In Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play, you’ll find inspiring stories of innovative communities throughout the US and Canada that have successfully created vibrant neighborhood play lives for their children. You’ll also get a comprehensive set of step-by-step solutions to change your family and neighborhood cultures, so that your kids can spend less time in front of screens and in adult-supervised activities, and more time engaging in joyful neighborhood play.
Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
"Playborhood is important reading and an inspiration for all of us concerned with how childhood has changed."
- Po Bronson, co-author of Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children
"The value of unstructured outdoor play, fading in the virtual age, is vital for children's health and happiness. This invaluable book, Playborhood, will inspire you create the kind of outdoor environment that nurtures the hearts of children - and parents."
- Richard Louv, author of The Last Child in the Woods
"While there is an increasing amount of literature bemoaning our country's growing play deficit and community apathy, Mike Lanza has decided to do something about it. This book is bursting with practical inspiration on how to transform your block into a vibrant, communal space for kids to play. His case studies span inner cities, suburbs, and small towns alike, demonstrating that no matter where you live, you have the tools in hand to effect real, lasting change for your neighborhood's youngest residents. A must-read for any parent who wants to give their kids the same kind of childhood we enjoyed -- back when outdoor play was as simple as opening the front door."
- Darell Hammond, author of KaBOOM! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play
"Want to be part of a revolution that can return free outdoor play--once the birthright of childhood--to today's kids? Playborhood is a seriously subversive book, an inspiring "how-to" guide. It outlines with zest and clarity approaches that parents in affluent suburbs or tough inner city blocks can take to create a safe space for shared, imaginative, vigorous outdoor play that kids will love and make their own."
- Alice McLerran, author of Roxaboxen
"A culture of play helps children develop into happy, healthy, responsible, creative adults. Single family approaches like cutting down on screen time or structured activities are a step in the right direction, but Playborhood highlights the importance of families engaging in community action to create a culture of play for everyone."
- Vicki Abeles, producer of the documentary film, Race to Nowhere
"Play and love are the most formative forces for good and survival in our species' long term adventures on this planet. Good and credible neuroscience and a wealth of paleo-anthroplogic data now confirm that our 'pursuit of happiness' rests on these two elements that are foundational for our becoming fully human. What Mike Lanza accomplishes in Playborhood is to bring his own deep love of his kids, and his transformative knowledge of play into mainstream action, where it is most relevant and needed. The examples in the book of successful play based neighborhood activities in a wide variety of settings also confirms the power of play to bind latent community energies into a contagious pervasive play ethic. The positive implications of this readable and engaging book impact parenting, education and the building of a trusting, life-sustaining neighborhood."
- Stuart Brown MD, Founder and President of The National Institute for Play
"Playborhood demonstrates how we can transcend the isolation of our neighborhoods to find engagement with others. Mike Lanza gives an intuitive sense for how to do this because he and the others he writes about are 'walking the walk.' This book is full of tangible steps we can take in our neighborhoods to immediately improve our happiness, health, and sense of place."
- Fred Kent, President of the Project for Public Spaces
"Playborhood is the new owner's manual for your block. Everything you need to transform your neighborhood into a healthy, playful, and lively place for children and families. Reclaim your streets, trees, and front lawns - it's time to make space for free-ranging play. Mike Lanza has written the how-to manual for a new generation of families that want to do more living where they live.
- Gever Tulley, author of 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)
"When I speak to groups of parents about the great value of children's self-directed outdoor play, the first question I'm usually asked is about how to make such play possible in today's world. My answer to date has generally begun with a reference to Mike Lanza's Playborhood website. Now I can refer them to this book! This is not only a great resource; it's also a great read. You'll enjoy it, and it'll get you thinking, even if you don't have kids. A better place for kids is a better place for all of us."
- Peter Gray, research professor and play specialist, Boston College
"In your hands is a book that is a revelation. It will teach you to see the the true meaning of the neighborhood where you live. Mike Lanza helps you honor your children's wonder of the world around them and inspires you with his strategies, vision, and community love stories."
