Ep 13 | What’s Really Hurting Our Kids: Peter Gray on Why Phones Aren’t the Problem
Play isn’t just the giggles and games—it’s a protective shield for growing hearts and minds. When kids lose play, they lose more than fun.
In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler goes deeper into why children are more anxious and less joyful, and what we can do to turn the tide.
Rusty welcomes back Dr. Peter Gray, our favorite play professor and champion of childhood freedom. This time, they dig into what’s really behind the rise in kids’ anxiety and depression—and no, it’s not just the phones.
Peter points to the pressure cooker of modern education, where rigid standards and endless testing are crowding out curiosity, movement, and joy.
Top three takeaways for part 2 with Peter Gray
It’s not just screens—school stress is a major player in kids’ declining mental health.
The loss of autonomy and play in schools is leaving kids overwhelmed and underpowered.
There are brighter paths—like Sudbury schools—where kids are trusted, free, and thriving.
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
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Ep 12 | The Power of Toddler Play: Trusting Little Ones to Lead and Learn with Deb Curtis
Play is serious stuff. It’s how kids make sense of the world, grow their brains, build friendships, and show us their natural brilliance. When we step back and let play lead, magic happens.
In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, we’re celebrating the joy, wisdom, and wildness of children’s play, just as it is. Host Rusty Keeler sits down with Deb Curtis, a longtime champion of childhood and co-author of The Art of Awareness. With stories straight from the classroom and a heart full of curiosity, Deb reminds us that children are already wired for empathy, fairness, and deep learning—no adult scripts required.
Here are three big takeaways from the conversation with Deb:
Kids don’t need us to structure everything. Play is their superpower.
Trust what you see: fairness, compassion, and problem-solving are already there.
Want to support play? Slow down, observe, and be amazed.
Make sure to check out the YouTube video where Deb and Rusty discuss pictures of toddler play and playscapes from Deb's program over the years: youtube.com/watch?v=O2BG239oqYs
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
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Ep 11 | Why Children Play—and What Adults Have Forgotten: Peter Gray on the Instinct to Play
Play is not just fun—it’s essential. It’s how children explore, create, stumble, and soar. It’s how they learn to be brave, solve problems, and build their world.
In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, we dig into the deep roots of play and why letting kids run wild (in a good way!) may be the most important thing we do for their growing brains.
Rusty is joined by Dr. Peter Gray—play researcher, freedom fighter, and author of Free to Learn. Peter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College, but he speaks fluent playground. He talks about what real play looks like, why it’s fading from childhood, and how that’s affecting kids everywhere.
Spoiler: play isn’t optional. It’s nature’s secret weapon.
Top three takeaways from part one with Peter Gray:
True play is self-directed, open-ended, and full of joy—no adult agendas allowed.
Kids need independent play more than ever, especially in our over-scheduled, screen-heavy world.
Want happier, more resilient kids? Let them climb, dig, imagine, and roam—play is the path to well-being.
Come back for part 2 with Peter Gray on an upcoming episode of the Play Nature Podcast!
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
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Ep 10 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: 5 Tips for SUMMER Outdoor Fun
Ready to splash, dig, and grow your way through summer? What if a simple water fight could bring more joy than screen time? And who says adults don’t need nature-play too?
In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler with his feet in the creek, shares five favorite ways to get outside and feel the season. Think water play, plant love, melting ice, and loose parts. These aren't just kids' ideas—they’re for the whole family (yes, grown-ups included). There’s even a surprise bonus tip for the truly wild-hearted.
So gather your buckets, your sticks, and your curiosity. Whether you're growing basil or just growing memories, this episode will inspire you to turn off the screens and turn up the wonder. Dirt optional, joy guaranteed.
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
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Ep 9 | Field of Dreams: Building Wild Childhoods in Scotland with Cameron Sprague
“We have really strong relationships with our children and our families, and that's what allows the adventures to come.” --Cameron Sprauge, Head of Nurseries-Stramash Social Enterprise
What if the secret to raising resilient, creative, confident kids was… play? Real play. Outdoors. With sticks, mud, and a whole lot of autonomy.
In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast host Rusty Keeler and his guest get curious about how wild play spaces help children build skills for life—and why a scraped knee might just be part of the plan.
Meet Cameron Sprague: nature play champion, outdoor educator, and all-around muddy-booted legend. From the forests of Scotland to the joyful chaos of Stramash Outdoor Nurseries, Cameron shares stories from his journey into nature-based education. Together they
Rusty and Cameron talk about planting trees, trusting children, building with pallets, embracing risk, and growing outdoor play from the ground up. They share visions for a world where children belong outside—rain or shine.
Top 3 muddy gems from Episode 9:
Risk is not the enemy—it's a teacher.
Trees are more than shade—they’re scaffolding for imagination.
Start small, think big—even a log and a dream can spark a movement.
Catch the conversation where Cameron and I look at some pictures of his original "field of dreams" on my YouTube channel @rustykeeler: youtube.com/watch?v=n0UFbz8Or-4
Links and Resources:
Balance and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom
Follow Cameron @cameronsprague on Facebook & X | @Cameronsprague02 on IG
Puddle Patter with Stramash Outdoor Nurseries on Spotify
vimeo.com/stramashoutdoor
ISO 4980:2023(en)
Benefit-risk assessment for sports and recreational facilities, activities and equipment
20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul
Rusty’s Nature Play Design Masterclass
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
Welcome to Play Nature Podcast, a podcast dedicated to celebrating the beauty and benefits of outdoor, nature-based play—for all children (and us adults too!)
Hosted by Rusty Keeler, a passionate play advocate, with over 30 years of experience designing natural playscapes, writing about nature and risky play, and traveling the world to champion the power of play, Rusty’s Play Nature Podcast is your guide for supporting outdoor play, protecting childhood, and letting kids be kids.
From willow huts and mud kitchens to sunflower houses and kale forests, Rusty will delve into the magic of natural materials, loose parts, messy play, and even the value of risky play in children’s lives. You’ll discover practical ways to nurture play in your own backyard, neighborhood, school, or community.
Join Rusty Keeler to uncover the wonders of outdoor play and learn what tools you already have to create joyful, natural play experiences for all seasons, all weather, and all children.
Let’s make the world a better place by saying “Yes!” to play.
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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