O. Fred Donaldson, Ph.D. coined the term “original play” to describe his 40 years of direct experience and research with children and wild animals. His playmates include special needs children, gang members and street and refugee kids, prison inmates, cancer patients, dolphins, whales, lions, grizzly bears, wolves, baboons, and butterflies. He travels extensively but spends much of his year in Sweden, the United States, Poland, and South Africa. Recent travels include the Czech Republic, Namibia, Brazil, Singapore, Bali, Lebanon, and Bahrain.
Imagination & Play
Playing videos and audios are free. Please help support the Academy.
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O. Fred Donaldson - Original Play
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The State of Play Science
We are are proud to present a ground breaking survey of the latest neuroscience documenting the fundamental need and benefits of positive affect states, that is, what every child knows as PLAY. For the first time we have gathered the scientific, brain based evidence that parents, teachers and child care professionals have needed to counter the elimination of play from tens of thousands of schools across the country.
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Athletics and the Intelligence of Play
This fabulous 'must see' program is not about golf. It is about lifelong learning, giving complete attention, creativity, love of the experience, personal growth and optimum performance. Athletics & the Intelligence of Play represents a powerful tool to reach 200 million parents, coaches and young players. Featuring the personal experiences of top athletes, the pilot video Golf & The Intelligence of Play helps adults and children develop optimal learning relationships in any field, at any age It brings out the very best in any player and return love of the game back to athletics.
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Stuart Brown - Play Deprivation
What is shared by mass murderers, felony drunk drivers, starving children, head banging laboratory animals, anxious overworked students and all reptiles?…They don't play. What do most Nobel Laureates, historically renowned creative artists, successful multi-career entrepreneurs and animals of superior intelligence have in common?… They are full of play throughout their lives. My studies of violent antisocial men (murderers, drunken drivers) revealed major play deprivation. Play seems necessary as an antidote to the development of violent tendencies as well as a partner to effective socialization. Where does play fit into the big scheme of things? An evolutionary look shows that as it has developed over the eons, it closely accompanies the establishment of a large brain and warm bloodedness. The smarter, more flexible and adaptive the creature, the more they play.