- Mark Lakeman, founder of the City Repair Project
"When I was young my friends and I played all over our neighborhood. It was our world, and it gave us the security to go out later and explore the wider world around us. Life is different now. You can drive through the safest neighborhoods and they look like ghost towns. Not a single child is outside playing. I am so grateful to Mike Lanza for reminding us that play begins at home and in our neighborhoods. It takes so little to make it happen there - just awareness, passion, and commitment. This book helps to feed all of those."
- Joan Almon, Director, Alliance for Childhood
"In Playborhood, Mike Lanza reminds us that 'Go outside and play!' isn't about driving our kids away, but about enriching their lives. Even better, he lays out a wide range of examples to inspire each of us to create play-friendly spaces in our homes and blocks. Playborhood makes me want to go out and turn my front yard into the funnest place in town for kids to hang out!"
- Ken Denmead, author of the Geek Dad series of books
"At one level Playborhood is a compelling parenting guide. Mike Lanza is one of a growing number of activist parents who want their kids to have a happy childhood, acquire basic life skills, successfully navigate adolescence, and become self-reliant, socially adept, creative, problem-solving adults. In short, he proposes a return to the historic basics of healthy, happy childhoods. The Lanza key to success is for parents to take actions in the 'front space' of homes, streets, and neighborhoods.
On another level, this well-researched, lively, easy-to-read, 'Jane Jacobs primer for kids' presents timely lessons to all those who influence the spatial public realm of neighborhoods - architects, landscape architects, planners, traffic engineers, community developers, neighborhood associations, public officials; and especially developers. Anyone concerned with the lifestyle issues affecting the healthy development of today's children should read the compelling lessons of Playborhood."
- Robin Moore, Professor of Landscape Architecture, North Carolina State University
- Po Bronson, co-author of Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children
"The value of unstructured outdoor play, fading in the virtual age, is vital for children's health and happiness. This invaluable book, Playborhood, will inspire you create the kind of outdoor environment that nurtures the hearts of children - and parents."
- Richard Louv, author of The Last Child in the Woods
"While there is an increasing amount of literature bemoaning our country's growing play deficit and community apathy, Mike Lanza has decided to do something about it. This book is bursting with practical inspiration on how to transform your block into a vibrant, communal space for kids to play. His case studies span inner cities, suburbs, and small towns alike, demonstrating that no matter where you live, you have the tools in hand to effect real, lasting change for your neighborhood's youngest residents. A must-read for any parent who wants to give their kids the same kind of childhood we enjoyed -- back when outdoor play was as simple as opening the front door."
- Darell Hammond, author of KaBOOM! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play
"Want to be part of a revolution that can return free outdoor play--once the birthright of childhood--to today's kids? Playborhood is a seriously subversive book, an inspiring "how-to" guide. It outlines with zest and clarity approaches that parents in affluent suburbs or tough inner city blocks can take to create a safe space for shared, imaginative, vigorous outdoor play that kids will love and make their own."
- Alice McLerran, author of Roxaboxen
"A culture of play helps children develop into happy, healthy, responsible, creative adults. Single family approaches like cutting down on screen time or structured activities are a step in the right direction, but Playborhood highlights the importance of families engaging in community action to create a culture of play for everyone."
- Vicki Abeles, producer of the documentary film, Race to Nowhere
"Play and love are the most formative forces for good and survival in our species' long term adventures on this planet. Good and credible neuroscience and a wealth of paleo-anthroplogic data now confirm that our 'pursuit of happiness' rests on these two elements that are foundational for our becoming fully human. What Mike Lanza accomplishes in Playborhood is to bring his own deep love of his kids, and his transformative knowledge of play into mainstream action, where it is most relevant and needed. The examples in the book of successful play based neighborhood activities in a wide variety of settings also confirms the power of play to bind latent community energies into a contagious pervasive play ethic. The positive implications of this readable and engaging book impact parenting, education and the building of a trusting, life-sustaining neighborhood."
