'Anti-dopamine parenting' can curb a kid's craving for screens or sweets
How a little more silence in children's lives helps them grow
10 things to know about how social media affects teens' brains
How everyday noise can inhibit learning – and how teachers can reduce it
Play is crucial for middle schoolers, too
In elementary classrooms, demand grows for play-based learning
Young kids benefit from play. But what should it look like?
Want resilient and well-adjusted kids? Let them play
Saliva’s special bond: Babies know swapping it signals love
Sponsored
window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={"attachmentsReducer":{"audio_0":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_0","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"}}},"audio_1":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_1","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"}}},"audio_2":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_2","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"}}},"audio_3":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_3","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"}}},"audio_4":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_4","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"}}},"placeholder":{"type":"attachments","id":"placeholder","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-160x96.jpg","width":160,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-800x478.jpg","width":800,"height":478,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1020x610.jpg","width":1020,"height":610,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-960x574.jpg","width":960,"height":574,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-240x143.jpg","width":240,"height":143,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-375x224.jpg","width":375,"height":224,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-520x311.jpg","width":520,"height":311,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-e1514998105161.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148}}},"mindshift_61864":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_61864","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"61864","found":true},"title":null,"publishDate":1687351244,"status":"inherit","parent":61863,"modified":1687359058,"caption":"Dopamine is part of an ancient neural pathway that ensures human survival. It is also part of the reason it is so hard to stop playing a video game or pass up a cupcake.","credit":"Meredith Miotke for NPR","altTag":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-800x449.jpg","width":800,"height":449,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-1020x573.jpg","width":1020,"height":573,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-160x90.jpg","width":160,"height":90,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-768x431.jpg","width":768,"height":431,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-1536x863.jpg","width":1536,"height":863,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-2048x1150.jpg","width":2048,"height":1150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-1920x1078.jpg","width":1920,"height":1078,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/06/miotke_npr_final_print_custom-19d4a2a485d95d63ba18cf349595955565cfa79d-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1438}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_61696":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_61696","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"61696","found":true},"title":"Noise can affect how the brain develops.","publishDate":1684942215,"status":"inherit","parent":61695,"modified":1685039140,"caption":null,"credit":"LA Johnson/NPR","altTag":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-800x499.jpg","width":800,"height":499,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-1020x637.jpg","width":1020,"height":637,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-160x100.jpg","width":160,"height":100,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-768x479.jpg","width":768,"height":479,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-1536x959.jpg","width":1536,"height":959,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-2048x1278.jpg","width":2048,"height":1278,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-1920x1198.jpg","width":1920,"height":1198,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/noise-brain-dev-silence-ljohnsonnoise_custom-7d483933b65ca56004b8d68e2d0cf4214436d205-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1598}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_61027":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_61027","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"61027","found":true},"title":"A young student attends online school from her bedroom.","publishDate":1676599487,"status":"inherit","parent":61026,"modified":1676601223,"caption":null,"credit":"Tracy J. Lee for NPR","altTag":"A young student attends online school from her bedroom.","description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-1536x1024.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-2048x1365.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/02/tlee-npr_040521_3_slide-dd3c9bf39e4a69ec676eb33e1d7c1cbadb3ce068-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_60474":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_60474","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"60474","found":true},"title":"Headphones on the brain over yellow background","publishDate":1669833323,"status":"inherit","parent":60468,"modified":1669833372,"caption":null,"credit":"SerrNovik/iStock","altTag":"Headphones on the brain over the yellow background","description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-1536x1024.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-2048x1365.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/audio-brain.jpg","width":2121,"height":1414}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_60300":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_60300","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"60300","found":true},"title":"Play Middle School","publishDate":1668314923,"status":"inherit","parent":60253,"modified":1668315750,"caption":"A group of friends gather for an impromptu game of basketball during Rocky Run Middle School’s 15-minute recess break. The students at the Chantilly, Virginia, school say they like the chance to chat with friends.","credit":"Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report","altTag":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-1536x1024.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-2048x1365.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play6-and-FEAT-scaled-e1668315174638.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_60268":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_60268","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"60268","found":true},"title":"Gilreath Play Elementary2","publishDate":1668290408,"status":"inherit","parent":60251,"modified":1668312733,"caption":"A student uses a wooden construction toy to create a model solar system as she plays in Crystal O’Brien’s third grade class at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City.","credit":"Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report","altTag":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-800x600.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-1020x765.jpg","width":1020,"height":765,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-160x120.jpg","width":160,"height":120,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-768x576.jpg","width":768,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-1536x1152.jpg","width":1536,"height":1152,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-2048x1536.jpg","width":2048,"height":1536,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-1920x1440.jpg","width":1920,"height":1440,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary2-scaled-e1668302794462.jpg","width":1920,"height":1440}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_60265":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_60265","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"60265","found":true},"title":"Mader Play PreK4 and FEAT","publishDate":1668201844,"status":"inherit","parent":60251,"modified":1668301491,"caption":"A student at Impact Salish Sea Elementary feeds a doll during a morning play session. ","credit":"Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report","altTag":"A child with hair in a bun feeds a doll in a classroom.","description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-1536x1024.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-2048x1365.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK4-and-FEAT-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_60260":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_60260","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"60260","found":true},"title":"mader-play1-FEAT(2)","publishDate":1668201519,"status":"inherit","parent":60251,"modified":1668301845,"caption":null,"credit":"Camilla Forte/The Hechinger Report","altTag":"Black and white photo of a woman jumping with arms in the air. Surrounded by illustrated blue, yellow and red outlines.","description":null,"imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-800x534.png","width":800,"height":534,"mimeType":"image/png"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-1020x681.png","width":1020,"height":681,"mimeType":"image/png"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-160x107.png","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/png"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-768x513.png","width":768,"height":513,"mimeType":"image/png"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-1536x1025.png","width":1536,"height":1025,"mimeType":"image/png"},"2048x2048":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-2048x1367.png","width":2048,"height":1367,"mimeType":"image/png"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-672x372.png","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/png"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-1038x576.png","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/png"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-1920x1281.png","width":1920,"height":1281,"mimeType":"image/png"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/mader-play1-FEAT2-e1668301840177.png","width":1920,"height":1281}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"mindshift_58969":{"type":"attachments","id":"mindshift_58969","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"mindshift","id":"58969","found":true},"title":"gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca","publishDate":1642751385,"status":"inherit","parent":58968,"modified":1642752043,"caption":"This stock image shows a baby and father playing at home. New research finds that babies judge the relationship between two people by whether or not they willingly share saliva.","credit":"freemixer/Getty Images","altTag":"baby licking a parent","description":"Baby and father at home, playing on the floor","imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-800x599.jpg","width":800,"height":599,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-1020x764.jpg","width":1020,"height":764,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-160x120.jpg","width":160,"height":120,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-768x575.jpg","width":768,"height":575,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-1536x1150.jpg","width":1536,"height":1150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/01/gettyimages-507838478-258857ae9991980c9bcbcf426e0bf50e6ca16cca.jpg","width":1888,"height":1414}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false}},"audioPlayerReducer":{"postId":"stream_live"},"authorsReducer":{"byline_mindshift_61863":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_61863","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_61863","name":"Michaeleen Doucleff","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_61695":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_61695","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_61695","name":"LA Johnson","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_61026":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_61026","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_61026","name":"Cory Turner","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_60253":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_60253","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_60253","name":"Christina A. Samuels, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_60255":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_60255","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_60255","name":"Ariel Gilreath, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_60248":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_60248","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_60248","name":"Jackie Mader, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_60251":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_60251","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_60251","name":"Jackie Mader, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_mindshift_58968":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_mindshift_58968","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_mindshift_58968","name":"Nell Greenfieldboyce","isLoading":false},"ngobir":{"type":"authors","id":"11721","meta":{"index":"authors_1591205172","id":"11721","found":true},"name":"Nimah Gobir","firstName":"Nimah","lastName":"Gobir","slug":"ngobir","email":"ngobir@kqed.org","display_author_email":false,"staff_mastheads":[],"title":"KQED Contributor","bio":null,"avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e08e101e43fc79cc7bcd0c19038d7d08?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twitter":null,"facebook":null,"instagram":null,"linkedin":null,"sites":[{"site":"mindshift","roles":["editor"]}],"headData":{"title":"Nimah Gobir | KQED","description":"KQED Contributor","ogImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e08e101e43fc79cc7bcd0c19038d7d08?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e08e101e43fc79cc7bcd0c19038d7d08?s=600&d=blank&r=g"},"isLoading":false,"link":"/author/ngobir"}},"breakingNewsReducer":{},"campaignFinanceReducer":{},"firebase":{"requesting":{},"requested":{},"timestamps":{},"data":{},"ordered":{},"auth":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"authError":null,"profile":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"listeners":{"byId":{},"allIds":[]},"isInitializing":false,"errors":[]},"navBarReducer":{"navBarId":"home","fullView":true,"showPlayer":false},"navMenuReducer":{"menus":[{"key":"menu1","items":[{"name":"News","link":"/","type":"title"},{"name":"Politics","link":"/politics"},{"name":"Science","link":"/science"},{"name":"Education","link":"/educationnews"},{"name":"Housing","link":"/housing"},{"name":"Immigration","link":"/immigration"},{"name":"Criminal Justice","link":"/criminaljustice"},{"name":"Silicon Valley","link":"/siliconvalley"},{"name":"Forum","link":"/forum"},{"name":"The California Report","link":"/californiareport"}]},{"key":"menu2","items":[{"name":"Arts & Culture","link":"/arts","type":"title"},{"name":"Critics’ Picks","link":"/thedolist"},{"name":"Cultural Commentary","link":"/artscommentary"},{"name":"Food & Drink","link":"/food"},{"name":"Bay Area Hip-Hop","link":"/bayareahiphop"},{"name":"Rebel Girls","link":"/rebelgirls"},{"name":"Arts Video","link":"/artsvideos"}]},{"key":"menu3","items":[{"name":"Podcasts","link":"/podcasts","type":"title"},{"name":"Bay Curious","link":"/podcasts/baycurious"},{"name":"Rightnowish","link":"/podcasts/rightnowish"},{"name":"The Bay","link":"/podcasts/thebay"},{"name":"On Our Watch","link":"/podcasts/onourwatch"},{"name":"Mindshift","link":"/podcasts/mindshift"},{"name":"Consider This","link":"/podcasts/considerthis"},{"name":"Political Breakdown","link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown"}]},{"key":"menu4","items":[{"name":"Live Radio","link":"/radio","type":"title"},{"name":"TV","link":"/tv","type":"title"},{"name":"Events","link":"/events","type":"title"},{"name":"For Educators","link":"/education","type":"title"},{"name":"Support KQED","link":"/support","type":"title"},{"name":"About","link":"/about","type":"title"},{"name":"Help Center","link":"https://kqed-helpcenter.kqed.org/s","type":"title"}]}]},"pagesReducer":{},"postsReducer":{"stream_live":{"type":"live","id":"stream_live","audioUrl":"https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio","title":"Live Stream","excerpt":"Live Stream information currently unavailable.","link":"/radio","featImg":"","label":{"name":"KQED Live","link":"/"}},"stream_kqedNewscast":{"type":"posts","id":"stream_kqedNewscast","audioUrl":"https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1","title":"KQED Newscast","featImg":"","label":{"name":"88.5 FM","link":"/"}},"mindshift_61863":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_61863","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"61863","score":null,"sort":[1687352538000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"anti-dopamine-parenting-can-curb-a-kids-craving-for-screens-or-sweets","title":"'Anti-dopamine parenting' can curb a kid's craving for screens or sweets","publishDate":1687352538,"format":"standard","headTitle":"‘Anti-dopamine parenting’ can curb a kid’s craving for screens or sweets | KQED","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>Back when my daughter was a toddler, I would make a joke about my phone: “It’s a drug for her,” I’d say to my husband. “You can’t even \u003cem>show \u003c/em>it to her without causing a tantrum.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had the same reaction to cupcakes and ice cream at birthday parties. And as she grew older, another craving set in: cartoons on my computer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every night, when it was time to turn off the screen and get ready for bed, I would hear an endless stream of “But Mamas.” “But Mama, just five more minutes. But Mama, after this one show … but Mama … but Mama … but Mama.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given these intense reactions to screens and sweets, I assumed that my daughter loves them. Like, \u003cem>really \u003c/em>loves them. I assumed that they brought her immense joy and pleasure. And thus, I felt really guilty about taking these pleasures away from her. (To be honest, I feel the same way about my own “addictions,” like checking social media and email more than a hundred times a day. I do that because they give me pleasure, right?)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if those assumptions are wrong? What if my daughter’s reactions aren’t a sign of \u003cem>loving \u003c/em>the activity or the food? And that, in fact, over time she may even come to dislike these activities despite her pleas to continue?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past few years, neuroscientists have started to better understand what’s going on in kids’ brains (and adult brains, too) while they’re streaming cartoons, playing video games, scrolling through social media, and eating rich, sugar-laden foods. And that understanding offers powerful insights into how parents can better manage and limit these activities. Personally, I call the strategy “anti-dopamine parenting” because the ideas come from learning how to counter a tiny, powerful molecule that’s essential to nearly everything we do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Turns out, smartphones and sugary foods do have something in common with drugs: They trigger surges of a neurotransmitter\u003ca href=\"https://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_03/a_03_cl/a_03_cl_que/a_03_cl_que.html\"> deep inside your brain\u003c/a> called dopamine. Although drugs cause much bigger spikes of dopamine than, say, social media or an ice cream cone, these smaller spikes still influence our behavior, especially in the long run. They shape our habits, our diets, our mental health and how we spend our free time. They can also cause much conflict between parents and children.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>This is your child’s brain on cartoons (or video games or cupcakes)\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Dopamine is a part of an ancient neural pathway that’s critical for keeping us alive. “These mechanisms evolved in our brain to draw us to things that are essential to our survival. So water, safety, social interactions, sex, food,” says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://en.samaha-lab.com/\">Anne-Noël Samaha\u003c/a> at the University of Montreal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, scientists thought dopamine drew us to these vital needs by providing us with something that’s not as critical: pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s this idea, especially in the popular media, that dopamine increases pleasure. That, when dopamine levels increase, you feel the sensation of ‘liking’ whatever you’re doing and savoring this pleasure,” Samaha says. Pop psychology has dubbed dopamine the “molecule of happiness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But over the past decade, research indicates dopamine does \u003cem>not \u003c/em>make you feel happy. “In fact, there’s a lot of data to refute the idea that dopamine is mediating pleasure,” says Samaha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, studies now show that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27977239/\">dopamine primarily generates\u003c/a> another feeling: desire. “Dopamine makes you \u003cem>want \u003c/em>things,” Samaha says. A surge of dopamine in your brain makes you seek out something, she explains. Or continue doing what you’re doing. It’s all about motivation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it goes even further: Dopamine tells your brain to pay particular attention to whatever triggers the surge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s alerting you to something important, Samaha says. “So you should stay here, close to this thing, because there’s something here for you to learn. That’s what dopamine does.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And here’s the surprising part: You might not even \u003cem>like \u003c/em>the activity that triggers the dopamine surge. It might not be pleasurable. “That’s relatively irrelevant to dopamine,” Samaha says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, studies show that over time, people can end up \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26407959/\">\u003cem>not \u003c/em>liking the activities\u003c/a> that trigger big surges in dopamine. “If you talk to people who spend a lot of time shopping online or, going through social media, they don’t necessarily feel good after doing it,” Samaha says. “In fact, there’s a lot of evidence that it’s quite the opposite, that you end up feeling worse after than before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>“A hijacked neural pathway”\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>What does this all mean for your kids? Say my daughter, who’s now 7 years old, is watching cartoons after dinner. While she’s staring into the technicolor images, her brain experiences spikes in dopamine, over and over again. Those spikes keep her watching (even if she’s actually really tired and \u003cem>wants \u003c/em>to go to bed).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then I come into the room and say, “Time’s up, Rosy. Close the app and get ready for bed.” And although\u003cem> I’m\u003c/em> ready for Rosy to quit watching, her brain isn’t. It’s telling her the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The dopamine levels are still high,” Samaha explains. “And what does dopamine do? It tells you something important is happening, and there’s a need somewhere that you have to answer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what am I doing? I’m preventing her from fulfilling this need, which her brain may elevate as being critical to her survival. In other words, a neural pathway made to ensure humans go seek out water when they’re thirsty is now being used to keep my 7-year-old watching yet another episode of a cartoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not finishing this “critical” task can be incredibly frustrating for a kid, Samaha says, and “an agitation arises.” The child may feel irritated, restless, possibly enraged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the spike in dopamine holds a child’s attention so strongly, parents are setting themselves up for a fight when they try to get them to do any other activity that triggers smaller spikes, such as helping parents clean up after dinner, finishing homework or playing outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So I tell parents, ‘It’s not you versus your child, but rather it’s you versus a hijacked neural pathway. It’s the dopamine you’re fighting. And that’s not a fair fight,'” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.thescreentimeconsultant.com/about-emily\">Emily Cherkin\u003c/a>, who spent more than a decade teaching middle school and now coaches parents about screens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This response can happen to children at any age, even toddlers, says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://profiles.stanford.edu/anna-lembke\">Anna Lembke\u003c/a>, who’s a psychiatrist at Stanford University and author of the book \u003cem>Dopamine Nation\u003c/em>. “Absolutely. This happens at the earliest ages. So screens and sweets are, in and of themselves, alluring and potentially intoxicating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Armed with this knowledge, parents have more power to reduce the stress and negative consequences of these dopamine-surging activities. Here are some strategies to do that.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 1: Wait 5 minutes\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Dopamine surges are potent, says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/people/faculty/berridge.html\">Kent Berridge\u003c/a> at the University of Michigan, but they are fast. “They have a short half-life,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you take away the cue [triggering the dopamine] and you can wait two to five minutes, a lot of the urge usually goes away,” says Berridge, who’s been instrumental in deciphering dopamine’s role in the brain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, when you stop the cartoons at 30 minutes or cut off the cake at one slice, you may hear a bunch of whining, protest and tears, but that reaction will likely be brief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But here’s the key. You have to put the dopamine trigger out of sight, says Lembke at Stanford. Because seeing the laptop or extra leftover cake can start the cycle of wanting over again.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 2: Look for the “Goldilocks” activities\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Of course, not all of these activities and foods will be as enticing or intoxicating to every child, Lembke explains. “Our brains are all wired a little bit differently from one individual to the next.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, dopamine motivates children to act and stay focused. The key, she says, is to figure out which activities give your child the right amount of dopamine. Not too little and not too much — the Goldilocks amount. And to do that, she says, pay attention to how your kid feels after the activity stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If the child feels even better after the activity, that means we’re getting a healthy source of dopamine,” Lembke says. Not too little. But also not too much. And there’s low risk the activity will become problematic for the child.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, my daughter doesn’t have (much of) a problem turning off audiobooks or putting away art projects. Same goes for video-calling with friends, coloring, reading and, of course, playing outside with friends. These activities make her behavior better afterward, not worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What about the opposite — when a child feels worse after an activity or snack, and their behavior declines? Then, Lembke says, there’s a high risk that the activity could hook the child into a compulsive loop. “Once they start engaging often and for long periods of time, they may really lose control,” she explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People have this idea that, ‘Oh, well, if I let my kid play as many video games as they want or be on social media as much as they want, they’ll get tired of it.’ And in fact, the opposite happens,” Lembke says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research indicates that over time, some people’s brains can actually become \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5171207/\">more sensitive\u003c/a> to the dopamine triggered by a particular activity. And therefore, the more time a person spends engaged with this activity, the more they may crave it — even if the activity becomes unpleasurable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, Lembke says, parents really need to be careful and thoughtful with these activities. They need to limit the frequency and duration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which brings us to …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 3: Make microenvironments\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Create places in your home where the child can’t access or see problematic devices, Lembke recommends. For example, have only one room in the house where children can use the phone or tablet. Keep these devices out of bedrooms, the kitchen, the dining room and the car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, create times in your schedule where the child cannot see or access this device. Narrow down usage to only a small time each day, if possible. Or take a weekly “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/12/584389201/smartphone-detox-how-to-power-down-in-a-wired-world\">tech Sabbath\u003c/a>,” where everyone in the family takes a 24-hour break from their phones and tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for problematic foods, keep them out of the house. For example, the family eats ice cream only on special trips to the ice cream parlor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lembke calls these “microenvironments” — both physical and chronological. And they can have profound power over our brains, she says. “It’s amazing how when we know we can’t go on a device, the craving goes away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because here’s the tricky aspect of dopamine: Our brains can start to predict when dopamine spikes are imminent, Lembke explains. We identify signals in the environment that point to it. These environmental cues can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325516/\">trigger \u003c/a>a surge of dopamine in the brain \u003cem>before \u003c/em>the child even begins eating or using a screen. These spikes can be larger than the ones experienced during the activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a child, a signal could be a tablet sitting on a shelf, walking into the living room where they usually use a device, or even simply the time of day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These environmental signals can make it tough, even painful, for kids to start breaking their habits, Lembke says. But that pain usually dissipates in a few days or weeks. Give children time to adjust.