Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood into a Place for Play by Lanza, Mike

Abstract

Children, Youth and Environments Vol. 22 No. 2 (Winter 2012) ISSN: 1546-2250 Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood into a Place for Play Lanza, Mike (2012). Menlo Park, CA: Free Play Press; 238 pages. $9.95. ISBN 9780984929818. As the mother of a toddler, I frequently hear my new-parent peers lamenting the fact that our children do not have the same free play opportunities that many of us took for granted when we were kids. Mike Lanza, a tech industry entrepreneur and father of three who resides in Menlo Park, California, experienced the same frustration, but rather than accepting this as an inevitable new reality of childhood, he was inspired to take steps to engender a culture of play in his own neighborhood. Based on his experience, Lanza authored Playborhood, a guidebook for other parents who are seeking actionable advice on how to tackle the social traps that keep today’s kids inside. With some urgency, the author states, “we parents who are trying to make neighborhood play a fixture in our children’s lives don’t need any more research. We need a road map for solving this problem now.” Lanza’s road map for reinstating neighborhood play is divided into three parts. He begins the first section by briefly framing the issue of diminished free play as a social problem that he feels must be addressed through collective action, and presenting current trends in children’s changing use of time. In part two, “How Are Neighborhoods Solving this Problem,” he profiles seven exemplary communities that have successfully incorporated free play into the everyday lives of residents. He opens with a chronicle of his efforts to transform his block of Yale Road in Menlo Park by creating an inviting, kid-friendly gathering space in his own yard. Complete with a play river, picnic table, in-ground trampoline, community mural, sand box, media system, playhouse and more, the features that 300 surround his home could rival those available in many public parks. Though not always accepted with great zeal, he reports that many of his neighbors are embracing his efforts and contributing to a kid-friendly culture. The other exemplars that he highlights are located across the U.S. in diverse contexts including: a New Urbanist development in Alabama; a co-housing community in Davis, CA; a summer play street program in the Bronx, NY; a residential “playscape” initiative in Iowa; a transformed intersection in Portland, OR; a grass-roots summer camp in Palo Alto, CA; and an inclusive block with a charismatic leader in Seattle, WA. The final section of the book entitled, “How Can I Solve This Problem?” is a guide comprised of six chapters of tips for parents who wish to emulate the characteristics of these communities and encourage their own children to engage in free play. Lanza first suggests that families try to locate in existing “playborhoods” by carefully screening for seven indicators of active child life when shopping for a home. Rather than prioritizing interior features like extra bathrooms and high-end finishes that are not necessary to support healthy child development, Lanza relays his own experience of researching block demographics for other young families and keeping an eye out for “kid debris” that might indicate the presence of potential playmates. As an alternative to moving, he provides parents with tips for how to create neighborhood hangouts that will attract other kids to their yards. He notes that these spaces should be fun, comfortable, accessible, visible, and should include a critical mass of compelling features so that they remain interesting over time. Once built, he recommends families host events that welcome neighbors to play. In that same vein, he devotes a chapter to ideas on how to “make a village” by building neighborhood relationships so that children are supported even when they are away from home. Some of his suggestions include: hosting community dinners; tearing down 301 fences to join yards; organizing block parties; celebrating birthdays and holidays at home; and, simply playing in the front yard. In addition to fostering a physical and social environment that supports play, Lanza encourages parents to keep their kids’ lives simple and to value real-world experiences like...