- Stuart Brown MD, Founder and President of The National Institute for Play
"Playborhood demonstrates how we can transcend the isolation of our neighborhoods to find engagement with others. Mike Lanza gives an intuitive sense for how to do this because he and the others he writes about are 'walking the walk.' This book is full of tangible steps we can take in our neighborhoods to immediately improve our happiness, health, and sense of place."
- Fred Kent, President of the Project for Public Spaces
"Playborhood is the new owner's manual for your block. Everything you need to transform your neighborhood into a healthy, playful, and lively place for children and families. Reclaim your streets, trees, and front lawns - it's time to make space for free-ranging play. Mike Lanza has written the how-to manual for a new generation of families that want to do more living where they live.
- Gever Tulley, author of 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do)
"When I speak to groups of parents about the great value of children's self-directed outdoor play, the first question I'm usually asked is about how to make such play possible in today's world. My answer to date has generally begun with a reference to Mike Lanza's Playborhood website. Now I can refer them to this book! This is not only a great resource; it's also a great read. You'll enjoy it, and it'll get you thinking, even if you don't have kids. A better place for kids is a better place for all of us."
- Peter Gray, research professor and play specialist, Boston College
"Barriers to free, creative outdoor play across generations inhibit healthy development of the psyche, the body and the mind. Want to counter these consequences? Start early and stay late - transform your family culture, kid's play, and neighborhood play desert into a magical playborhood. Mike Lanza's compelling Playborhood tells you how!"
- Joe Frost, author of A History of Children's Play and Play Environments
"In your hands is a book that is a revelation. It will teach you to see the the true meaning of the neighborhood where you live. Mike Lanza helps you honor your children's wonder of the world around them and inspires you with his strategies, vision, and community love stories."
- Mark Lakeman, founder of the City Repair Project
"When I was young my friends and I played all over our neighborhood. It was our world, and it gave us the security to go out later and explore the wider world around us. Life is different now. You can drive through the safest neighborhoods and they look like ghost towns. Not a single child is outside playing. I am so grateful to Mike Lanza for reminding us that play begins at home and in our neighborhoods. It takes so little to make it happen there - just awareness, passion, and commitment. This book helps to feed all of those."
- Joan Almon, Director, Alliance for Childhood
"In Playborhood, Mike Lanza reminds us that 'Go outside and play!' isn't about driving our kids away, but about enriching their lives. Even better, he lays out a wide range of examples to inspire each of us to create play-friendly spaces in our homes and blocks. Playborhood makes me want to go out and turn my front yard into the funnest place in town for kids to hang out!"
- Ken Denmead, author of the Geek Dad series of books
"At one level Playborhood is a compelling parenting guide. Mike Lanza is one of a growing number of activist parents who want their kids to have a happy childhood, acquire basic life skills, successfully navigate adolescence, and become self-reliant, socially adept, creative, problem-solving adults. In short, he proposes a return to the historic basics of healthy, happy childhoods. The Lanza key to success is for parents to take actions in the 'front space' of homes, streets, and neighborhoods.
On another level, this well-researched, lively, easy-to-read, 'Jane Jacobs primer for kids' presents timely lessons to all those who influence the spatial public realm of neighborhoods - architects, landscape architects, planners, traffic engineers, community developers, neighborhood associations, public officials; and especially developers. Anyone concerned with the lifestyle issues affecting the healthy development of today's children should read the compelling lessons of Playborhood."