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 4: Try a habit makeover\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Instead of cutting out an activity altogether, look for a version that’s more purposeful, says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://neurobiology.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/yevgenia-kozorovitskiy.html\">Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy\u003c/a> at Northwestern University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kozorovitskiy, who has two tween boys, ages 11 and 12, says prohibiting video games altogether isn’t realistic for her family. But she does think carefully about which games they’re playing. “They will sometimes want to play this adventure game that’s really complex and cognitively wonderful,” she explains. “It requires exploration, discovery and strategy. And they play it together, physically. They’re speaking about strategy, exchanging plans and using advanced social and language skills.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I tried this strategy with my daughter. One night we switched the cartoons for a language learning app. I told her that having an activity that’s more purposeful will actually be more pleasurable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yes, she expressed great disappointment in this swap out, with tears and “But Mamas.” But I stayed strong and calm, and I waited. After a few minutes, just as Kent Berridge said, the craving seemed to pass even more quickly than I expected. She easily switched gears to learning a bit of Spanish each night — with very little fuss.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I also started to put in place a piece of advice I heard from all the experts: Enrich your child’s life off the screens. We had a neighbor teach her how to crochet. As a family, we started going for more walks after dinner. We bought a new pet (or actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/28/1171721872/the-wonder-of-chickens-and-their-egg-song-made-me-a-better-person-and-parent\">15 new pets\u003c/a>) for her to take care of. And we started having more friends over on the weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And guess what happened? After using the language app for a few weeks, she lost interest in the screens altogether. She hasn’t watched a cartoon since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I’ll tell you this: I will think very carefully before introducing a new app, device or even a new dessert into our lives. The battle against dopamine is just too hard for me to fight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=%27Anti-dopamine+parenting%27+can+curb+a+kid%27s+craving+for+screens+or+sweets&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Dopamine is a part of our brain's survival mechanism. It is also part of why sugary foods and social media hook kids. The latest neuroscience can help parents help their kids manage behavior. ","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1687359061,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":54,"wordCount":2437},"headData":{"title":"'Anti-dopamine parenting' can curb a kid's craving for screens or sweets | KQED","description":"Dopamine is a part of our brain's survival mechanism. It is also part of why sugary foods and social media hook kids. The latest neuroscience can help parents help their kids manage behavior.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","socialDescription":"Dopamine is a part of our brain's survival mechanism. It is also part of why sugary foods and social media hook kids. The latest neuroscience can help parents help their kids manage behavior."},"nprImageCredit":"Meredith Miotke ","nprByline":"Michaeleen Doucleff","nprImageAgency":"for NPR","nprStoryId":"1180867083","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=1180867083&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/12/1180867083/tips-to-outsmart-dopamine-unhook-kids-from-screens-sweets?ft=nprml&f=1180867083","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Mon, 12 Jun 2023 08:11:00 -0400","nprStoryDate":"Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:00:32 -0400","nprLastModifiedDate":"Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:55:01 -0400","nprAudio":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2023/06/20230612_me_anti-dopamine_parenting_can_curb_a_kids_craving_for_screens_or_sweets.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1128&aggIds=1176326550&d=380&p=3&story=1180867083&ft=nprml&f=1180867083","nprAudioM3u":"http://api.npr.org/m3u/11181638694-93b9a5.m3u?orgId=1&topicId=1128&aggIds=1176326550&d=380&p=3&story=1180867083&ft=nprml&f=1180867083","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","articleAge":"0","path":"/mindshift/61863/anti-dopamine-parenting-can-curb-a-kids-craving-for-screens-or-sweets","audioUrl":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2023/06/20230612_me_anti-dopamine_parenting_can_curb_a_kids_craving_for_screens_or_sweets.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1128&aggIds=1176326550&d=380&p=3&story=1180867083&ft=nprml&f=1180867083","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Back when my daughter was a toddler, I would make a joke about my phone: “It’s a drug for her,” I’d say to my husband. “You can’t even \u003cem>show \u003c/em>it to her without causing a tantrum.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had the same reaction to cupcakes and ice cream at birthday parties. And as she grew older, another craving set in: cartoons on my computer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every night, when it was time to turn off the screen and get ready for bed, I would hear an endless stream of “But Mamas.” “But Mama, just five more minutes. But Mama, after this one show … but Mama … but Mama … but Mama.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given these intense reactions to screens and sweets, I assumed that my daughter loves them. Like, \u003cem>really \u003c/em>loves them. I assumed that they brought her immense joy and pleasure. And thus, I felt really guilty about taking these pleasures away from her. (To be honest, I feel the same way about my own “addictions,” like checking social media and email more than a hundred times a day. I do that because they give me pleasure, right?)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if those assumptions are wrong? What if my daughter’s reactions aren’t a sign of \u003cem>loving \u003c/em>the activity or the food? And that, in fact, over time she may even come to dislike these activities despite her pleas to continue?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past few years, neuroscientists have started to better understand what’s going on in kids’ brains (and adult brains, too) while they’re streaming cartoons, playing video games, scrolling through social media, and eating rich, sugar-laden foods. And that understanding offers powerful insights into how parents can better manage and limit these activities. Personally, I call the strategy “anti-dopamine parenting” because the ideas come from learning how to counter a tiny, powerful molecule that’s essential to nearly everything we do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Turns out, smartphones and sugary foods do have something in common with drugs: They trigger surges of a neurotransmitter\u003ca href=\"https://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_03/a_03_cl/a_03_cl_que/a_03_cl_que.html\"> deep inside your brain\u003c/a> called dopamine. Although drugs cause much bigger spikes of dopamine than, say, social media or an ice cream cone, these smaller spikes still influence our behavior, especially in the long run. They shape our habits, our diets, our mental health and how we spend our free time. They can also cause much conflict between parents and children.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>This is your child’s brain on cartoons (or video games or cupcakes)\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Dopamine is a part of an ancient neural pathway that’s critical for keeping us alive. “These mechanisms evolved in our brain to draw us to things that are essential to our survival. So water, safety, social interactions, sex, food,” says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://en.samaha-lab.com/\">Anne-Noël Samaha\u003c/a> at the University of Montreal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, scientists thought dopamine drew us to these vital needs by providing us with something that’s not as critical: pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s this idea, especially in the popular media, that dopamine increases pleasure. That, when dopamine levels increase, you feel the sensation of ‘liking’ whatever you’re doing and savoring this pleasure,” Samaha says. Pop psychology has dubbed dopamine the “molecule of happiness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But over the past decade, research indicates dopamine does \u003cem>not \u003c/em>make you feel happy. “In fact, there’s a lot of data to refute the idea that dopamine is mediating pleasure,” says Samaha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, studies now show that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27977239/\">dopamine primarily generates\u003c/a> another feeling: desire. “Dopamine makes you \u003cem>want \u003c/em>things,” Samaha says. A surge of dopamine in your brain makes you seek out something, she explains. Or continue doing what you’re doing. It’s all about motivation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it goes even further: Dopamine tells your brain to pay particular attention to whatever triggers the surge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s alerting you to something important, Samaha says. “So you should stay here, close to this thing, because there’s something here for you to learn. That’s what dopamine does.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And here’s the surprising part: You might not even \u003cem>like \u003c/em>the activity that triggers the dopamine surge. It might not be pleasurable. “That’s relatively irrelevant to dopamine,” Samaha says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, studies show that over time, people can end up \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26407959/\">\u003cem>not \u003c/em>liking the activities\u003c/a> that trigger big surges in dopamine. “If you talk to people who spend a lot of time shopping online or, going through social media, they don’t necessarily feel good after doing it,” Samaha says. “In fact, there’s a lot of evidence that it’s quite the opposite, that you end up feeling worse after than before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>“A hijacked neural pathway”\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>What does this all mean for your kids? Say my daughter, who’s now 7 years old, is watching cartoons after dinner. While she’s staring into the technicolor images, her brain experiences spikes in dopamine, over and over again. Those spikes keep her watching (even if she’s actually really tired and \u003cem>wants \u003c/em>to go to bed).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then I come into the room and say, “Time’s up, Rosy. Close the app and get ready for bed.” And although\u003cem> I’m\u003c/em> ready for Rosy to quit watching, her brain isn’t. It’s telling her the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The dopamine levels are still high,” Samaha explains. “And what does dopamine do? It tells you something important is happening, and there’s a need somewhere that you have to answer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what am I doing? I’m preventing her from fulfilling this need, which her brain may elevate as being critical to her survival. In other words, a neural pathway made to ensure humans go seek out water when they’re thirsty is now being used to keep my 7-year-old watching yet another episode of a cartoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not finishing this “critical” task can be incredibly frustrating for a kid, Samaha says, and “an agitation arises.” The child may feel irritated, restless, possibly enraged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the spike in dopamine holds a child’s attention so strongly, parents are setting themselves up for a fight when they try to get them to do any other activity that triggers smaller spikes, such as helping parents clean up after dinner, finishing homework or playing outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So I tell parents, ‘It’s not you versus your child, but rather it’s you versus a hijacked neural pathway. It’s the dopamine you’re fighting. And that’s not a fair fight,'” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.thescreentimeconsultant.com/about-emily\">Emily Cherkin\u003c/a>, who spent more than a decade teaching middle school and now coaches parents about screens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This response can happen to children at any age, even toddlers, says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://profiles.stanford.edu/anna-lembke\">Anna Lembke\u003c/a>, who’s a psychiatrist at Stanford University and author of the book \u003cem>Dopamine Nation\u003c/em>. “Absolutely. This happens at the earliest ages. So screens and sweets are, in and of themselves, alluring and potentially intoxicating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Armed with this knowledge, parents have more power to reduce the stress and negative consequences of these dopamine-surging activities. Here are some strategies to do that.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 1: Wait 5 minutes\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Dopamine surges are potent, says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/people/faculty/berridge.html\">Kent Berridge\u003c/a> at the University of Michigan, but they are fast. “They have a short half-life,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you take away the cue [triggering the dopamine] and you can wait two to five minutes, a lot of the urge usually goes away,” says Berridge, who’s been instrumental in deciphering dopamine’s role in the brain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, when you stop the cartoons at 30 minutes or cut off the cake at one slice, you may hear a bunch of whining, protest and tears, but that reaction will likely be brief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But here’s the key. You have to put the dopamine trigger out of sight, says Lembke at Stanford. Because seeing the laptop or extra leftover cake can start the cycle of wanting over again.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 2: Look for the “Goldilocks” activities\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Of course, not all of these activities and foods will be as enticing or intoxicating to every child, Lembke explains. “Our brains are all wired a little bit differently from one individual to the next.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, dopamine motivates children to act and stay focused. The key, she says, is to figure out which activities give your child the right amount of dopamine. Not too little and not too much — the Goldilocks amount. And to do that, she says, pay attention to how your kid feels after the activity stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If the child feels even better after the activity, that means we’re getting a healthy source of dopamine,” Lembke says. Not too little. But also not too much. And there’s low risk the activity will become problematic for the child.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, my daughter doesn’t have (much of) a problem turning off audiobooks or putting away art projects. Same goes for video-calling with friends, coloring, reading and, of course, playing outside with friends. These activities make her behavior better afterward, not worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What about the opposite — when a child feels worse after an activity or snack, and their behavior declines? Then, Lembke says, there’s a high risk that the activity could hook the child into a compulsive loop. “Once they start engaging often and for long periods of time, they may really lose control,” she explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People have this idea that, ‘Oh, well, if I let my kid play as many video games as they want or be on social media as much as they want, they’ll get tired of it.’ And in fact, the opposite happens,” Lembke says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research indicates that over time, some people’s brains can actually become \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5171207/\">more sensitive\u003c/a> to the dopamine triggered by a particular activity. And therefore, the more time a person spends engaged with this activity, the more they may crave it — even if the activity becomes unpleasurable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, Lembke says, parents really need to be careful and thoughtful with these activities. They need to limit the frequency and duration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which brings us to …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 3: Make microenvironments\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Create places in your home where the child can’t access or see problematic devices, Lembke recommends. For example, have only one room in the house where children can use the phone or tablet. Keep these devices out of bedrooms, the kitchen, the dining room and the car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, create times in your schedule where the child cannot see or access this device. Narrow down usage to only a small time each day, if possible. Or take a weekly “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/12/584389201/smartphone-detox-how-to-power-down-in-a-wired-world\">tech Sabbath\u003c/a>,” where everyone in the family takes a 24-hour break from their phones and tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for problematic foods, keep them out of the house. For example, the family eats ice cream only on special trips to the ice cream parlor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lembke calls these “microenvironments” — both physical and chronological. And they can have profound power over our brains, she says. “It’s amazing how when we know we can’t go on a device, the craving goes away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because here’s the tricky aspect of dopamine: Our brains can start to predict when dopamine spikes are imminent, Lembke explains. We identify signals in the environment that point to it. These environmental cues can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325516/\">trigger \u003c/a>a surge of dopamine in the brain \u003cem>before \u003c/em>the child even begins eating or using a screen. These spikes can be larger than the ones experienced during the activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a child, a signal could be a tablet sitting on a shelf, walking into the living room where they usually use a device, or even simply the time of day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These environmental signals can make it tough, even painful, for kids to start breaking their habits, Lembke says. But that pain usually dissipates in a few days or weeks. Give children time to adjust.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Tip 4: Try a habit makeover\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Instead of cutting out an activity altogether, look for a version that’s more purposeful, says neuroscientist \u003ca href=\"https://neurobiology.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/yevgenia-kozorovitskiy.html\">Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy\u003c/a> at Northwestern University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kozorovitskiy, who has two tween boys, ages 11 and 12, says prohibiting video games altogether isn’t realistic for her family. But she does think carefully about which games they’re playing. “They will sometimes want to play this adventure game that’s really complex and cognitively wonderful,” she explains. “It requires exploration, discovery and strategy. And they play it together, physically. They’re speaking about strategy, exchanging plans and using advanced social and language skills.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I tried this strategy with my daughter. One night we switched the cartoons for a language learning app. I told her that having an activity that’s more purposeful will actually be more pleasurable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yes, she expressed great disappointment in this swap out, with tears and “But Mamas.” But I stayed strong and calm, and I waited. After a few minutes, just as Kent Berridge said, the craving seemed to pass even more quickly than I expected. She easily switched gears to learning a bit of Spanish each night — with very little fuss.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I also started to put in place a piece of advice I heard from all the experts: Enrich your child’s life off the screens. We had a neighbor teach her how to crochet. As a family, we started going for more walks after dinner. We bought a new pet (or actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/04/28/1171721872/the-wonder-of-chickens-and-their-egg-song-made-me-a-better-person-and-parent\">15 new pets\u003c/a>) for her to take care of. And we started having more friends over on the weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And guess what happened? After using the language app for a few weeks, she lost interest in the screens altogether. She hasn’t watched a cartoon since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I’ll tell you this: I will think very carefully before introducing a new app, device or even a new dessert into our lives. The battle against dopamine is just too hard for me to fight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=%27Anti-dopamine+parenting%27+can+curb+a+kid%27s+craving+for+screens+or+sweets&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/61863/anti-dopamine-parenting-can-curb-a-kids-craving-for-screens-or-sweets","authors":["byline_mindshift_61863"],"categories":["mindshift_21385"],"tags":["mindshift_21581","mindshift_21474","mindshift_767","mindshift_21678","mindshift_46","mindshift_20568","mindshift_21116","mindshift_20816","mindshift_21679"],"featImg":"mindshift_61864","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_61695":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_61695","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"61695","score":null,"sort":[1685048326000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-a-little-more-silence-in-childrens-lives-helps-them-grow","title":"How a little more silence in children's lives helps them grow","publishDate":1685048326,"format":"standard","headTitle":"How a little more silence in children’s lives helps them grow | KQED","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>A group of small children sits cross-legged with their teacher, Steve Mejía-Menendez, on a round carpet. He’s a pre-K teacher at Lee Montessori Public Charter School’s campus in Southeast Washington, D.C., and although I’m here to meet him, I almost don’t spot him because he’s eye level with his students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mr. Steve, as he’s known here, is talking a few students through a geometry lesson when another student approaches to ask an unrelated question. This kind of distraction happens all the time in classrooms around the United States. Mr. Steve doesn’t lose focus. He uses American Sign Language to say “wait” — palms facing up, fingers wiggling — and the child waits quietly. When the lesson arrives at a natural stopping point, the student is invited to ask his question, and Mr. Steve silently responds by nodding his head along with his fist, which is sign language for “yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blink, and you could miss the whole interaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This isn’t a school for students with hearing disabilities, but Mr. Steve uses ASL as part of a broader approach to minimize noise in the classroom. And it’s noticeably quiet. No one is talking louder than what’s often referred to in Montessori schools as “the hum.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Silence is kind of a peak achievement in a child’s ability to control themselves,” Mejía-Menendez says. “We create the conditions for children to concentrate.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike this classroom, the city outside is full of noise. And studies show that too much noise, particularly loud noise, can \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757288/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hurt a child’s cognitive development\u003c/a>, notably for language-based skills such as reading. That’s because if noise is just, well, noise, it distracts developing brains and makes it more difficult for children to concentrate. But when their environment is quiet enough for them to pay attention to sounds that are important or particularly interesting to them, it is a powerful teaching tool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Young children’s] brains are craving sound-to-meaning connections, so it’s very important that the sounds around them be nourishing and meaningful,” says Nina Kraus, a neurobiologist at Northwestern University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She believes turning down the noise in our lives starts with embracing — even enjoying — silence.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Our noisy world shapes our brains\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Silence is difficult to find and to create — for adults and kids alike. Around the world, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/08/10/633201540/are-you-listening-hear-what-uninterrupted-silence-sounds-like\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fans of silence\u003c/a> have begun to \u003ca href=\"https://www.quietparks.org/quiet-places\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">catalog the world’s disappearing quiet places\u003c/a>. But Lee Montessori is in Washington, D.C., a city that is surround-sound cacophony: busy highways, screeching commuter trains, jarring car horns, waterways with the blare of boat whistles and the seemingly constant whir of presidential and military helicopters and the drone of commercial airplanes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But teachers do what they can. Inside this bright elementary school, there are no disruptive public address announcements. Students even wear special classroom shoes made of cloth and soft rubber soles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The hearing brain is vast,” Kraus, the neurobiologist, says. “Our experience with sound really does shape us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61703\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In fact, she has written an entire book about that topic, called \u003cem>Of Sound Mind\u003c/em>. The brain processes auditory input faster than visual input, Kraus explains, and when we have the space to listen, our brains prioritize what we tune in to and reward paying attention through a release of dopamine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you’re a teenager excited to be learning the guitar, musical tones will get preferential treatment. If you’re learning to play basketball, the bounce of the dribbling ball and your coach calling out plays will get your attention. There are certain sounds, like the sound of your own name, that your brain is unconsciously conditioned to respond to, even when you’re asleep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when sounds are out of our control and not important to us, they shift into the category of noise: a neighbor’s dog barking at a squirrel, a faulty car alarm, the drone of a highway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the sounds we are exposed to aren’t helping us learn a new skill or stay safe at a busy intersection, the brain can get distracted and have trouble focusing.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>It takes brainpower to ignore sound\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>When the world was a lot quieter, our brains paid attention to every little leaf rustle or snap of a twig as a tool for survival, Kraus explains. And when our brains are processing sounds that trigger questions like “Am I in trouble here?” or “Can I ignore this?”, \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01183/full\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">there is less room to focus\u003c/a> on the task in front of us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consider a modern equivalent: When you’re listening to someone tell you something and your phone dings — Ding! “Is that important?” — you just lost track of where you were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your brain has to work overtime to ignore sounds. Inside the cochlea — the spiral cavity of the inner ear that produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations — there are inner hair cells and outer hair cells that interact to amplify or deamplify the vibrations. Say you are listening to a piece of music on the radio, but traffic noise is in the background. Kraus says your brain will tell the outer hair cells to slow down and deamplify the traffic noise to protect your ears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61705\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So when there is even just a moderate level of background noise, like traffic or a truck idling, our brains process more slowly. Kraus uses the analogy of a DJ sitting at a mixing board in your brain, assessing and adjusting sounds that come in all day long. The more that DJ has to do, the less operating power is available for your brain, making it harder to process new information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can become physically exhausting as well. People who have trouble hearing often experience listening fatigue.