Recess Matters: Why Kids Need Freedom On The Playground

Have playgrounds become too safe for kids to actually grow? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender take a thoughtful look at the increasing restrictions on playgrounds and recess, and what those rules may be costing our children. From banning running and roughhousing to removing swings altogether, today's playgrounds often prioritize control over exploration. This conversation explores why unstructured play matters for confidence, problem solving, self regulation, and social development. Drawing on child development and Scripture, Dr. Kathy challenges parents and educators to reconsider whether constant supervision and rigid rules actually help kids, or quietly undermine courage and judgment. Grounded in Jesus' invitation to "let the little children come," this episode invites adults to trade whistle-blowing for watchful presence and to see recess not as chaos to manage, but as formation in motion.