- Robin Moore, Professor of Landscape Architecture, North Carolina State University
About the Author
Mike Lanza has been blogging about kids, play, and neighborhoods at Playborhood.com since 2007. He's worked hard to create a very rich neighborhood play life for his three boys - ages 7, 4, and 2 - in Menlo Park, California. He's also discovered and written about dozens of neighborhoods throughout North America that are doing innovative things to make a vibrant life for kids. Prior to his writing career, Mike was a five-time software and Internet entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. He holds an MA in Education, an MBA, and an MA and BA in Economics, all from Stanford University.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I teach at a very unusual school: a 4th through 8th grade prep academy. The school has many very good features and if one is to judge by test scores, it is one of the best in the state of California. But one thing it does not have is opportunity for unstructured play time. Neither does the local neighborhood. And our kids are the worse off for it. When we opened the school, our principal came in to address each classroom and answer questions. Question 1 from our fifth graders: when is recess? Answer: there isn't any. But we do have PE 5 days a week. Isn't that exciting? Sort of. But I find many of my students are more than happy to give up PE part of the week to do intensive instruction, and one of the biggest draws of our Saturday Academy (held once a month) is the unstructured play time of 20 or so minutes between sessions. In this new book, Mike Lanza explains why unstructured play time, preferably out doors, is so important to children and examines the social costs of not providing for it.
Children, research shows, actually learn quite a bit from unstructured play time, not the least of which is social skills and age appropriate interactions. They also learn independence and develop creativity. Unfortunately, early 21st century society does not offer many opportunities for children to explore and enjoy free time. One can point to a variety of causes. Children spend more of their day in school than they used to, and less of that time is devoted to recess than in the past. In addition, students are given more homework than they used to receive as educators are driven to try anything to raise test scores and meet the demands of No Child Left Behind legislation. But schools are not the only culprits. Liability concerns, fear, and a political agenda to "protect" children at all costs has gone a long way toward preventing kids from developing a healthy lifestyle. As a child I would routinely bike miles from my home to fish until dark. My happiest memories as a child involved playing pick up basball games in the neighborhood, riding the greenbelt bikeway on the Boise River, and fishing ponds and streams around my home. "But we can't do those things now" I am repeatedly told when I share my experiences with parents today. And yet, crime is actually less now than it was 20 to 30 years ago, and on the whole society is safer. The problem is we have become overprotective, and our kids are suffering for it.
But what is the solution? Lanza suggests neighborhoods need to develop kid friendly zones where kids can play, often without direct adult supervision. Yards need to be less manicured and more play friendly. He provides several "models" from around the country in neighborhoods from all income and ethnic backgrounds. The biggest obstacle, aside from our own fears and overprotectiveness, is the local planning board but even local government can occasionally be swayed by a dedicated group of citizens who actually have the interests of children at heart. The alternative, unfortunately, is more time in front of multimedia presentations. Already, as Lanza notes, kids are getting as much as 8 hours of screen time, trading a virtual world that is immediately accessible for a real one that is being denied them. We can and should do better. I strongly recommend this book for all parents. Get it and find out how you can change your neighborhood into a playborhood; a place where kids can blossom with play time into independent young adults.
Children, research shows, actually learn quite a bit from unstructured play time, not the least of which is social skills and age appropriate interactions. They also learn independence and develop creativity. Unfortunately, early 21st century society does not offer many opportunities for children to explore and enjoy free time. One can point to a variety of causes. Children spend more of their day in school than they used to, and less of that time is devoted to recess than in the past. In addition, students are given more homework than they used to receive as educators are driven to try anything to raise test scores and meet the demands of No Child Left Behind legislation. But schools are not the only culprits. Liability concerns, fear, and a political agenda to "protect" children at all costs has gone a long way toward preventing kids from developing a healthy lifestyle. As a child I would routinely bike miles from my home to fish until dark. My happiest memories as a child involved playing pick up basball games in the neighborhood, riding the greenbelt bikeway on the Boise River, and fishing ponds and streams around my home. "But we can't do those things now" I am repeatedly told when I share my experiences with parents today. And yet, crime is actually less now than it was 20 to 30 years ago, and on the whole society is safer. The problem is we have become overprotective, and our kids are suffering for it.