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Noise is especially distracting to young brains\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“We can close our eyes, we can avert our gaze, but we hear in 360 degrees,” says Emily Elliott, a psychology professor at Louisiana State University who studies memory and cognition and is one of the authors of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6520208/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study\u003c/a> about how auditory distraction affects a young child’s ability to perform serial recall tasks. Elliott and her colleagues devised a test in which they gave young children a visual task of memorizing a series of items on a screen. Then they told the children that sounds would be playing but not to pay attention to them, because they weren’t relevant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In general, performance goes down when you’re asked to remember a series of things in order in the presence of irrelevant or distracting auditory stimuli,” Elliott found. “So that tells us that [the sound is] somehow being processed in the cognitive system, because you can’t just willfully go, ‘I’m going to not listen.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elliott and her team found that the critical ingredient of distraction is sound that changes in some noticeable way. “It could be music with lyrics,” she says. “Music with lyrics is more distracting than music without lyrics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also found that children under age 7 in particular are bad at memorization because their brains are not yet able to employ a key tactic known as rehearsal. That’s where you repeat things to yourself to remember them. And not only will they not remember a list of things, but they’re also not aware that they won’t remember them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So when you’re giving a young child directions or teaching a new topic and a distracting noise is present, the odds of the child remembering any of what you’ve told the child are pretty low.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One \u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/001391657500700406\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study of New York City schoolchildren in the 1970s\u003c/a> found that students in classrooms next to noisy elevated train tracks performed significantly poorer on reading tests than their peers on the other side of the building. After the study was published, the city took steps to soundproof the classrooms and minimize the noise coming from the tracks, and a year later, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/26/nyregion/student-scores-rise-after-nearby-subway-is-quieted.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">students’ test scores were the same\u003c/a> on both sides of the building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61704\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61704\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In another study by neurologist Kraus and her team, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/44/17221\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mapped the brain activity\u003c/a> of 66 ninth-graders from Chicago Public Schools while asking them to perform reading and memory tasks. Then they monitored the children’s electrical brain activity while watching a movie and listening to disruptive sounds. They found that the students who grew up under circumstances associated with noisier environments performed poorer on the reading and memory tasks and that those students had what she calls “noisier” brains — meaning a lot of neurons were firing all the time, even when the brain wasn’t engaged in a task. You can think of that excess electrical activity as static.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And if there’s too much static, it makes it hard to make sense of all of the information that you want to be processing,” Kraus says. According to Kraus, more static in a child’s brain means it’s harder for that child to listen and stay focused wherever they are.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>How silence and some types of noise can benefit children\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Kraus believes silence can be a benefit to children. When she and her team monitored kids with “noisy brains” under scalp electrodes, they found that periods of silence helped lessen the static.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her team has also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/07/22/486452431/from-mozart-to-mr-rogers-literacy-music-and-the-brain\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">found that making meaningful sounds\u003c/a>, like playing a musical instrument or singing, builds and strengthens neural connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other research has found that \u003cem>pure silence\u003c/em> can be healing. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4087081/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one study\u003c/a> on mice, scientists tracked brain cell growth among mice that were exposed to white noise, mice pup sounds, classical music and ambient sounds, and they compared those mice with mice that were left in silence. The mice that were left in silence had the most significant brain cell growth, leading researchers to conclude that the act of listening to silence regenerates nerve cells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But absolute silence is rare outside a controlled lab environment. Even in the middle of the woods, you’ll hear natural sounds of birdsong, the running water of a stream, leaves rustling and insects buzzing. These types of sounds could be described as noise, but they are calming to us. And if we try, we can find and re-create these natural sound environments in the middle of a city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to being a researcher, Elliott, the psychology professor, is also a mother of three. She learned early on as a parent to put white noise machines in her kids’ bedrooms so that if one of them woke up screaming in the middle of the night, they didn’t all wake up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“White noise is fascinating because it masks lots of variability in sound,” she says. “It takes out some of the frequency ranges and presents something that sounds like a continuous, steady sound.” In other words, it mimics running water in a stream, and our brains tune it out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This type of noise becomes a benefit in this situation, because it’s masking the variability of the other sounds that would be a distraction.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Get cozy with the sounds of silence\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Creating enough quiet to help hear meaningful sound is easier said than done. Some blame, in part, a culture that promotes constant stimulus. “There is some expectation that you need to be loud and flashy to capture your child’s attention. Everything has to be a fun fair,” says Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer for Fred Rogers Productions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s the company that inherited the mantle of \u003cem>Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood\u003c/em>, the children’s television program developed in the 1960s and known for its calm and reassuring tone. It’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fredrogers.org/productions/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">still producing\u003c/a> media for children, including Doherty’s series of shorts, \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6E13QocOsQ\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Through the Woods\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which is deliberately quiet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three-minute shorts are about a kid walking through the woods, wondering, observing and experiencing. Instead of background music, you hear birds chirping, the wind blowing and leaves rustling. The sound designers do a believable job of making viewers feel like they are in the woods. But Doherty says this kind of programming goes against the grain of expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We take our shows to focus groups and ask parents, ‘Would your child watch this?'” Doherty says. “And so often, parents say to us that if it’s not bright and flashy, ‘my kid won’t watch that.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doherty calls that type of show the fun fair. She believes you can have good shows with music and bright colors that aren’t distracting but actually work to teach learning skills such as how to manage emotions or calm yourself down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My metric,” says Doherty, “is \u003cem>does this need to exist\u003c/em>?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that we need to be able to honor silence,” Kraus says. “And there’s something almost mystical there. You know, may we have a moment of silence? It’s really a time to kind of get into yourself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using Doherty’s question, “Does this need to exist?” as a guide, we might begin to think of silence as a chance to learn and look forward to making our lives quieter.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by Emily Harris and Steve Drummond; visual design and development by LA Johnson; research by LA Johnson; fact-checked by Will Chase; copyedited by Preeti Aroon.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=How+a+little+more+silence+in+children%27s+lives+helps+them+grow&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Studies show too much noise, particularly loud, irregular noise, can hurt a child's brain development, because if sound is irregular, it distracts our brains and makes concentration more difficult.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1685050697,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":46,"wordCount":2349},"headData":{"title":"How a little more silence in children's lives helps them grow | KQED","description":"Studies show too much noise, particularly loud, irregular noise, can hurt a child's brain development, because if sound is irregular, it distracts our brains and makes concentration more difficult.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","socialDescription":"Studies show too much noise, particularly loud, irregular noise, can hurt a child's brain development, because if sound is irregular, it distracts our brains and makes concentration more difficult."},"nprImageCredit":"LA Johnson","nprByline":"LA Johnson","nprImageAgency":"NPR","nprStoryId":"1072791328","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=1072791328&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"https://www.npr.org/2023/05/24/1072791328/more-silence-less-noise-children-lives-helps-them-grow-brain-development-memory?ft=nprml&f=1072791328","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Wed, 24 May 2023 10:07:00 -0400","nprStoryDate":"Wed, 24 May 2023 05:01:15 -0400","nprLastModifiedDate":"Wed, 24 May 2023 10:07:01 -0400","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","articleAge":"0","path":"/mindshift/61695/how-a-little-more-silence-in-childrens-lives-helps-them-grow","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A group of small children sits cross-legged with their teacher, Steve Mejía-Menendez, on a round carpet. He’s a pre-K teacher at Lee Montessori Public Charter School’s campus in Southeast Washington, D.C., and although I’m here to meet him, I almost don’t spot him because he’s eye level with his students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mr. Steve, as he’s known here, is talking a few students through a geometry lesson when another student approaches to ask an unrelated question. This kind of distraction happens all the time in classrooms around the United States. Mr. Steve doesn’t lose focus. He uses American Sign Language to say “wait” — palms facing up, fingers wiggling — and the child waits quietly. When the lesson arrives at a natural stopping point, the student is invited to ask his question, and Mr. Steve silently responds by nodding his head along with his fist, which is sign language for “yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blink, and you could miss the whole interaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This isn’t a school for students with hearing disabilities, but Mr. Steve uses ASL as part of a broader approach to minimize noise in the classroom. And it’s noticeably quiet. No one is talking louder than what’s often referred to in Montessori schools as “the hum.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Silence is kind of a peak achievement in a child’s ability to control themselves,” Mejía-Menendez says. “We create the conditions for children to concentrate.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike this classroom, the city outside is full of noise. And studies show that too much noise, particularly loud noise, can \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757288/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hurt a child’s cognitive development\u003c/a>, notably for language-based skills such as reading. That’s because if noise is just, well, noise, it distracts developing brains and makes it more difficult for children to concentrate. But when their environment is quiet enough for them to pay attention to sounds that are important or particularly interesting to them, it is a powerful teaching tool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Young children’s] brains are craving sound-to-meaning connections, so it’s very important that the sounds around them be nourishing and meaningful,” says Nina Kraus, a neurobiologist at Northwestern University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She believes turning down the noise in our lives starts with embracing — even enjoying — silence.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Our noisy world shapes our brains\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Silence is difficult to find and to create — for adults and kids alike. Around the world, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/08/10/633201540/are-you-listening-hear-what-uninterrupted-silence-sounds-like\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fans of silence\u003c/a> have begun to \u003ca href=\"https://www.quietparks.org/quiet-places\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">catalog the world’s disappearing quiet places\u003c/a>. But Lee Montessori is in Washington, D.C., a city that is surround-sound cacophony: busy highways, screeching commuter trains, jarring car horns, waterways with the blare of boat whistles and the seemingly constant whir of presidential and military helicopters and the drone of commercial airplanes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But teachers do what they can. Inside this bright elementary school, there are no disruptive public address announcements. Students even wear special classroom shoes made of cloth and soft rubber soles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The hearing brain is vast,” Kraus, the neurobiologist, says. “Our experience with sound really does shape us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61703\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-1-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In fact, she has written an entire book about that topic, called \u003cem>Of Sound Mind\u003c/em>. The brain processes auditory input faster than visual input, Kraus explains, and when we have the space to listen, our brains prioritize what we tune in to and reward paying attention through a release of dopamine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you’re a teenager excited to be learning the guitar, musical tones will get preferential treatment. If you’re learning to play basketball, the bounce of the dribbling ball and your coach calling out plays will get your attention. There are certain sounds, like the sound of your own name, that your brain is unconsciously conditioned to respond to, even when you’re asleep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when sounds are out of our control and not important to us, they shift into the category of noise: a neighbor’s dog barking at a squirrel, a faulty car alarm, the drone of a highway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the sounds we are exposed to aren’t helping us learn a new skill or stay safe at a busy intersection, the brain can get distracted and have trouble focusing.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>It takes brainpower to ignore sound\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>When the world was a lot quieter, our brains paid attention to every little leaf rustle or snap of a twig as a tool for survival, Kraus explains. And when our brains are processing sounds that trigger questions like “Am I in trouble here?” or “Can I ignore this?”, \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01183/full\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">there is less room to focus\u003c/a> on the task in front of us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consider a modern equivalent: When you’re listening to someone tell you something and your phone dings — Ding! “Is that important?” — you just lost track of where you were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your brain has to work overtime to ignore sounds. Inside the cochlea — the spiral cavity of the inner ear that produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations — there are inner hair cells and outer hair cells that interact to amplify or deamplify the vibrations. Say you are listening to a piece of music on the radio, but traffic noise is in the background. Kraus says your brain will tell the outer hair cells to slow down and deamplify the traffic noise to protect your ears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61705\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-NPR-2a-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So when there is even just a moderate level of background noise, like traffic or a truck idling, our brains process more slowly. Kraus uses the analogy of a DJ sitting at a mixing board in your brain, assessing and adjusting sounds that come in all day long. The more that DJ has to do, the less operating power is available for your brain, making it harder to process new information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can become physically exhausting as well. People who have trouble hearing often experience listening fatigue.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Noise is especially distracting to young brains\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“We can close our eyes, we can avert our gaze, but we hear in 360 degrees,” says Emily Elliott, a psychology professor at Louisiana State University who studies memory and cognition and is one of the authors of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6520208/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study\u003c/a> about how auditory distraction affects a young child’s ability to perform serial recall tasks. Elliott and her colleagues devised a test in which they gave young children a visual task of memorizing a series of items on a screen. Then they told the children that sounds would be playing but not to pay attention to them, because they weren’t relevant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In general, performance goes down when you’re asked to remember a series of things in order in the presence of irrelevant or distracting auditory stimuli,” Elliott found. “So that tells us that [the sound is] somehow being processed in the cognitive system, because you can’t just willfully go, ‘I’m going to not listen.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elliott and her team found that the critical ingredient of distraction is sound that changes in some noticeable way. “It could be music with lyrics,” she says. “Music with lyrics is more distracting than music without lyrics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also found that children under age 7 in particular are bad at memorization because their brains are not yet able to employ a key tactic known as rehearsal. That’s where you repeat things to yourself to remember them. And not only will they not remember a list of things, but they’re also not aware that they won’t remember them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So when you’re giving a young child directions or teaching a new topic and a distracting noise is present, the odds of the child remembering any of what you’ve told the child are pretty low.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One \u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/001391657500700406\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study of New York City schoolchildren in the 1970s\u003c/a> found that students in classrooms next to noisy elevated train tracks performed significantly poorer on reading tests than their peers on the other side of the building. After the study was published, the city took steps to soundproof the classrooms and minimize the noise coming from the tracks, and a year later, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/26/nyregion/student-scores-rise-after-nearby-subway-is-quieted.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">students’ test scores were the same\u003c/a> on both sides of the building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_61704\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1300px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61704\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1300\" height=\"811\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a.jpg 1300w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-800x499.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-1020x636.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-160x100.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2023/05/LA-Johnson-3a-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(LA Johnson/NPR)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In another study by neurologist Kraus and her team, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/44/17221\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mapped the brain activity\u003c/a> of 66 ninth-graders from Chicago Public Schools while asking them to perform reading and memory tasks. Then they monitored the children’s electrical brain activity while watching a movie and listening to disruptive sounds. They found that the students who grew up under circumstances associated with noisier environments performed poorer on the reading and memory tasks and that those students had what she calls “noisier” brains — meaning a lot of neurons were firing all the time, even when the brain wasn’t engaged in a task. You can think of that excess electrical activity as static.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And if there’s too much static, it makes it hard to make sense of all of the information that you want to be processing,” Kraus says. According to Kraus, more static in a child’s brain means it’s harder for that child to listen and stay focused wherever they are.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>How silence and some types of noise can benefit children\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Kraus believes silence can be a benefit to children. When she and her team monitored kids with “noisy brains” under scalp electrodes, they found that periods of silence helped lessen the static.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her team has also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/07/22/486452431/from-mozart-to-mr-rogers-literacy-music-and-the-brain\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">found that making meaningful sounds\u003c/a>, like playing a musical instrument or singing, builds and strengthens neural connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other research has found that \u003cem>pure silence\u003c/em> can be healing. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4087081/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one study\u003c/a> on mice, scientists tracked brain cell growth among mice that were exposed to white noise, mice pup sounds, classical music and ambient sounds, and they compared those mice with mice that were left in silence. The mice that were left in silence had the most significant brain cell growth, leading researchers to conclude that the act of listening to silence regenerates nerve cells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But absolute silence is rare outside a controlled lab environment. Even in the middle of the woods, you’ll hear natural sounds of birdsong, the running water of a stream, leaves rustling and insects buzzing. These types of sounds could be described as noise, but they are calming to us. And if we try, we can find and re-create these natural sound environments in the middle of a city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to being a researcher, Elliott, the psychology professor, is also a mother of three. She learned early on as a parent to put white noise machines in her kids’ bedrooms so that if one of them woke up screaming in the middle of the night, they didn’t all wake up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“White noise is fascinating because it masks lots of variability in sound,” she says. “It takes out some of the frequency ranges and presents something that sounds like a continuous, steady sound.” In other words, it mimics running water in a stream, and our brains tune it out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This type of noise becomes a benefit in this situation, because it’s masking the variability of the other sounds that would be a distraction.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Get cozy with the sounds of silence\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Creating enough quiet to help hear meaningful sound is easier said than done. Some blame, in part, a culture that promotes constant stimulus. “There is some expectation that you need to be loud and flashy to capture your child’s attention. Everything has to be a fun fair,” says Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer for Fred Rogers Productions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s the company that inherited the mantle of \u003cem>Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood\u003c/em>, the children’s television program developed in the 1960s and known for its calm and reassuring tone. It’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fredrogers.org/productions/\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">still producing\u003c/a> media for children, including Doherty’s series of shorts, \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6E13QocOsQ\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Through the Woods\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which is deliberately quiet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three-minute shorts are about a kid walking through the woods, wondering, observing and experiencing. Instead of background music, you hear birds chirping, the wind blowing and leaves rustling. The sound designers do a believable job of making viewers feel like they are in the woods. But Doherty says this kind of programming goes against the grain of expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We take our shows to focus groups and ask parents, ‘Would your child watch this?'” Doherty says. “And so often, parents say to us that if it’s not bright and flashy, ‘my kid won’t watch that.'”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doherty calls that type of show the fun fair. She believes you can have good shows with music and bright colors that aren’t distracting but actually work to teach learning skills such as how to manage emotions or calm yourself down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My metric,” says Doherty, “is \u003cem>does this need to exist\u003c/em>?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that we need to be able to honor silence,” Kraus says. “And there’s something almost mystical there. You know, may we have a moment of silence? It’s really a time to kind of get into yourself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using Doherty’s question, “Does this need to exist?” as a guide, we might begin to think of silence as a chance to learn and look forward to making our lives quieter.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by Emily Harris and Steve Drummond; visual design and development by LA Johnson; research by LA Johnson; fact-checked by Will Chase; copyedited by Preeti Aroon.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=How+a+little+more+silence+in+children%27s+lives+helps+them+grow&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/61695/how-a-little-more-silence-in-childrens-lives-helps-them-grow","authors":["byline_mindshift_61695"],"categories":["mindshift_193"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21454","mindshift_46","mindshift_21637","mindshift_21639","mindshift_21638"],"featImg":"mindshift_61696","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_61026":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_61026","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"61026","score":null,"sort":[1676602854000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"10-things-to-know-about-how-social-media-affects-teens-brains","title":"10 things to know about how social media affects teens' brains","publishDate":1676602854,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cem>If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://988lifeline.