what we've seen in other families). show less

Even though this book was written in 2008, it's still relevant today. Maybe even more so. It made me think about things that I hadn't before and encourages us to keep playing.

This is an important book for anyone who THINKS they know what's best for children (theirs or someone else's) should read. The writing is a little heavy handed sometimes and the woman who researched and wrote it relies a little too much on her hand puppets, but the overall message is essential.

Children spend too much time in front of screens - TV, computer, toys, etc - and not enough time using their brains and gaining knowledge. It was heartbreaking to read that there is a generation of show more toddlers who have stronger attachments to "screens" than they do to their stuffed animals. Everyone should play, not just children, and to take that away is a terrible thing. show less

This is one of the best books I've read on children, play and the power of media. Her book helped me realize I've been on the right track with keeping my kids screen free while they are young.
Linn looks at plays role in child development, and how it is an essential component of growing up. Play is now threatened by commercialism.
This book gives me the fuel I need to know I am going in the right direction.