But what is the solution? Lanza suggests neighborhoods need to develop kid friendly zones where kids can play, often without direct adult supervision. Yards need to be less manicured and more play friendly. He provides several "models" from around the country in neighborhoods from all income and ethnic backgrounds. The biggest obstacle, aside from our own fears and overprotectiveness, is the local planning board but even local government can occasionally be swayed by a dedicated group of citizens who actually have the interests of children at heart. The alternative, unfortunately, is more time in front of multimedia presentations. Already, as Lanza notes, kids are getting as much as 8 hours of screen time, trading a virtual world that is immediately accessible for a real one that is being denied them. We can and should do better. I strongly recommend this book for all parents. Get it and find out how you can change your neighborhood into a playborhood; a place where kids can blossom with play time into independent young adults.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've long worried about the consequences of diminishing time for play in children's lives, but I've never thought so concretely about changes we can make intentionally in our neighborhoods to address this issue, to not just bring back free outdoor play to the lives of children but also to actively cultivate community. What I like most about this book, beyond Lanza's passion, are the diverse examples of ways people are creating community across the US. Little changes like a book exchange in Share-It Square (Portland, OR) are so easy to implement yet can yield potentially big returns in terms of fostering a neighborhood culture. From play streets in urban environments like the Bronx to homemade water slides in Seattle to white boards in a neighborhood housing development, the ideas offered in Playborhood are varied and can be adapted anywhere.
I also appreciate the book's critical analysis of our society's lack of focus on the child. Lanza's take on the way real estate is marketed (and designed) with adults in mind and often with little thought for community has me thinking more deeply about children's perspectives and about intentionality not just in how I live but where I live. For anyone who hopes to make some changes, get to know his or her neighbors, and actively build community, I definitely recommend this book.
I also appreciate the book's critical analysis of our society's lack of focus on the child. Lanza's take on the way real estate is marketed (and designed) with adults in mind and often with little thought for community has me thinking more deeply about children's perspectives and about intentionality not just in how I live but where I live. For anyone who hopes to make some changes, get to know his or her neighbors, and actively build community, I definitely recommend this book.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Avery Cleary
Format:Paperback
Looking for ways to make your yard and neighborhood more kid-friendly? This book is packed with inspiration and practical suggestions. It has awesome stories about people across the country who have turned their neighborhoods into safe places for kids to PLAY. Playborhood opens up creative, new possibilities for play right outside your door!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
My husband& I have been searching for a playborhood for two years. This book helped me realize how important it is so I don't feel crazy for being so picky. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Amy B Autrey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important Book
Playborhood is a very important book about a very important subject. The author has devoted himself to making sure that his children have the same playful upbringing that he... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Meryl Neiman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Playborhood Encourages a Return to Outdoor Play
Playtime in the past was very different from today. Those of us who grew up in the mid 1980's and earlier spent a good deal of our time outdoors; spontaneously playing sports with... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bryan Carey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book !
I purchased a copy of the book and feel good about it. The topics covered and organization of content are great! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dhaval Shah
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bring on the Outdoor Play!
I was interested in what author Mike Lanza had to say about this "playborhood" idea. I grew up playing outside, making up games and exploring the canal bank for asparagus to sell... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Aimee Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars
A cultural revolution
Mike Lanza is starting a cultural movement. And I want to be part of it. Who else is game?
Playborhood - Turning Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play is a book about... Read more
Playborhood - Turning Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play is a book about... Read more
Published 12 months ago by AmandaL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rock Your Children's World!
Parents, here is a book that will rock your world--and that of your children.
Mike Lanza, father of there young boys, realized something was very different about... Read more
Mike Lanza, father of there young boys, realized something was very different about... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. Madeline Boskey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ideas to turn a good neighborhood into a great community
I live in a good neighborhood where kids play outside nearly everyday. From the beginning of the book where Mr. Read more
Published 12 months ago by SunLovinMama
1.0 out of 5 stars
Do not fall into the trap
Did we not all grow up playing outside with friends?
Unless you lived under a rock and do not know how to set play dates, this book is a waste of time. Read more
Unless you lived under a rock and do not know how to set play dates, this book is a waste of time. Read more
Published 13 months ago by parentwarning
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great resource for advocates of play
This book is an important addition to the literature explaining why we need to rebalance our children's lives in favor of play. Read more
Published 13 months ago by simon firth