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> by dialing or texting 9-8-8.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>The statistics are sobering. In the past year, nearly 1 in 3 teen girls reports \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/02/13/1156663966/teen-girls-and-lgbtq-youth-plagued-by-violence-and-trauma-survey-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seriously considering suicide\u003c/a>. One in 5 teens identifying as LGBTQ+ say they attempted suicide in that time. Between 2009 and 2019, depression rates doubled for all teens. And that was \u003cem>before\u003c/em> the COVID-19 pandemic. The question is: \u003cem>Why now\u003c/em>?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Our brains, our bodies, and our society have been evolving together to shape human development for millennia... Within the last twenty years, the advent of portable technology and social media platforms is changing what took 60,000 years to evolve,\" Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer at the American Psychological Association (APA), told the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. \"We are just beginning to understand how this may impact youth development.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prinstein's \u003ca href=\"https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-02-14%20-%20Testimony%20-%20Prinstein.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">22-page testimony\u003c/a>, along with dozens of useful footnotes, offers some much-needed clarity about the role social media may play in contributing to this teen mental health crisis. For you busy parents, caregivers and educators out there, we've distilled it down to 10 useful takeaways:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>1. Social interaction is key to every child's growth and development.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Humans are social creatures, and we learn through social interaction. In fact, said Prinstein, \"numerous studies have revealed that children's interactions with peers have enduring effects on their occupational status, salary, relationship success, emotional development, mental health, and even on physical health and mortality over 40 years later. These effects are stronger than the effects of children's IQ, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This helps explain why social media platforms have grown so big in a relatively short period of time. But is the kind of social interaction they offer \u003cem>healthy\u003c/em>?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>2. Social media platforms often traffic in the wrong kind of social interaction.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>What's the right kind, you ask? According to Prinstein, it's interactions and relationship-building \"characterized by support, emotional intimacy, disclosure, positive regard, reliable alliance (e.g., 'having each other's backs'), and trust.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem is, social media platforms often (though not always) emphasize metrics over the \u003cem>humans \u003c/em>behind the \"likes\" and \"followers,\" which can lead teens to simply post things about themselves, true or not, that they hope will draw the most attention. And these cycles, Prinstein warned, \"create the exact opposite qualities needed for successful and adaptive relationships (i.e., disingenuous, anonymous, depersonalized). In other words, social media offers the 'empty calories of social interaction,' that appear to help satiate our biological and psychological needs, but do not contain any of the healthy ingredients necessary to reap benefits.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, research has found that social media can actually \u003ca>make some teens feel lonelier.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>3. It's not all bad.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The APA's chief science officer made clear, social media and the study of it are both too young to arrive at many conclusions with absolute certainty. In fact, when used properly, social media can feed teens' need for social connection in healthy ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research suggests that young people form and maintain friendships online. These relationships often afford opportunities to interact with a more diverse peer group than offline, and the relationships are close and meaningful and provide important support to youth in times of stress.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's more, Prinstein pointed out, for many marginalized teens, \"digital platforms provide an important space for self-discovery and expression\" and can help them forge meaningful relationships that may buffer and protect them from the effects of stress.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>4. Adolescence is a \"developmentally vulnerable period\" when teens crave social rewards – without the ability to restrain themselves.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>That's because, as children enter puberty, the areas of the brain \"associated with our craving for 'social rewards,' such as visibility, attention, and positive feedback from peers\" tend to develop well before the bits of the brain \"involved in our ability to inhibit our behavior, and resist temptations,\" Prinstein said. Social media platforms that reward teens with \"likes\" and new \"followers\" can trigger and feed that craving.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>5. \"Likes\" can make bad behavior look good.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Hollywood has long grappled with parent groups who worry that violent or overly sexualized movies can have a negative effect on teen behavior. Well, similar fears, about teens witnessing bad behavior on social media, might be well-founded. But it's complicated. Check this out:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research examining adolescents' brains while on a simulated social media site, for example, revealed that when exposed to illegal, dangerous imagery, activation of the prefrontal cortex was observed suggesting healthy inhibition towards maladaptive behaviors,\" Prinstein told lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, that's good. The prefrontal cortex helps us make smart (and safe) decisions. Hooray for the prefrontal cortex! Here's the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prinstein said, when teens viewed these same illegal and/or dangerous behaviors on social media alongside icons suggesting they'd been \"liked\" by others, the part of the brain that keeps us safe stopped working as well, \"suggesting that the 'likes' may reduce youths' inhibition (i.e., perhaps increasing their proclivity) towards dangerous and illegal behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, bad behavior feels bad... until other people start liking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>6. Social media can also make \"psychologically disordered behavior\" look good.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Prinstein spoke specifically about sites or accounts that promote eating disordered behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury, like self-cutting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research indicates that this content has proliferated on social media sites, not only depicting these behaviors, but teaching young people how to engage in each, how to conceal these behaviors from adults, actively encouraging users to engage in these behaviors, and socially sanctioning those who express a desire for less risky behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>7. Extreme social media use can look a lot like addiction.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>\"Regions of the brain activated by social media use overlap considerably with the regions involved in addictions to illegal and dangerous substances,\" Prinstein told lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He cited a litany of research that says, excessive social media use in teens often manifests some of the same symptoms of more traditional addictions, in part because teen brains just don't have the kind of self-control toolbox that adults do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>8. The threat of online bullying is real.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Prinstein warned lawmakers that \"victimization, harassment, and discrimination against racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities is frequent online and often targeted at young people. LGBTQ+ youth experience a heightened level of bullying, threats, and self-harm on social media.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And online bullying can take a terrible physical toll, Prinstein said: \"Brain scans of adults and youths reveal that online harassment activates the same regions of the brain that respond to physical pain and trigger a cascade of reactions that replicate physical assault and create physical and mental health damage.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv/bullying-suicide-translation-final-a.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>, \"youth who report any involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related behavior than youth who do not report any involvement with bullying behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/nyregion/nj-teen-suicide-bullying-school.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 14-year-old New Jersey girl took her own life\u003c/a> after she was attacked by fellow students at school and a video of the assault was posted on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>9. It's hard not to compare yourself to what you see in social media.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Even adults feel it. We go onto social media and compare ourselves to everyone else out there, from the sunsets in our vacation pics to our waistlines – but \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> our waistlines and how we look, or feel we \u003cem>should \u003c/em>look, based on who's getting \"likes\" and who's not. For teens, the impacts of such comparisons can be amplified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Psychological science demonstrates that exposure to this online content is associated with lower self-image and distorted body perceptions among young people. This exposure creates strong risk factors for eating disorders, unhealthy weight-management behaviors, and depression,\" Prinstein testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>10. Sleep is more important than those \"likes.\"\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Research suggests more than half of adolescents are on screens right before bedtime, and that can keep them from getting the sleep they need. Not only is poor sleep linked to all sorts of downsides, including poor mental health symptoms, poor performance in school and trouble regulating stress, \"inconsistent sleep schedules are associated with changes in structural brain development in adolescent years. In other words, youths' preoccupation with technology and social media may deleteriously affect the size of their brains,\" Prinstein said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/348780034/nicole-cohen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Nicole Cohen\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\nVisual design and development by: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/348775569/la-johnson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>LA Johnson \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=10+things+to+know+about+how+social+media+affects+teens%27+brains&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Eye-opening testimony from a top scientist offers a useful primer on the role social media may play in the teen mental health crisis. ","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1676602854,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":32,"wordCount":1426},"headData":{"title":"10 things to know about how social media affects teens' brains | KQED","description":"Eye-opening testimony from a top scientist offers a useful primer on the role social media may play in the teen mental health crisis.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"nprByline":"Cory Turner","nprImageAgency":"Tracy J. Lee for NPR","nprStoryId":"1157180971","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=1157180971&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157180971/10-things-to-know-about-how-social-media-affects-teens-brains?ft=nprml&f=1157180971","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:01:00 -0500","nprStoryDate":"Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:01:01 -0500","nprLastModifiedDate":"Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:01:01 -0500","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","articleAge":"0","path":"/mindshift/61026/10-things-to-know-about-how-social-media-affects-teens-brains","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://988lifeline.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> by dialing or texting 9-8-8.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>The statistics are sobering. In the past year, nearly 1 in 3 teen girls reports \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/02/13/1156663966/teen-girls-and-lgbtq-youth-plagued-by-violence-and-trauma-survey-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seriously considering suicide\u003c/a>. One in 5 teens identifying as LGBTQ+ say they attempted suicide in that time. Between 2009 and 2019, depression rates doubled for all teens. And that was \u003cem>before\u003c/em> the COVID-19 pandemic. The question is: \u003cem>Why now\u003c/em>?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Our brains, our bodies, and our society have been evolving together to shape human development for millennia... Within the last twenty years, the advent of portable technology and social media platforms is changing what took 60,000 years to evolve,\" Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer at the American Psychological Association (APA), told the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. \"We are just beginning to understand how this may impact youth development.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prinstein's \u003ca href=\"https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-02-14%20-%20Testimony%20-%20Prinstein.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">22-page testimony\u003c/a>, along with dozens of useful footnotes, offers some much-needed clarity about the role social media may play in contributing to this teen mental health crisis. For you busy parents, caregivers and educators out there, we've distilled it down to 10 useful takeaways:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>1. Social interaction is key to every child's growth and development.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Humans are social creatures, and we learn through social interaction. In fact, said Prinstein, \"numerous studies have revealed that children's interactions with peers have enduring effects on their occupational status, salary, relationship success, emotional development, mental health, and even on physical health and mortality over 40 years later. These effects are stronger than the effects of children's IQ, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This helps explain why social media platforms have grown so big in a relatively short period of time. But is the kind of social interaction they offer \u003cem>healthy\u003c/em>?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>2. Social media platforms often traffic in the wrong kind of social interaction.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>What's the right kind, you ask? According to Prinstein, it's interactions and relationship-building \"characterized by support, emotional intimacy, disclosure, positive regard, reliable alliance (e.g., 'having each other's backs'), and trust.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem is, social media platforms often (though not always) emphasize metrics over the \u003cem>humans \u003c/em>behind the \"likes\" and \"followers,\" which can lead teens to simply post things about themselves, true or not, that they hope will draw the most attention. And these cycles, Prinstein warned, \"create the exact opposite qualities needed for successful and adaptive relationships (i.e., disingenuous, anonymous, depersonalized). In other words, social media offers the 'empty calories of social interaction,' that appear to help satiate our biological and psychological needs, but do not contain any of the healthy ingredients necessary to reap benefits.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, research has found that social media can actually \u003ca>make some teens feel lonelier.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>3. It's not all bad.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The APA's chief science officer made clear, social media and the study of it are both too young to arrive at many conclusions with absolute certainty. In fact, when used properly, social media can feed teens' need for social connection in healthy ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research suggests that young people form and maintain friendships online. These relationships often afford opportunities to interact with a more diverse peer group than offline, and the relationships are close and meaningful and provide important support to youth in times of stress.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's more, Prinstein pointed out, for many marginalized teens, \"digital platforms provide an important space for self-discovery and expression\" and can help them forge meaningful relationships that may buffer and protect them from the effects of stress.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>4. Adolescence is a \"developmentally vulnerable period\" when teens crave social rewards – without the ability to restrain themselves.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>That's because, as children enter puberty, the areas of the brain \"associated with our craving for 'social rewards,' such as visibility, attention, and positive feedback from peers\" tend to develop well before the bits of the brain \"involved in our ability to inhibit our behavior, and resist temptations,\" Prinstein said. Social media platforms that reward teens with \"likes\" and new \"followers\" can trigger and feed that craving.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>5. \"Likes\" can make bad behavior look good.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Hollywood has long grappled with parent groups who worry that violent or overly sexualized movies can have a negative effect on teen behavior. Well, similar fears, about teens witnessing bad behavior on social media, might be well-founded. But it's complicated. Check this out:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research examining adolescents' brains while on a simulated social media site, for example, revealed that when exposed to illegal, dangerous imagery, activation of the prefrontal cortex was observed suggesting healthy inhibition towards maladaptive behaviors,\" Prinstein told lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, that's good. The prefrontal cortex helps us make smart (and safe) decisions. Hooray for the prefrontal cortex! Here's the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prinstein said, when teens viewed these same illegal and/or dangerous behaviors on social media alongside icons suggesting they'd been \"liked\" by others, the part of the brain that keeps us safe stopped working as well, \"suggesting that the 'likes' may reduce youths' inhibition (i.e., perhaps increasing their proclivity) towards dangerous and illegal behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, bad behavior feels bad... until other people start liking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>6. Social media can also make \"psychologically disordered behavior\" look good.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Prinstein spoke specifically about sites or accounts that promote eating disordered behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury, like self-cutting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Research indicates that this content has proliferated on social media sites, not only depicting these behaviors, but teaching young people how to engage in each, how to conceal these behaviors from adults, actively encouraging users to engage in these behaviors, and socially sanctioning those who express a desire for less risky behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>7. Extreme social media use can look a lot like addiction.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>\"Regions of the brain activated by social media use overlap considerably with the regions involved in addictions to illegal and dangerous substances,\" Prinstein told lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He cited a litany of research that says, excessive social media use in teens often manifests some of the same symptoms of more traditional addictions, in part because teen brains just don't have the kind of self-control toolbox that adults do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>8. The threat of online bullying is real.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Prinstein warned lawmakers that \"victimization, harassment, and discrimination against racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities is frequent online and often targeted at young people. LGBTQ+ youth experience a heightened level of bullying, threats, and self-harm on social media.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And online bullying can take a terrible physical toll, Prinstein said: \"Brain scans of adults and youths reveal that online harassment activates the same regions of the brain that respond to physical pain and trigger a cascade of reactions that replicate physical assault and create physical and mental health damage.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv/bullying-suicide-translation-final-a.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>, \"youth who report any involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related behavior than youth who do not report any involvement with bullying behavior.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/nyregion/nj-teen-suicide-bullying-school.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 14-year-old New Jersey girl took her own life\u003c/a> after she was attacked by fellow students at school and a video of the assault was posted on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>9. It's hard not to compare yourself to what you see in social media.\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Even adults feel it. We go onto social media and compare ourselves to everyone else out there, from the sunsets in our vacation pics to our waistlines – but \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> our waistlines and how we look, or feel we \u003cem>should \u003c/em>look, based on who's getting \"likes\" and who's not. For teens, the impacts of such comparisons can be amplified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Psychological science demonstrates that exposure to this online content is associated with lower self-image and distorted body perceptions among young people. This exposure creates strong risk factors for eating disorders, unhealthy weight-management behaviors, and depression,\" Prinstein testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>10. Sleep is more important than those \"likes.\"\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Research suggests more than half of adolescents are on screens right before bedtime, and that can keep them from getting the sleep they need. Not only is poor sleep linked to all sorts of downsides, including poor mental health symptoms, poor performance in school and trouble regulating stress, \"inconsistent sleep schedules are associated with changes in structural brain development in adolescent years. In other words, youths' preoccupation with technology and social media may deleteriously affect the size of their brains,\" Prinstein said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/348780034/nicole-cohen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Nicole Cohen\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\nVisual design and development by: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/348775569/la-johnson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>LA Johnson \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=10+things+to+know+about+how+social+media+affects+teens%27+brains&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/61026/10-things-to-know-about-how-social-media-affects-teens-brains","authors":["byline_mindshift_61026"],"categories":["mindshift_21445","mindshift_21280","mindshift_21385","mindshift_20874"],"tags":["mindshift_21093","mindshift_767","mindshift_21339","mindshift_46","mindshift_30","mindshift_21159"],"featImg":"mindshift_61027","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_60468":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_60468","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"60468","score":null,"sort":[1670928949000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-everyday-noise-can-inhibit-learning-and-how-teachers-can-reduce-it","title":"How everyday noise can inhibit learning – and how teachers can reduce it","publishDate":1670928949,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s no surprise that loud, unwanted sounds can be disruptive and even damaging to ears. However, even background noise like the air conditioning running, the refrigerator humming and delivery vans idling outside can be cause for concern. According to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://brainvolts.northwestern.edu/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nina Kraus\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a neurobiology professor at Northwestern University who studies sound, ongoing noises that people claim to “tune out” are unlikely to harm ears, but they can still have a profound effect on the brain. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Repeated exposure to noisy environments has many negative impacts including increased stress, problems with memory and difficulty concentrating, writes Kraus in her book \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262545075/of-sound-mind/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World.”\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students’ developing brains are particularly susceptible to noisy environments. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1976-21562-001\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A study on New York City public schools\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> showed that students in a classroom facing loud train tracks had lower reading levels than students in a classroom shielded from the noise. Learners in the room exposed to the sounds of the trains were on average three to eleven months behind their peers. When the New York Transit Authority installed padding on the railroad tracks and the school made updates to the classroom to reduce the noise, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494481800400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the reading level disparity disappeared\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Repeated exposure to noise doesn't just affect language tasks like reading, it also has a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757288/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">negative impact on students’ ability to do visual tasks\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, such as recalling images or concentrating on objects. In one \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916503256260\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">experiment\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, researchers asked subjects to track a moving ball on a computer with a mouse while other balls moved around the screen. Those who were exposed to long-term noise had more difficulty completing the task.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There are sounds that people think of as being safe, but they really aren't, ” says Kraus. “Even if we're not paying attention to noise, it is having an effect on us and it is having an effect on us on multiple levels. And one is very much our ability to think.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sonic Solutions for the Classroom \u003c/span>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With lockers slamming and chatty students, educators can’t have complete control over the sounds in a school. Yet opportunities to reduce noise can be found all around the school building. “There are so many noises that we do have a choice about,” says Kraus, who urges schools to become more aware of the sounds that students are encountering every day and consider which sounds they can eliminate or reduce.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing out buzzing light fixtures, installing quiet HVAC systems and updating insulation in the walls and ceiling are large-scale solutions that can minimize noise in school buildings. There are also simpler changes to students’ sonic environment that can make a meaningful difference for learners. For example, some schools have gotten rid of their \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/59617/students-can-get-to-class-without-bells-but-schools-need-to-adapt\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">school bells\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in an effort \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2017/saved-by-the-peace-and-quiet-at-a-growing-number-of-california-schools/587211\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">to eliminate extra noise\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/58835/how-the-difference-between-sound-and-noise-can-influence-our-ability-to-learn\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improving the soundscape for learners\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can be as simple as closing the door to the classroom or shutting the windows when students need to concentrate. “Schools are notoriously reverberant and not very friendly with respect to dampening sound,” says Kraus about echoey hallways and classrooms. She suggests laying down rugs if possible because they absorb sound and keep chairs from scraping noisily across the floor. Additionally, teachers can choose to decorate their walls with wall hangings or student work that uses fabric or fiber to dampen sounds. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“So much of our experience as people happens without our conscious awareness and yet these forces are there,” says Kraus. “And sound is, from an evolutionary standpoint, a tremendously important part of how we connect with the world.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Repeated exposure to noisy environments has many negative impacts including increased stress, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. Students’ developing brains are particularly susceptible to sound.\r\n","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1670366611,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":11,"wordCount":616},"headData":{"title":"How everyday noise can inhibit learning – and how teachers can reduce it - MindShift","description":"For teachers looking to improve student performance, neurobiologist Nina Kraus provides tips on how to control noise in the classroom.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","path":"/mindshift/60468/how-everyday-noise-can-inhibit-learning-and-how-teachers-can-reduce-it","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s no surprise that loud, unwanted sounds can be disruptive and even damaging to ears. However, even background noise like the air conditioning running, the refrigerator humming and delivery vans idling outside can be cause for concern. According to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://brainvolts.northwestern.edu/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nina Kraus\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a neurobiology professor at Northwestern University who studies sound, ongoing noises that people claim to “tune out” are unlikely to harm ears, but they can still have a profound effect on the brain. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Repeated exposure to noisy environments has many negative impacts including increased stress, problems with memory and difficulty concentrating, writes Kraus in her book \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262545075/of-sound-mind/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World.”\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students’ developing brains are particularly susceptible to noisy environments. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1976-21562-001\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A study on New York City public schools\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> showed that students in a classroom facing loud train tracks had lower reading levels than students in a classroom shielded from the noise. Learners in the room exposed to the sounds of the trains were on average three to eleven months behind their peers. When the New York Transit Authority installed padding on the railroad tracks and the school made updates to the classroom to reduce the noise, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494481800400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the reading level disparity disappeared\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Repeated exposure to noise doesn't just affect language tasks like reading, it also has a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757288/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">negative impact on students’ ability to do visual tasks\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, such as recalling images or concentrating on objects. In one \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916503256260\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">experiment\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, researchers asked subjects to track a moving ball on a computer with a mouse while other balls moved around the screen. Those who were exposed to long-term noise had more difficulty completing the task.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There are sounds that people think of as being safe, but they really aren't, ” says Kraus. “Even if we're not paying attention to noise, it is having an effect on us and it is having an effect on us on multiple levels. And one is very much our ability to think.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sonic Solutions for the Classroom \u003c/span>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With lockers slamming and chatty students, educators can’t have complete control over the sounds in a school. Yet opportunities to reduce noise can be found all around the school building. “There are so many noises that we do have a choice about,” says Kraus, who urges schools to become more aware of the sounds that students are encountering every day and consider which sounds they can eliminate or reduce.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing out buzzing light fixtures, installing quiet HVAC systems and updating insulation in the walls and ceiling are large-scale solutions that can minimize noise in school buildings. There are also simpler changes to students’ sonic environment that can make a meaningful difference for learners. For example, some schools have gotten rid of their \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/59617/students-can-get-to-class-without-bells-but-schools-need-to-adapt\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">school bells\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in an effort \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2017/saved-by-the-peace-and-quiet-at-a-growing-number-of-california-schools/587211\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">to eliminate extra noise\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/58835/how-the-difference-between-sound-and-noise-can-influence-our-ability-to-learn\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improving the soundscape for learners\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can be as simple as closing the door to the classroom or shutting the windows when students need to concentrate. “Schools are notoriously reverberant and not very friendly with respect to dampening sound,” says Kraus about echoey hallways and classrooms. She suggests laying down rugs if possible because they absorb sound and keep chairs from scraping noisily across the floor. Additionally, teachers can choose to decorate their walls with wall hangings or student work that uses fabric or fiber to dampen sounds. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“So much of our experience as people happens without our conscious awareness and yet these forces are there,” says Kraus. “And sound is, from an evolutionary standpoint, a tremendously important part of how we connect with the world.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/60468/how-everyday-noise-can-inhibit-learning-and-how-teachers-can-reduce-it","authors":["11721"],"categories":["mindshift_21504"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21078","mindshift_21454","mindshift_46"],"featImg":"mindshift_60474","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_60253":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_60253","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"60253","score":null,"sort":[1668682818000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too","title":"Play is crucial for middle schoolers, too","publishDate":1668682818,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">CHANTILLY, Va. — In Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of middle school students experience what most of their peers leave behind in elementary school — recess.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The break is only 15 minutes long. But at Rocky Run Middle School, about 25 miles west of the nation’s capital, the seventh and eighth graders make the most of one of the few stretches of time in school that they can truly call their own. Fairfax County schools, a district of around 181,000 students, has taken an unusual step in mandating recess for all its middle school students.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On a day in early fall, a large group of students tossed their backpacks in a messy pile and made a beeline towards the school’s blacktop for pickup basketball and soccer games. A kickball game started up on the baseball field, with a teacher handling pitching duties to keep the action moving. Smaller groups of students headed to the school’s gym, while others peeled off towards the cafeteria to play board games, get in some extra study time with their Chromebooks, or just chat with their friends.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s a break after all this other stuff you have to do,” said 12-year-old Colin Bigley, a seventh grader playing the board game Sorry! with three friends. “Playing outside is also nice. You have the option of what you’re going to do.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aminah Naqvi, a 13-year-old eighth grader, loves the social time. She was hanging out with friends on the blacktop, shooting baskets. “You might not get to see your friends if you don’t have the same lunch,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even the school’s principal, Amy Goodloe, agrees that play is important. “There’s really high value for students and, I will underscore, teachers to have that break in the day,” she said. “We underestimate how important that is as a partner to academic learning.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60298\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60298\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play4-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, made a 15-minute recess break mandatory for middle school. At Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia, dozens of students took the opportunity to get some fresh air. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Fairfax County is an exception. In most communities, opportunities for play and playful learning tend to recede in middle school, replaced by direct instruction, competitive sports and tightly structured academic time. Educators and researchers say students pay the price. Young adolescents go through profound \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31449373/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">physical, emotional and physiological changes\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">;\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> play inside and outside the classroom can provide one way \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.ucsc.edu/dist/a/409/files/2017/07/MSBT-Report-8.28.18-19gf2qp.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">for kids to develop healthy bonds with friends and become more self-confident\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I teach at a K-8 school, and when I look at these seventh and eighth graders, they’re no different than the kindergarteners,” said Robert Lane, a STEM teacher at the Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona. “They get excited when I bring out Play Doh and googly eyes.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lane’s class is entirely built around playful learning. For example, the modeling clay and other crafts were used as part of a stop-motion animation project in his classroom. Other activities for the school’s older students included creating cardboard roller coasters to be judged by the school’s second graders and building a robot that can move without wheels.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60295\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60295\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play1-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Middle school students in Robert Lane’s STEM class dig through a box of supplies for a class project. Lane, a teacher at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona, says play is just as popular with older students as it is with the younger ones he works with. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I break them into groups where they don’t know each other and they just go all in,” said Lane, who also hosts a podcast as “Mr. Lane the STEM Guy.” The activities also give his students a chance to learn how to cooperate, accept failure when it happens, and solve problems as a team, he said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I want these kids to have all these soft skills as they get ready to go to high school and to college,” Lane said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition to developing soft skills, recess is a tool that can get adolescents moving more at a time of life when they become much more sedentary.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60296\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60296\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play2-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In Robert Lane’s STEM class at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona, playful learning takes the place of lectures and workbooks. Lane says this type of work builds so-called “soft” skills like cooperation and resilience. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/182251\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> used accelerometers to capture the activity levels of youth from ages 9 to 15. Nine-year-olds, on average, engaged in three hours of moderate to vigorous activity on weekends and weekdays, well above the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/what_counts.htm\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">recommendation of 60 minutes a day\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers found that activity levels plunged as children reached adolescence. By age 15, they were getting an average of 49 minutes on weekdays and 35 minutes on weekends. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With benefits that appear so clear, why does middle school seem to mark an end to both unstructured play time and playful learning? There are several competing challenges, both logistical and social.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Middle schools generally have more students than elementary schools, and the students themselves are taller and heavier. It’s challenging for school leaders to find enough space and teacher supervision to manage hundreds of children during a break time. The supervision is particularly important because, while middle schoolers crave time with their friends, unstructured time like recess, lunchtime and passing between classes often offers \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://violence.chop.edu/bullying-schools\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">fertile opportunities for bullying\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60301\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60301\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play7-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unstructured play and playful learning is usually left behind by middle school, but experts say adolescents need opportunities for play just as much as younger students. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fairfax County educators had to come up with new solutions. “The logistics were a little bit hard to figure out,” said Cynthia Conley, the principal of Washington Irving Middle School in Springfield, Virginia. Irving, with about \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:13:::NO::P0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID,P0_EDSL:151,0\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">1,200 students\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, is one of the Fairfax County schools that has added recess to its schedule. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We have four lunch shifts, and we had to figure out how to have four breaks,” said Conley. To accommodate all the students on break at any given time, administrators have opened up several different recess areas for students, including the gym, the blacktop, and the library, which features chess sets, card games, and an exercise bike with a built-in bookstand.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“As soon as their feet hit the outside they are shooting, throwing, whatever they have in mind,” Conley said. “I’ve heard people say, why do they need a break. If you can, find me an adult who doesn’t need a 15-minute break during their work day. Everybody takes a break, to look away from the screen a little bit.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60304\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60304\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play10-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia, provides several popular games, such as Connect 4, for students who want to play indoors during their 15-minute recess period. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An additional challenge is that middle school students don’t think like younger students. Some athletic equipment won’t be enough to engage all, or even most of them. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rebecca London, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has studied what happens when educators add break or recess time for middle school students. In the middle schools she observed, the sports activities were often dominated by older boys. Younger boys and girls, even athletes, tended to spend break times walking and talking unless schools made an extra effort to set up activities that would attract them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One powerful way to do that is for adults to play alongside students, even if adolescents sometimes act as if they want to get away from adults.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60303\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60303\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play9-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adolescents often respond warmly when adults play along with them, and the adult presence often creates a safe space for those who are more shy or less athletic, say researchers. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“As soon as the adults start playing, the kids want to play,” London said. “Kids inherently crave that. It’s an opportunity for kids to be seen as an expert or a leader.” A warm adult presence also makes the situation feel safer for students who may not be sports stars. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“For all those reasons, it’s great to have adults out there leading games, connecting with students in different ways,” she said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fairfax County piloted a middle school recess break for the 2021-22 school year. Last April, the school board \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://wjla.com/news/local/an-important-break-recess-will-soon-be-required-at-all-fairfax-county-middle-schools\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">voted to make the break mandatory\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for all the district’s middle schools, starting in 2022-23. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/CCLKUS53985E/%24file/P2100.3%20Wellness%20Policy03.24.2022.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">District policy\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for elementary students requires at least 30 minutes of recess a day over two segments. There is no recess policy in the district for high school students. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60302\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60302\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play8-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students watch a kickball game during recess at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia. Fairfax County schools implemented a recess period for all of its middle schools, starting in the 2022-23 school year. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advocates for the change say it filled a real need. “All of our students need some time to rejuvenate,” said Ricardy Anderson, one of the champions of the recess policy on the school board and a former middle school principal. “We have middle school students that get into the building at 7:15 in the morning and they don’t leave the building until 2:30.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anderson said that’s why it’s essential for students “to have a little bit of freedom to do what they’d like to do — to be free of the noise of the cafeteria. just to get some fresh air, just to have a little break in the day. The outdoors component is even more critical.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parents of elementary school children are often the driving force behind recess policies, but London, the sociology professor, hasn’t seen that same level of energy behind break times for older students. She thinks the isolation kids experienced during the first phase of the pandemic makes break time even more crucial. “It’s going to take a long time before these kids are fully recovered,” she said. “We may need even more play for older kids.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60297\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60297\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play3-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two students work on a stop-motion animation project in Robert Lane’s STEM class at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lane, at the Sierra STEAM Academy, said that another barrier may be parents and school administrators who may not see the importance of playful learning.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Teachers are under so much pressure to get to a certain point,” he said, and they’re also under a microscope. Parents might not understand why class time is spent on playful learning as opposed to more clearly academic pursuits, for example. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seventh and eighth graders spend a quarter each year engaged in hands-on projects in his classroom, adding up to a semester of active learning. These activities allow students to explore their passions and also understand why failure is part of learning, Lane said. “That’s a K-8 thing, campus-wide. We don’t get frustrated. We come back, we play smarter. And the seventh and eighth graders, they crave it.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60305\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60305\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play11-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Because Rocky Run Middle has to accommodate hundreds of students during its mandatory recess period, administrators open several spaces, including the gym. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite the difficulties that may come with figuring out how to squeeze play into upper grades, London said school leaders have the benefit of a set of opinionated experts — the students themselves.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“If you’re going to start a recess, you should ask your students what they want to do in that time,” he said. “You can even create a school climate task force; the students who volunteer to help think about that time can be tapped as leaders. They know what they need.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too/\">middle school and play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Unstructured time and playful learning are as essential for middle school students as they are for younger children, say researchers and educators. Play offers an opportunity for students to bond with their friends and learn “soft skills” that will serve them well in college and beyond. ","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1668552826,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":35,"wordCount":2138},"headData":{"title":"Play is crucial for middle schoolers, too - MindShift","description":"Play for middle school students offers an opportunity for physical activity and learning “soft skills” that will serve them well in college and beyond.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"disqusIdentifier":"60253 https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/?p=60253","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2022/11/17/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too/","disqusTitle":"Play is crucial for middle schoolers, too","nprByline":"Christina A. Samuels, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","path":"/mindshift/60253/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">CHANTILLY, Va. — In Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of middle school students experience what most of their peers leave behind in elementary school — recess.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The break is only 15 minutes long. But at Rocky Run Middle School, about 25 miles west of the nation’s capital, the seventh and eighth graders make the most of one of the few stretches of time in school that they can truly call their own. Fairfax County schools, a district of around 181,000 students, has taken an unusual step in mandating recess for all its middle school students.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On a day in early fall, a large group of students tossed their backpacks in a messy pile and made a beeline towards the school’s blacktop for pickup basketball and soccer games. A kickball game started up on the baseball field, with a teacher handling pitching duties to keep the action moving. Smaller groups of students headed to the school’s gym, while others peeled off towards the cafeteria to play board games, get in some extra study time with their Chromebooks, or just chat with their friends.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s a break after all this other stuff you have to do,” said 12-year-old Colin Bigley, a seventh grader playing the board game Sorry! with three friends. “Playing outside is also nice. You have the option of what you’re going to do.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aminah Naqvi, a 13-year-old eighth grader, loves the social time. She was hanging out with friends on the blacktop, shooting baskets. “You might not get to see your friends if you don’t have the same lunch,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even the school’s principal, Amy Goodloe, agrees that play is important. “There’s really high value for students and, I will underscore, teachers to have that break in the day,” she said. “We underestimate how important that is as a partner to academic learning.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60298\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60298\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play4-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, made a 15-minute recess break mandatory for middle school. At Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia, dozens of students took the opportunity to get some fresh air. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Fairfax County is an exception. In most communities, opportunities for play and playful learning tend to recede in middle school, replaced by direct instruction, competitive sports and tightly structured academic time. Educators and researchers say students pay the price. Young adolescents go through profound \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31449373/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">physical, emotional and physiological changes\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">;\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> play inside and outside the classroom can provide one way \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.ucsc.edu/dist/a/409/files/2017/07/MSBT-Report-8.28.18-19gf2qp.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">for kids to develop healthy bonds with friends and become more self-confident\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I teach at a K-8 school, and when I look at these seventh and eighth graders, they’re no different than the kindergarteners,” said Robert Lane, a STEM teacher at the Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona. “They get excited when I bring out Play Doh and googly eyes.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lane’s class is entirely built around playful learning. For example, the modeling clay and other crafts were used as part of a stop-motion animation project in his classroom. Other activities for the school’s older students included creating cardboard roller coasters to be judged by the school’s second graders and building a robot that can move without wheels.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60295\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60295\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play1-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Middle school students in Robert Lane’s STEM class dig through a box of supplies for a class project. Lane, a teacher at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona, says play is just as popular with older students as it is with the younger ones he works with. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I break them into groups where they don’t know each other and they just go all in,” said Lane, who also hosts a podcast as “Mr. Lane the STEM Guy.” The activities also give his students a chance to learn how to cooperate, accept failure when it happens, and solve problems as a team, he said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I want these kids to have all these soft skills as they get ready to go to high school and to college,” Lane said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition to developing soft skills, recess is a tool that can get adolescents moving more at a time of life when they become much more sedentary.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60296\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60296\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play2-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In Robert Lane’s STEM class at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona, playful learning takes the place of lectures and workbooks. Lane says this type of work builds so-called “soft” skills like cooperation and resilience. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/182251\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> used accelerometers to capture the activity levels of youth from ages 9 to 15. Nine-year-olds, on average, engaged in three hours of moderate to vigorous activity on weekends and weekdays, well above the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/what_counts.htm\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">recommendation of 60 minutes a day\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers found that activity levels plunged as children reached adolescence. By age 15, they were getting an average of 49 minutes on weekdays and 35 minutes on weekends. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With benefits that appear so clear, why does middle school seem to mark an end to both unstructured play time and playful learning? There are several competing challenges, both logistical and social.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Middle schools generally have more students than elementary schools, and the students themselves are taller and heavier. It’s challenging for school leaders to find enough space and teacher supervision to manage hundreds of children during a break time. The supervision is particularly important because, while middle schoolers crave time with their friends, unstructured time like recess, lunchtime and passing between classes often offers \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://violence.chop.edu/bullying-schools\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">fertile opportunities for bullying\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60301\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60301\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play7-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unstructured play and playful learning is usually left behind by middle school, but experts say adolescents need opportunities for play just as much as younger students. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fairfax County educators had to come up with new solutions. “The logistics were a little bit hard to figure out,” said Cynthia Conley, the principal of Washington Irving Middle School in Springfield, Virginia. Irving, with about \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:13:::NO::P0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID,P0_EDSL:151,0\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">1,200 students\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, is one of the Fairfax County schools that has added recess to its schedule. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We have four lunch shifts, and we had to figure out how to have four breaks,” said Conley. To accommodate all the students on break at any given time, administrators have opened up several different recess areas for students, including the gym, the blacktop, and the library, which features chess sets, card games, and an exercise bike with a built-in bookstand.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“As soon as their feet hit the outside they are shooting, throwing, whatever they have in mind,” Conley said. “I’ve heard people say, why do they need a break. If you can, find me an adult who doesn’t need a 15-minute break during their work day. Everybody takes a break, to look away from the screen a little bit.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60304\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60304\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play10-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia, provides several popular games, such as Connect 4, for students who want to play indoors during their 15-minute recess period. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An additional challenge is that middle school students don’t think like younger students. Some athletic equipment won’t be enough to engage all, or even most of them. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rebecca London, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has studied what happens when educators add break or recess time for middle school students. In the middle schools she observed, the sports activities were often dominated by older boys. Younger boys and girls, even athletes, tended to spend break times walking and talking unless schools made an extra effort to set up activities that would attract them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One powerful way to do that is for adults to play alongside students, even if adolescents sometimes act as if they want to get away from adults.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60303\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60303\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play9-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adolescents often respond warmly when adults play along with them, and the adult presence often creates a safe space for those who are more shy or less athletic, say researchers. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“As soon as the adults start playing, the kids want to play,” London said. “Kids inherently crave that. It’s an opportunity for kids to be seen as an expert or a leader.” A warm adult presence also makes the situation feel safer for students who may not be sports stars. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“For all those reasons, it’s great to have adults out there leading games, connecting with students in different ways,” she said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fairfax County piloted a middle school recess break for the 2021-22 school year. Last April, the school board \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://wjla.com/news/local/an-important-break-recess-will-soon-be-required-at-all-fairfax-county-middle-schools\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">voted to make the break mandatory\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for all the district’s middle schools, starting in 2022-23. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/CCLKUS53985E/%24file/P2100.3%20Wellness%20Policy03.24.2022.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">District policy\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for elementary students requires at least 30 minutes of recess a day over two segments. There is no recess policy in the district for high school students. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60302\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60302\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play8-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students watch a kickball game during recess at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Virginia. Fairfax County schools implemented a recess period for all of its middle schools, starting in the 2022-23 school year. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advocates for the change say it filled a real need. “All of our students need some time to rejuvenate,” said Ricardy Anderson, one of the champions of the recess policy on the school board and a former middle school principal. “We have middle school students that get into the building at 7:15 in the morning and they don’t leave the building until 2:30.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anderson said that’s why it’s essential for students “to have a little bit of freedom to do what they’d like to do — to be free of the noise of the cafeteria. just to get some fresh air, just to have a little break in the day. The outdoors component is even more critical.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parents of elementary school children are often the driving force behind recess policies, but London, the sociology professor, hasn’t seen that same level of energy behind break times for older students. She thinks the isolation kids experienced during the first phase of the pandemic makes break time even more crucial. “It’s going to take a long time before these kids are fully recovered,” she said. “We may need even more play for older kids.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60297\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60297\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play3-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two students work on a stop-motion animation project in Robert Lane’s STEM class at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in Glendale, Arizona. \u003ccite>(Image courtesy of Robert Lane)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lane, at the Sierra STEAM Academy, said that another barrier may be parents and school administrators who may not see the importance of playful learning.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Teachers are under so much pressure to get to a certain point,” he said, and they’re also under a microscope. Parents might not understand why class time is spent on playful learning as opposed to more clearly academic pursuits, for example. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seventh and eighth graders spend a quarter each year engaged in hands-on projects in his classroom, adding up to a semester of active learning. These activities allow students to explore their passions and also understand why failure is part of learning, Lane said. “That’s a K-8 thing, campus-wide. We don’t get frustrated. We come back, we play smarter. And the seventh and eighth graders, they crave it.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60305\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60305\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Samuels-MS-Play11-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Because Rocky Run Middle has to accommodate hundreds of students during its mandatory recess period, administrators open several spaces, including the gym. \u003ccite>(Tom Sandner for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite the difficulties that may come with figuring out how to squeeze play into upper grades, London said school leaders have the benefit of a set of opinionated experts — the students themselves.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“If you’re going to start a recess, you should ask your students what they want to do in that time,” he said. “You can even create a school climate task force; the students who volunteer to help think about that time can be tapped as leaders. They know what they need.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too/\">middle school and play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/60253/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too","authors":["byline_mindshift_60253"],"categories":["mindshift_192","mindshift_21345"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21078","mindshift_21473","mindshift_21214","mindshift_21184","mindshift_145","mindshift_46","mindshift_498"],"featImg":"mindshift_60300","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_60255":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_60255","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"60255","score":null,"sort":[1668596451000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning","title":"In elementary classrooms, demand grows for play-based learning","publishDate":1668596451,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">OKLAHOMA CITY — Two third-graders sat on the floor of their classroom and lined up a row of dominoes along the edge of a low-lying table. They positioned themselves at each end of the row of rectangles, leaned in, and blew. The dominoes tumbled forward, crashing into each other. The girls flung their heads back and laughed.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In another part of the room, two students spontaneously connected a set of wooden orbs to sticks to mimic planets circling a sun.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s a solar system,” one of the students said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The third-graders in Crystal O’Brien’s class darted from station to station — laughing, arguing, playing. But it wasn’t indoor recess — play is one of the ways students learn every day in O’Brien’s science and social studies class at Shidler Elementary School. Throughout the day, O’Brien weaves free and structured play into her class time. During structured play, O’Brien guides the topic and provides parameters. But during free play, she only asks them to connect something they learned that day to their chosen play activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“They are able to choose whatever materials they want to play with in the room, but I encourage them to think about what we've been doing in our science block when they're playing,” O’Brien said. “And sometimes they'll just naturally do that. They'll tell me, ‘Look, this is an example of gravity. This is an unbalanced force. This is a chain reaction.’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While play-based learning remains relatively rare in elementary classrooms, Oklahoma City is among a small number of school districts across the country experimenting with increased play time for children as old as 8 or 9. In Watertown, New York, for example, educators have been teaching through play in pre-K and kindergarten for years, said former Superintendent Patti LaBarr, but the district recently shifted to encouraging play for older elementary students, too. And in Austin, Texas, one school official has started training elementary teachers to use Lego Education products toys as a play-based learning tool during class time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60270\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60270\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary4-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A third grade student sets the last domino down in a row along the edge of a table while playing in Crystal O’Brien’s classroom at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The growing focus on play in older grades is not always easy, as teachers contend with pressure to meet standardized testing mandates and a lack of support from some administrators. But educators who have turned to play-based learning say the approach is particularly helpful now, as pandemic disruptions have left students with social, emotional and behavioral gaps.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It can be difficult to explain what play-based learning looks like, said Mara Krechevsky, senior researcher at Project Zero, an education research group in Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Over the past seven years, Krechevsky and her research team have been working on a project called the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/pedagogy-of-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pedagogy of Play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, studying play-based learning at schools in Boston, Denmark, South Africa and Colombia.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Through their research, Krechevsky’s group came up with three basic tenets for playful learning: students should be able to help lead their own learning, explore the unknown, and find joy. Under this framework, play time doesn’t have to be the reward for completing work and learning. Play can actually be the work, Krechevsky said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Much of the impetus for the shift in Oklahoma City comes from Stephanie Hinton, who started overseeing pre-K through second grade at Oklahoma City Public Schools a few years ago. She knew she wanted to encourage hands-on, playful learning as much as possible. The approach worked for her as a teacher, and it’s \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.13730\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">backed up by research\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At Shidler Elementary, most students qualify for free and reduced lunch and test scores have \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://oklaschools.com/school/988/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">historically been low\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. It’s the kind of school where, typically, it’s difficult to get everyone on board with play-based learning, Hinton said. Despite those challenges, play has begun to catch on in its classrooms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There is this push for skill and drill in schools and communities where we're not passing the test,” Hinton said. It can be easy to think the solution is assigning more schoolwork and sending home more worksheets, Hinton added. That’s because worksheets are black and white — either the student knows the answer to the questions on the assignment or they don’t. But Hinton said regurgitating answers on a piece of paper isn’t a sign of understanding.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s not authentic, it’s not true learning,” she said. \"And we know from research that when it comes down to it, it hasn’t engaged enough of the brain to make it permanent learning.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60269\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60269\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary3-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crystal O’Brien, center, plays with her third grade students during free play time in her classroom at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. Free play, which is when O’Brien lets students play any way they want, is a regular part of their class time. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But letting kids learn through play is hard to grasp for educators who have been trained to follow the rules and structure of a traditional school setting, said Peg Drappo, who runs the pre-K program in Watertown City School District in New York. Watertown began to increase its focus on playful learning in 2015, when the district received a federal grant that helped expand play in its pre-K program. In the seven years since, Drappo and the district’s superintendent have been helping teachers of the older grades who approached them about adding play to their own classrooms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But when she was an elementary school principal several years ago, Drappo didn’t understand what playful learning was supposed to look like. Now, when she speaks at conferences on play-based learning, she tells a story about visiting a kindergarten classroom when she was a principal.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The kids were all over the place, all over the floor doing things — just like a kindergarten classroom should be. But I did not know this world of pre-K and play, so I said to [the teacher], ‘I'll come back to your classroom when you're teaching,’” Drappo said. “Now when I walk into a classroom and it’s loud and a teacher apologizes, I say, ‘Stop apologizing. This is how it’s supposed to sound.’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60271\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60271\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary5-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of third graders in Crystal O’Brien’s class at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City play with toys during a part of class time in which they are allowed to play however they want. At other times of the day, O’Brien guides the students through playful lessons. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Oklahoma, playful learning has support from lawmakers as well.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before becoming a teacher, Oklahoma state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, a Democrat, thought all students were taught lessons through play. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I became a teacher back in 2012 and I realized it’s [play] not even accepted anymore as a way to learn, even in the younger grades,” Rosecrants said. “Some schools do it great, but I'm talking about the way that I learned — going outside, playing, discovering — that type of thing was not something that was focused on in any of the public schools I went to [as a teacher].” (Rosecrants left teaching in 2017 when he was elected to represent Norman, Oklahoma in the state house.)\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As a middle school teacher, Rosecrants said, he rebelled against the idea that students should learn via memorization, drills, and worksheets. In 2021, the Oklahoma legislature \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENR/hB/HB1569%20ENR.PDF\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">passed a law\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that encourages the use of play in pre-K through third grade classrooms. The law, which was written by Rosecrants with bi-partisan assistance, also forbids administrators from prohibiting educators’ use of a play-based approach to teaching.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I've had a lot of teachers who asked me to print it out so they can post it in their classroom, because administrators will come in and be like, ‘Hey, we gotta hit this standard, what are you doing?’ And they're like, ‘Well, we're hitting this standard, but we're [doing it] with blocks,’” Rosecrants said. “I want to add a piece to [the law] probably this year … to require training for play-based learning for all administrators in pre-K through third grade.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60273\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60273\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary8-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Educators at Blake Manor Elementary School say that students learn important math and problem-solving skills while they build, code and play with robots. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some schools are trying to increase play by turning to STEM-focused activities, like building robots with Lego Education products. Manor Independent School District, a district of about 9,000 students just east of Austin, Texas, launched a robotics program around a decade ago, in an attempt to bring more playful learning to students in the early years of elementary school. For several years, robotics was mostly confined to an after-school program.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jacob Luevano, the innovative teaching strategist at Manor ISD, said he has been working to train teachers to integrate robotics into their classrooms. “I think now more than ever, we need [playful learning] in the classrooms,\" Luevano said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">So far, Luevano has had more success in getting robotics activities introduced to classrooms in kindergarten through second grade than in upper elementary, which he attributes, in part, to the pressure of standardized testing that starts in third grade. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60272\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60272\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary7-800x562.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"562\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A student at Blake Manor Elementary School in Manor, Texas, works on a Lego Robotics program during a morning meeting of the school's robotics club. The Manor Independent School District is trying to increase play opportunities for students by using Lego Robotics. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As children recover from the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, active, playful learning is more important than ever because it strengthens social and emotional skills, said Hinton in Oklahoma City. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“This isn't just about play. This is about building relationships, and social-emotional learning,” Hinton said. “Sometimes when an adult is losing their mind about something, I think: I wonder what your play behaviors were like as a child?” It helps, she clarifies, if children have already experienced losing in a cooperative setting — whether at Monopoly, Hi Ho! Cherry-O or another game. “How you handle that, it says a lot about where you are in your social emotional development,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In O’Brien’s classroom in Oklahoma City, there are no desks. Instead, students sit at round tables or on a rug in front of the whiteboard, depending on the activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently, the class learned about static electricity. O’Brien set up stations with different items — balloons, tissue, paper — to show the kids how static electricity works. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I asked them to figure out how they could make these different materials move without directly touching them,” O’Brien said. After that, she led a discussion on what the students discovered and presented them with some technical, scientific terms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year is O’Brien’s first back at Shidler Elementary. She left the district in 2021 to get a master’s degree in early childhood education and work at a private preschool in Colorado that uses the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/parenting/reggio-emilia-preschool.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reggio Emilia approach\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to teaching, an approach born in Italy that encompasses significant play.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like other play-based programs, Reggio Emilia is most often seen in private and affluent preschool classrooms. When O’Brien made the decision to return to Shidler Elementary, she was partly on a mission to bring play-based learning to a public setting. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s not something that should just be for the elite, and I think all children can benefit from learning this way,” O’Brien said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning/\">play-based learning\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hechinger Reporter newsletters\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jackie Mader contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Correction: This story has been updated to note that Manor ISD in Texas is using LEGO Education products.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"As students returned from remote learning with gaps in social emotional skills, elementary schools across the United States have started teaching more students through play — an approach to learning typically confined to preschools.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1668710811,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":37,"wordCount":2122},"headData":{"title":"In elementary classrooms, demand grows for play-based learning - MindShift","description":"As students returned from remote learning with gaps in social emotional skills, elementary schools across the United States have started teaching more students through play — an approach to learning typically confined to preschools.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"disqusIdentifier":"60255 https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/?p=60255","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2022/11/16/in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning/","disqusTitle":"In elementary classrooms, demand grows for play-based learning","nprByline":"Ariel Gilreath, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","path":"/mindshift/60255/in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">OKLAHOMA CITY — Two third-graders sat on the floor of their classroom and lined up a row of dominoes along the edge of a low-lying table. They positioned themselves at each end of the row of rectangles, leaned in, and blew. The dominoes tumbled forward, crashing into each other. The girls flung their heads back and laughed.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In another part of the room, two students spontaneously connected a set of wooden orbs to sticks to mimic planets circling a sun.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s a solar system,” one of the students said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The third-graders in Crystal O’Brien’s class darted from station to station — laughing, arguing, playing. But it wasn’t indoor recess — play is one of the ways students learn every day in O’Brien’s science and social studies class at Shidler Elementary School. Throughout the day, O’Brien weaves free and structured play into her class time. During structured play, O’Brien guides the topic and provides parameters. But during free play, she only asks them to connect something they learned that day to their chosen play activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“They are able to choose whatever materials they want to play with in the room, but I encourage them to think about what we've been doing in our science block when they're playing,” O’Brien said. “And sometimes they'll just naturally do that. They'll tell me, ‘Look, this is an example of gravity. This is an unbalanced force. This is a chain reaction.’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While play-based learning remains relatively rare in elementary classrooms, Oklahoma City is among a small number of school districts across the country experimenting with increased play time for children as old as 8 or 9. In Watertown, New York, for example, educators have been teaching through play in pre-K and kindergarten for years, said former Superintendent Patti LaBarr, but the district recently shifted to encouraging play for older elementary students, too. And in Austin, Texas, one school official has started training elementary teachers to use Lego Education products toys as a play-based learning tool during class time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60270\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60270\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary4-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A third grade student sets the last domino down in a row along the edge of a table while playing in Crystal O’Brien’s classroom at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The growing focus on play in older grades is not always easy, as teachers contend with pressure to meet standardized testing mandates and a lack of support from some administrators. But educators who have turned to play-based learning say the approach is particularly helpful now, as pandemic disruptions have left students with social, emotional and behavioral gaps.