1KHO 791: Play Is the Untold Hero | Dr. Deborah McNamara, Rest, Play Grow
From The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast by 1000 Hours Outside
May 7, 2026 · 55 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the importance of play and emotional freedom in childhood development with Dr. Deborah MacNamara.
Something is going wrong in childhood, and most of us can feel it. We’re rushing kids forward and wondering why they’re struggling to become themselves. In this powerful conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Deborah MacNamara to unpack what children actually need to grow: deep rest in relationship, wide-open play, and the freedom to feel their full range of emotions. Drawing from Rest, Play, Grow, Deborah explains why maturity is not a guarantee, why play is the birthplace of personhood, and why “tears of futility” are not a problem to fix but a process that helps children become resilient human beings . This episode will change how you see tantrums, learning, and even your role as a parent—offering a steady, sane path forward in a world that keeps pushing kids too far, too fast. Don't miss it and remember to send it to friends and family who need to hear this message. Get your copy of Rest, Play, Grow here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Ginny Yurich
Guest: Dr. Deborah MacNamara
Topics covered
- child development
- play
- emotional resilience
- parenting
- childhood struggles
Keywords
- childhood
- play
- emotions
- parenting
- resilience
- tantrums
- development
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Rest, Play, Grow
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