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It can be difficult to explain what play-based learning looks like, said Mara Krechevsky, senior researcher at Project Zero, an education research group in Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Over the past seven years, Krechevsky and her research team have been working on a project called the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/pedagogy-of-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pedagogy of Play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, studying play-based learning at schools in Boston, Denmark, South Africa and Colombia.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Through their research, Krechevsky’s group came up with three basic tenets for playful learning: students should be able to help lead their own learning, explore the unknown, and find joy. Under this framework, play time doesn’t have to be the reward for completing work and learning. Play can actually be the work, Krechevsky said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Much of the impetus for the shift in Oklahoma City comes from Stephanie Hinton, who started overseeing pre-K through second grade at Oklahoma City Public Schools a few years ago. She knew she wanted to encourage hands-on, playful learning as much as possible. The approach worked for her as a teacher, and it’s \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.13730\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">backed up by research\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At Shidler Elementary, most students qualify for free and reduced lunch and test scores have \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://oklaschools.com/school/988/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">historically been low\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. It’s the kind of school where, typically, it’s difficult to get everyone on board with play-based learning, Hinton said. Despite those challenges, play has begun to catch on in its classrooms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There is this push for skill and drill in schools and communities where we're not passing the test,” Hinton said. It can be easy to think the solution is assigning more schoolwork and sending home more worksheets, Hinton added. That’s because worksheets are black and white — either the student knows the answer to the questions on the assignment or they don’t. But Hinton said regurgitating answers on a piece of paper isn’t a sign of understanding.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s not authentic, it’s not true learning,” she said. \"And we know from research that when it comes down to it, it hasn’t engaged enough of the brain to make it permanent learning.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60269\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60269\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary3-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crystal O’Brien, center, plays with her third grade students during free play time in her classroom at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. Free play, which is when O’Brien lets students play any way they want, is a regular part of their class time. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But letting kids learn through play is hard to grasp for educators who have been trained to follow the rules and structure of a traditional school setting, said Peg Drappo, who runs the pre-K program in Watertown City School District in New York. Watertown began to increase its focus on playful learning in 2015, when the district received a federal grant that helped expand play in its pre-K program. In the seven years since, Drappo and the district’s superintendent have been helping teachers of the older grades who approached them about adding play to their own classrooms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But when she was an elementary school principal several years ago, Drappo didn’t understand what playful learning was supposed to look like. Now, when she speaks at conferences on play-based learning, she tells a story about visiting a kindergarten classroom when she was a principal.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The kids were all over the place, all over the floor doing things — just like a kindergarten classroom should be. But I did not know this world of pre-K and play, so I said to [the teacher], ‘I'll come back to your classroom when you're teaching,’” Drappo said. “Now when I walk into a classroom and it’s loud and a teacher apologizes, I say, ‘Stop apologizing. This is how it’s supposed to sound.’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60271\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60271\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary5-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of third graders in Crystal O’Brien’s class at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City play with toys during a part of class time in which they are allowed to play however they want. At other times of the day, O’Brien guides the students through playful lessons. \u003ccite>(Ariel Gilreath/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Oklahoma, playful learning has support from lawmakers as well.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before becoming a teacher, Oklahoma state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, a Democrat, thought all students were taught lessons through play. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I became a teacher back in 2012 and I realized it’s [play] not even accepted anymore as a way to learn, even in the younger grades,” Rosecrants said. “Some schools do it great, but I'm talking about the way that I learned — going outside, playing, discovering — that type of thing was not something that was focused on in any of the public schools I went to [as a teacher].” (Rosecrants left teaching in 2017 when he was elected to represent Norman, Oklahoma in the state house.)\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As a middle school teacher, Rosecrants said, he rebelled against the idea that students should learn via memorization, drills, and worksheets. In 2021, the Oklahoma legislature \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENR/hB/HB1569%20ENR.PDF\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">passed a law\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that encourages the use of play in pre-K through third grade classrooms. The law, which was written by Rosecrants with bi-partisan assistance, also forbids administrators from prohibiting educators’ use of a play-based approach to teaching.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I've had a lot of teachers who asked me to print it out so they can post it in their classroom, because administrators will come in and be like, ‘Hey, we gotta hit this standard, what are you doing?’ And they're like, ‘Well, we're hitting this standard, but we're [doing it] with blocks,’” Rosecrants said. “I want to add a piece to [the law] probably this year … to require training for play-based learning for all administrators in pre-K through third grade.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60273\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60273\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary8-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Educators at Blake Manor Elementary School say that students learn important math and problem-solving skills while they build, code and play with robots. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some schools are trying to increase play by turning to STEM-focused activities, like building robots with Lego Education products. Manor Independent School District, a district of about 9,000 students just east of Austin, Texas, launched a robotics program around a decade ago, in an attempt to bring more playful learning to students in the early years of elementary school. For several years, robotics was mostly confined to an after-school program.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jacob Luevano, the innovative teaching strategist at Manor ISD, said he has been working to train teachers to integrate robotics into their classrooms. “I think now more than ever, we need [playful learning] in the classrooms,\" Luevano said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">So far, Luevano has had more success in getting robotics activities introduced to classrooms in kindergarten through second grade than in upper elementary, which he attributes, in part, to the pressure of standardized testing that starts in third grade. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60272\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60272\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Gilreath-Play-Elementary7-800x562.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"562\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A student at Blake Manor Elementary School in Manor, Texas, works on a Lego Robotics program during a morning meeting of the school's robotics club. The Manor Independent School District is trying to increase play opportunities for students by using Lego Robotics. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As children recover from the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, active, playful learning is more important than ever because it strengthens social and emotional skills, said Hinton in Oklahoma City. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“This isn't just about play. This is about building relationships, and social-emotional learning,” Hinton said. “Sometimes when an adult is losing their mind about something, I think: I wonder what your play behaviors were like as a child?” It helps, she clarifies, if children have already experienced losing in a cooperative setting — whether at Monopoly, Hi Ho! Cherry-O or another game. “How you handle that, it says a lot about where you are in your social emotional development,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In O’Brien’s classroom in Oklahoma City, there are no desks. Instead, students sit at round tables or on a rug in front of the whiteboard, depending on the activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently, the class learned about static electricity. O’Brien set up stations with different items — balloons, tissue, paper — to show the kids how static electricity works. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I asked them to figure out how they could make these different materials move without directly touching them,” O’Brien said. After that, she led a discussion on what the students discovered and presented them with some technical, scientific terms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year is O’Brien’s first back at Shidler Elementary. She left the district in 2021 to get a master’s degree in early childhood education and work at a private preschool in Colorado that uses the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/parenting/reggio-emilia-preschool.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reggio Emilia approach\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to teaching, an approach born in Italy that encompasses significant play.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like other play-based programs, Reggio Emilia is most often seen in private and affluent preschool classrooms. When O’Brien made the decision to return to Shidler Elementary, she was partly on a mission to bring play-based learning to a public setting. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It’s not something that should just be for the elite, and I think all children can benefit from learning this way,” O’Brien said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning/\">play-based learning\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hechinger Reporter newsletters\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jackie Mader contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Correction: This story has been updated to note that Manor ISD in Texas is using LEGO Education products.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/60255/in-elementary-classrooms-demand-grows-for-play-based-learning","authors":["byline_mindshift_60255"],"categories":["mindshift_192","mindshift_21345"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21078","mindshift_20720","mindshift_21101","mindshift_21214","mindshift_21184","mindshift_46","mindshift_498"],"featImg":"mindshift_60268","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_60248":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_60248","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"60248","score":null,"sort":[1668510059000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play-young-kids-benefit-from-play-but-what-should-it-look-like","title":"Young kids benefit from play. But what should it look like?","publishDate":1668510059,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">SEATTLE — On a bright October morning, two dozen 4- and 5-year-olds were scattered around a classroom at Impact Salish Sea Elementary in south Seattle, enthralled by plastic food, dolls, blocks and clay. In the center of the room, four children buzzed around a wooden play kitchen, mixing various pretend food items in pots and pans. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I’m making chocolate cupcakes,” proclaimed Rosa, age 5. A few feet away, Jordyn, 4, was carefully washing plastic dishes in a bright red sink filled with water, before drying them off with a blue towel. When their teacher, Shareece DeLeon, took a seat at a pint-sized table in the middle of the kitchen, the children paused and turned to look. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Our customer is here!” one student proclaimed. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With challenging elementary standards and kindergarten readiness assessments looming, some may question whether educators should be spending so much time on play. But child development experts agree that this type of playful activity is exactly what young students should be doing every day — now more than ever since young children lost crucial opportunities to play and build social and pre-academic skills during the pandemic.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play is uniquely imperative for young children given that the parts of the brain that are most developed in the earliest years are those that respond to play and activity, experts say. Young children have shown \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">improved language skills\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, math skills and problem-solving skills after playing. Certain types of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdev.12695\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have been found to improve perseverance. When children play, their brains release \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.primalplay.com/blog/play-and-the-feel-good-hormones\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">chemicals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that can impact memory, motivation, attention and mood, and help regulate emotions and support social skills. Play is so powerful, there is evidence that it can \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/twenty-six-studies-point-to-more-play-for-young-children/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">close achievement gaps\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> between children ages three to six.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We don’t have to see it as a choice between play or academics, play should be academics for preschoolers,” said \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alissa Mwenelupembe, the senior director for early learning program accreditation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But what does that look like? Experts and educators \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">generally agree on \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/five-essentials-meaningful-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">a few main principles\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> when it comes to quality play for young kids: It should be a defining feature of the day and not just a brief diversion, like recess; there should be some element of choice — allowing kids to pick an activity and decide how to pursue it; it should be enjoyable and spontaneous; and in most cases, a supportive adult should provide at least some guidance and help reinforce academic and social emotional concepts. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beyond those tenets, what learning through play looks like on the ground — or playground, as the case may be — can vary greatly based on a program’s approach or philosophy. Play in early ed settings is more deliberate and nuanced — not to mention important — than the casual observer realizes. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “When you’re actually really being intentional with how they’re going to play, they do pick up a lot more and they understand a lot more,” said DeLeon. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60263\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60263\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK2-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A teacher accepts plastic food items from one of her students.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shareece DeLeon, a teacher at Impact Public School’s Salish Sea Elementary, accepts plastic food items from one of her students during a 90-minute block of play time. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At Impact Salish Sea Elementary, one of three elementary charter schools in the Seattle area run by Impact Public Schools, educators focus on “imaginary play,” like pretending to run a restaurant or hospital, as a tool to teach young children self-regulation and cognitive skills. The approach is partially inspired by Russian developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who saw \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/play-based-learning/according-experts/role-make-believe-play-development-self-regulation\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play as a critical activity\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to support a child’s development. This differs from “immature play,” where children “don’t interact with each other and flit from thing to thing,” said Deborah Leong, co-founder and president of Tools of the Mind, the organization behind the curriculum used by Impact and \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://toolsofthemind.org/learn/locations-alignments/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">dozens of other school\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> districts and charter schools nationwide.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teachers act as “play mentors” to help children develop and create a scenario, build props, and plan out their play. Classrooms embrace themes — like grocery store or home — and transform their space accordingly. Children have around 90 minutes each day for this play time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This daily experience ultimately supports the development of “mature” play, where children are able to stay in pretend roles for a longer period of time, Leong said. “It’s the foundation for being able to imagine a world that’s different from what you’re living in,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60266\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60266\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK5-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"The front of a school building with bricks and windows. The school name, Impact, is written above the double door entrance.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Impact Salish Sea Elementary, in south Seattle, is one of three charter schools run by Impact Public Schools. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just a few weeks into the school year, the students at Impact Salish Sea were still learning the routines of their transitional kindergarten classroom, a year meant to prepare 4- and 5-year-olds for kindergarten. Play period began one mid-October morning with students picking a colorful clothespin from a board and affixing it to their shirt. The different colors of the clothespins corresponded to various play centers in the classroom. As children fanned out across the room, the classroom’s two teachers circulated. They stopped to watch various students, asking questions about their play, and encouraging them to count as they used blocks to build rocket ships or problem solve when the water in the sink became too cold. When a young charge approached DeLeon after the doll she wanted was taken by another student, DeLeon encouraged her to go talk to her peer and try to work it out. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While such classrooms can look different from traditional elementary classrooms, and even appear chaotic at times, students are indeed learning how to interact with their peers and solidifying early math, science and literacy skills. “It’s not just play for play’s sake,” said Lauren Ellis, senior director of programs at Impact Public Schools, though free play is also important, she added. Students at Impact also receive nearly an hour of recess a day, play games throughout the day and have a block of free play near the end of the day. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having frequent opportunities to play is something experts with NAEYC look for when assessing the quality of preschools. Regardless of the school’s curriculum or approach, NAEYC evaluators want children to be engaged in play and have some choice about their activities for a “substantial” part of the day, said Mwenelupembe.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One sign of quality play is when children are interacting with materials and peers, she added. Teachers should be asking questions that “stretch” emerging knowledge, and helping children navigate conflicts. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60264\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60264\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK3-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Two children play with blocks and other tools during a morning play session at Impact Salish Sea Elementary.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students at Impact Salish Sea Elementary play during a long, morning play session. The school uses a curriculum by Tools of the Mind that emphasizes imaginative play. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play can be seen as a spectrum, ranging from direct, teacher-led instruction on one end, to free play on the other, said Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. While there are benefits to other types of play, the sweet spot for classrooms is in the middle at “guided play,” she added, where children play with a learning goal in mind and educators provide gentle guidance. That does not, however, include activities that some teachers may view as play, she added, like making letters out of Play-Doh. “That is direct instruction in play clothes,” she said, since children are being told exactly what to do with their materials.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yet some play advocates lean more toward a form of free play that includes no adult-directed learning goal or teacher direction. AnjiPlay, a philosophy that originated in the Zhejiang Province of China about 20 years ago and has pilot programs around the world, provides children with at least two hours of uninterrupted outdoor play each day using materials like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.anjiplay.com/materials\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">ladders, barrels and climbing cubes\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Children have additional play time inside, read daily and spend time reflecting on their play through drawings and discussion.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The goal, as stated on the organization’s website, is to enable “\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.anjiplay.com/rights\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">deep and uninterrupted engagement\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">” in a chosen play activity. While teachers are on hand, they do not steer or guide students at all. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Children make the distinction between play that belongs to them, and play that is coming from somebody else,” said Jesse Coffino, CEO of Anji Education, Inc. and chair of the True Play Foundation. “I don’t see guided play as play,” he said. “There’s specific learning outcomes that an adult has decided are important.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This type of child-led, free play is beneficial and all too often lacking, said Doris Bergen, a distinguished professor emeritus at Miami University of Ohio’s Department of Educational Psychology whose research has focused on child development and play. Bergen finds it worrisome when “children have too much structured time when they’re young,” adding that they should be permitted to make up their own rules and pursue their own interests at least part of the time. “They need to have some control, and some time where they are deciding what to do … and where to be, and what to use.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60261\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK6-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Experts say providing ample time for play is even more important now than ever, helping to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on young children, many of whom missed out on opportunities to play and build relationships with their peers. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The obstacles to introducing more play opportunities can be formidable: \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/11/teaching-pre-k-higher-standards-not-enough-training-and-the-importance-of-purposeful-play.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rigorous\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> academic concepts are \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307895775_Pulling_preK_1_into_a_K-12_orbit_the_evolution_of_preK_in_the_age_of_standards\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sliding down\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the preschool years as kids are prepped for more challenging early elementary grades. In addition, research shows teachers may not have support for play-based learning from some school \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/academics-vs-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">principals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who don’t understand that young children learn most readily through play, or teachers may get \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1350293X.2019.1678717?src=recsys\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">pushback from parents\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who fear children won’t be prepared for kindergarten. Play and free-choice time can be even more restricted in classrooms that serve \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200609000726?via%3Dihub\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">high rates of low-income, Black or Hispanic children\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, research shows. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Given the constraints many teachers are under when introducing or \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/playtime-for-preschoolers-essential-study-says/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">expanding play time\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, some experts try not to get consumed in debates over approach. Instead, they say, they advise educators to get going however they can. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Any amount of play someone brings, we should be celebrating it,” said Sally Haughey, a former early childhood educator who taught in public and private settings for nearly 20 years before founding an organization that trains educators in play-based learning. Teachers who want to include more play can start simply by adding some student-led play time in their day, she added. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Start with what’s freely chosen and just keep expanding it.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even if teachers have a strict curriculum to teach, it’s possible to infuse more play, said Temple’s Hirsh-Pasek. “It’s redoing the mindset of how you teach the curriculum,” she added, like swapping out a worksheet about numbers with a physical activity where kids can jump, run and compare distances to learn about counting, adding and subtracting. More training and support could help. “It’s imperative that we start putting it in teacher preparation right now,” she said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amber Unger, a pre-K teacher in Milwaukee who has been teaching for 14 years, encourages teachers to look at their schedules to find a few minutes a day to add or expand free-choice play. If teachers typically start the day with desk work, for example, she suggests swapping that out with play time, even just once a week to start. Unger’s efforts are supported by her district, which has embraced a play-based approach to pre-K, but she knows other teachers who don’t have that support. “We all have different situations,” she said. “You just need to do the best you can with the knowledge and experience you have.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60262\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60262\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A 4-year-old child washes dishes as part of a classroom activity.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordyn, 4, washes dishes during a unit about the home in one of Impact Salish Sea’s transitional kindergarten, or TK, class. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unger, who also runs a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://creamcityteacher.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">website\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which helps teachers incorporate play-based learning strategies, slots a “play workshop” into her longest, uninterrupted block of time each day. During that time, children are free to play at 17 different centers around her classroom. Over the past few years, she has increased the amount of play in her room by looking for opportunities to make moments “playful” during the day: encouraging students to pretend to be butterflies while walking down the hallway or using playful activities to reinforce skills taught during brief periods of direct instruction, like making patterns out of shells and corks. “Play is the vehicle to make that happen,” she said. “I 100 percent, confidently believe that play allows our students to practice what we are teaching them.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, Unger said it’s taken years of research and practice to nurture her approach to play-based learning, and she is still learning and finding what works best for her students. “I definitely see more opportunities for play than what I did five years ago,” she said. “I was so hung up on doing play ‘right’ … There isn’t a right way and a wrong way to do play.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play/\">learning through play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/earlychildhood/\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/a>.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Correction: This article has been updated to reflect Lauren Ellis’ job title.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Young kids benefit from learning through play. But what should it look like?","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1668614122,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":32,"wordCount":2376},"headData":{"title":"Young kids benefit from play. But what should it look like? - MindShift","description":"Experts and educators agree that play should be central to pre-K. It should also involve choice and reinforcement of learning by adults.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"disqusIdentifier":"60248 https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/?p=60248","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2022/11/15/the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play-young-kids-benefit-from-play-but-what-should-it-look-like/","disqusTitle":"Young kids benefit from play. But what should it look like?","nprByline":"Jackie Mader, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","path":"/mindshift/60248/the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play-young-kids-benefit-from-play-but-what-should-it-look-like","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">SEATTLE — On a bright October morning, two dozen 4- and 5-year-olds were scattered around a classroom at Impact Salish Sea Elementary in south Seattle, enthralled by plastic food, dolls, blocks and clay. In the center of the room, four children buzzed around a wooden play kitchen, mixing various pretend food items in pots and pans. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I’m making chocolate cupcakes,” proclaimed Rosa, age 5. A few feet away, Jordyn, 4, was carefully washing plastic dishes in a bright red sink filled with water, before drying them off with a blue towel. When their teacher, Shareece DeLeon, took a seat at a pint-sized table in the middle of the kitchen, the children paused and turned to look. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Our customer is here!” one student proclaimed. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With challenging elementary standards and kindergarten readiness assessments looming, some may question whether educators should be spending so much time on play. But child development experts agree that this type of playful activity is exactly what young students should be doing every day — now more than ever since young children lost crucial opportunities to play and build social and pre-academic skills during the pandemic.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play is uniquely imperative for young children given that the parts of the brain that are most developed in the earliest years are those that respond to play and activity, experts say. Young children have shown \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">improved language skills\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, math skills and problem-solving skills after playing. Certain types of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdev.12695\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have been found to improve perseverance. When children play, their brains release \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.primalplay.com/blog/play-and-the-feel-good-hormones\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">chemicals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that can impact memory, motivation, attention and mood, and help regulate emotions and support social skills. Play is so powerful, there is evidence that it can \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/twenty-six-studies-point-to-more-play-for-young-children/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">close achievement gaps\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> between children ages three to six.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We don’t have to see it as a choice between play or academics, play should be academics for preschoolers,” said \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alissa Mwenelupembe, the senior director for early learning program accreditation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But what does that look like? Experts and educators \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">generally agree on \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/five-essentials-meaningful-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">a few main principles\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> when it comes to quality play for young kids: It should be a defining feature of the day and not just a brief diversion, like recess; there should be some element of choice — allowing kids to pick an activity and decide how to pursue it; it should be enjoyable and spontaneous; and in most cases, a supportive adult should provide at least some guidance and help reinforce academic and social emotional concepts. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beyond those tenets, what learning through play looks like on the ground — or playground, as the case may be — can vary greatly based on a program’s approach or philosophy. Play in early ed settings is more deliberate and nuanced — not to mention important — than the casual observer realizes. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “When you’re actually really being intentional with how they’re going to play, they do pick up a lot more and they understand a lot more,” said DeLeon. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60263\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60263\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK2-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A teacher accepts plastic food items from one of her students.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shareece DeLeon, a teacher at Impact Public School’s Salish Sea Elementary, accepts plastic food items from one of her students during a 90-minute block of play time. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At Impact Salish Sea Elementary, one of three elementary charter schools in the Seattle area run by Impact Public Schools, educators focus on “imaginary play,” like pretending to run a restaurant or hospital, as a tool to teach young children self-regulation and cognitive skills. The approach is partially inspired by Russian developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who saw \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/play-based-learning/according-experts/role-make-believe-play-development-self-regulation\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play as a critical activity\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to support a child’s development. This differs from “immature play,” where children “don’t interact with each other and flit from thing to thing,” said Deborah Leong, co-founder and president of Tools of the Mind, the organization behind the curriculum used by Impact and \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://toolsofthemind.org/learn/locations-alignments/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">dozens of other school\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> districts and charter schools nationwide.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Teachers act as “play mentors” to help children develop and create a scenario, build props, and plan out their play. Classrooms embrace themes — like grocery store or home — and transform their space accordingly. Children have around 90 minutes each day for this play time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This daily experience ultimately supports the development of “mature” play, where children are able to stay in pretend roles for a longer period of time, Leong said. “It’s the foundation for being able to imagine a world that’s different from what you’re living in,” she said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60266\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60266\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK5-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"The front of a school building with bricks and windows. The school name, Impact, is written above the double door entrance.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Impact Salish Sea Elementary, in south Seattle, is one of three charter schools run by Impact Public Schools. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just a few weeks into the school year, the students at Impact Salish Sea were still learning the routines of their transitional kindergarten classroom, a year meant to prepare 4- and 5-year-olds for kindergarten. Play period began one mid-October morning with students picking a colorful clothespin from a board and affixing it to their shirt. The different colors of the clothespins corresponded to various play centers in the classroom. As children fanned out across the room, the classroom’s two teachers circulated. They stopped to watch various students, asking questions about their play, and encouraging them to count as they used blocks to build rocket ships or problem solve when the water in the sink became too cold. When a young charge approached DeLeon after the doll she wanted was taken by another student, DeLeon encouraged her to go talk to her peer and try to work it out. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While such classrooms can look different from traditional elementary classrooms, and even appear chaotic at times, students are indeed learning how to interact with their peers and solidifying early math, science and literacy skills. “It’s not just play for play’s sake,” said Lauren Ellis, senior director of programs at Impact Public Schools, though free play is also important, she added. Students at Impact also receive nearly an hour of recess a day, play games throughout the day and have a block of free play near the end of the day. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having frequent opportunities to play is something experts with NAEYC look for when assessing the quality of preschools. Regardless of the school’s curriculum or approach, NAEYC evaluators want children to be engaged in play and have some choice about their activities for a “substantial” part of the day, said Mwenelupembe.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One sign of quality play is when children are interacting with materials and peers, she added. Teachers should be asking questions that “stretch” emerging knowledge, and helping children navigate conflicts. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60264\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60264\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK3-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Two children play with blocks and other tools during a morning play session at Impact Salish Sea Elementary.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students at Impact Salish Sea Elementary play during a long, morning play session. The school uses a curriculum by Tools of the Mind that emphasizes imaginative play. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play can be seen as a spectrum, ranging from direct, teacher-led instruction on one end, to free play on the other, said Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. While there are benefits to other types of play, the sweet spot for classrooms is in the middle at “guided play,” she added, where children play with a learning goal in mind and educators provide gentle guidance. That does not, however, include activities that some teachers may view as play, she added, like making letters out of Play-Doh. “That is direct instruction in play clothes,” she said, since children are being told exactly what to do with their materials.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yet some play advocates lean more toward a form of free play that includes no adult-directed learning goal or teacher direction. AnjiPlay, a philosophy that originated in the Zhejiang Province of China about 20 years ago and has pilot programs around the world, provides children with at least two hours of uninterrupted outdoor play each day using materials like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.anjiplay.com/materials\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">ladders, barrels and climbing cubes\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Children have additional play time inside, read daily and spend time reflecting on their play through drawings and discussion.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The goal, as stated on the organization’s website, is to enable “\u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://www.anjiplay.com/rights\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">deep and uninterrupted engagement\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">” in a chosen play activity. While teachers are on hand, they do not steer or guide students at all. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Children make the distinction between play that belongs to them, and play that is coming from somebody else,” said Jesse Coffino, CEO of Anji Education, Inc. and chair of the True Play Foundation. “I don’t see guided play as play,” he said. “There’s specific learning outcomes that an adult has decided are important.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This type of child-led, free play is beneficial and all too often lacking, said Doris Bergen, a distinguished professor emeritus at Miami University of Ohio’s Department of Educational Psychology whose research has focused on child development and play. Bergen finds it worrisome when “children have too much structured time when they’re young,” adding that they should be permitted to make up their own rules and pursue their own interests at least part of the time. “They need to have some control, and some time where they are deciding what to do … and where to be, and what to use.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60261\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK6-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Experts say providing ample time for play is even more important now than ever, helping to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on young children, many of whom missed out on opportunities to play and build relationships with their peers. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The obstacles to introducing more play opportunities can be formidable: \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/11/teaching-pre-k-higher-standards-not-enough-training-and-the-importance-of-purposeful-play.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rigorous\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> academic concepts are \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307895775_Pulling_preK_1_into_a_K-12_orbit_the_evolution_of_preK_in_the_age_of_standards\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sliding down\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the preschool years as kids are prepped for more challenging early elementary grades. In addition, research shows teachers may not have support for play-based learning from some school \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/academics-vs-play\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">principals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who don’t understand that young children learn most readily through play, or teachers may get \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1350293X.2019.1678717?src=recsys\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">pushback from parents\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who fear children won’t be prepared for kindergarten. Play and free-choice time can be even more restricted in classrooms that serve \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200609000726?via%3Dihub\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">high rates of low-income, Black or Hispanic children\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, research shows. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Given the constraints many teachers are under when introducing or \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/playtime-for-preschoolers-essential-study-says/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">expanding play time\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, some experts try not to get consumed in debates over approach. Instead, they say, they advise educators to get going however they can. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Any amount of play someone brings, we should be celebrating it,” said Sally Haughey, a former early childhood educator who taught in public and private settings for nearly 20 years before founding an organization that trains educators in play-based learning. Teachers who want to include more play can start simply by adding some student-led play time in their day, she added. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Start with what’s freely chosen and just keep expanding it.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even if teachers have a strict curriculum to teach, it’s possible to infuse more play, said Temple’s Hirsh-Pasek. “It’s redoing the mindset of how you teach the curriculum,” she added, like swapping out a worksheet about numbers with a physical activity where kids can jump, run and compare distances to learn about counting, adding and subtracting. More training and support could help. “It’s imperative that we start putting it in teacher preparation right now,” she said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amber Unger, a pre-K teacher in Milwaukee who has been teaching for 14 years, encourages teachers to look at their schedules to find a few minutes a day to add or expand free-choice play. If teachers typically start the day with desk work, for example, she suggests swapping that out with play time, even just once a week to start. Unger’s efforts are supported by her district, which has embraced a play-based approach to pre-K, but she knows other teachers who don’t have that support. “We all have different situations,” she said. “You just need to do the best you can with the knowledge and experience you have.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60262\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60262\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-PreK1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A 4-year-old child washes dishes as part of a classroom activity.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordyn, 4, washes dishes during a unit about the home in one of Impact Salish Sea’s transitional kindergarten, or TK, class. \u003ccite>(Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unger, who also runs a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://creamcityteacher.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">website\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which helps teachers incorporate play-based learning strategies, slots a “play workshop” into her longest, uninterrupted block of time each day. During that time, children are free to play at 17 different centers around her classroom. Over the past few years, she has increased the amount of play in her room by looking for opportunities to make moments “playful” during the day: encouraging students to pretend to be butterflies while walking down the hallway or using playful activities to reinforce skills taught during brief periods of direct instruction, like making patterns out of shells and corks. “Play is the vehicle to make that happen,” she said. “I 100 percent, confidently believe that play allows our students to practice what we are teaching them.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, Unger said it’s taken years of research and practice to nurture her approach to play-based learning, and she is still learning and finding what works best for her students. “I definitely see more opportunities for play than what I did five years ago,” she said. “I was so hung up on doing play ‘right’ … There isn’t a right way and a wrong way to do play.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play/\">learning through play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/earlychildhood/\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/a>.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Correction: This article has been updated to reflect Lauren Ellis’ job title.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/60248/the-complex-world-of-pre-k-play-young-kids-benefit-from-play-but-what-should-it-look-like","authors":["byline_mindshift_60248"],"categories":["mindshift_192","mindshift_21345"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21078","mindshift_20720","mindshift_21214","mindshift_21184","mindshift_46","mindshift_498","mindshift_164"],"featImg":"mindshift_60265","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_60251":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_60251","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"60251","score":null,"sort":[1668423635000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play","title":"Want resilient and well-adjusted kids? Let them play","publishDate":1668423635,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1966, when psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown was assigned to a commission to investigate what led University of Texas student Charles Whitman to kill 12 people in one of the country’s first mass shootings, Brown and his colleagues considered many different aspects of Whitman’s background. The student had access to firearms at home; he had witnessed abuse while growing up; and he had a difficult relationship with his father.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Brown was struck by one other factor that came up in the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.playcore.com/news/rough-and-tumble-play-is-it-necessary-part-2\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">commission’s discussions\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Whitman had experienced play deprivation, or an “almost complete suppression of normal play behavior,” as the commission put it, while growing up. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That finding motivated Brown to ask more questions about play and its role in healthy human development. In the years after the shooting, he and a team of researchers interviewed men who were incarcerated in the Texas Huntsville Prison for homicide. When the researchers compared information about the inmates’ childhoods with a population outside the prison, they found that the comparison group could provide abundant examples of free play in childhood, while the group inside prison largely \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.playcore.com/news/rough-and-tumble-play-is-it-necessary-part-2\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">could not\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. “The parallelism between their play deficiencies, and the objective problems in forming trusting social bonds with others seems very significant,” concluded Brown in a 2018 article. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While such play deficiencies did not on their own cause the men to commit homicide, they significantly shaped their well-being and development, Brown said in an interview with The Hechinger Report this summer. “The adaptive tolerance and empathy toward others that is learned in early preschool through rough and tumble play is really a fundamental part of our having tolerance for people who are different than we are,” Brown said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now 89, Brown is the founder and past president of the National Institute for Play, and has spent much of his life studying play’s importance. While he cautions against drawing conclusions about outcomes for children who experience a lack of play, he said his findings in numerous studies since the Texas tragedy all underscore the fact that human beings – and, in fact, all mammals – have an innate need to engage in playful activities as a part of healthy development. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The presence or absence of play, particularly in child development, has a great deal to do with competency, resiliency, emotional health [and] brain size,” Brown said. Play is “not frivolous and not just for kids, but something that is an inherent part of human nature.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indeed, numerous researchers have found play is a natural and critical part of child development. This year, The Hechinger Report embarked on a reporting project to look at the often overlooked yet deeply consequential role of play in child development — and at the small but growing movement to bring play back into classrooms across the country. Our team of reporters found that although play is natural for children, opportunities to play in a school setting, and even outside of it, can be minimal and uneven and many obstacles stand in the way of increasing and improving play time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experts say adults, including parents and educators, need more support and encouragement to maximize the benefits of play, but face many obstacles in doing so. At the school level, it can be challenging to get a buy-in for more play time from stressed-out administrators and educators who are dealing with state testing pressures. Adults working in classrooms with younger children find that it takes planning and careful thought to design play environments and experiences that allow children to reap the benefits of play. And parents must be convinced that free time to play can be as important as organized activities and lessons. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the country emerges from a pandemic during which children spent more time \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2785686\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">in front of screens\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8393419/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">missing crucial play opportunities\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the stakes are high. Thoughtful efforts to reintegrate play into daily routines can be crucial for children’s emotional, social, and academic health and progress. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60258\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60258\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-Research-2-800x534.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children play at a Milwaukee child care center. Research shows when children play, there is also a release of chemicals in the brain that can support social skills and impact memory and attention. \u003ccite>(Camilla Forte/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play should not be seen as tangential to learning, experts say, but should be viewed instead as the natural way young children learn. “The parts of the brain that are most developed in the early years are the ones that respond to active experiences,” said Dee Ray, a professor of early childhood education and director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas College of Education. In contrast, the parts of the brain that allow children to learn by listening to a lecture or watching a video are developed later, she added. “The brain is structured to learn from experience first, and then learn through all the other means that we usually use [to teach],” she said. “Play is essential to education. Play is education for children.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When children play with dolls, for example, they can test out different scenarios for responding to a crying baby, including holding the doll or feeding the doll, Dee added. They create new neural networks and gain new understanding. This “pretend play” is a critical way children explore their environment and learn about the world, said Doris Bergen, a professor at Miami University of Ohio’s Department of Educational Psychology whose research has focused on child development and play. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Research shows that when mammals play, their \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nifplay.org/what-is-play/biological-drive-to-play/#evolved\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">brains are activated\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in a way that can \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">change neuron connections\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the prefrontal cortex, which impact emotional regulation and problem-solving. Play can also release \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.primalplay.com/blog/play-and-the-feel-good-hormones\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">chemicals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the brain, including oxytocin (which helps regulate emotions and supports social skills) and \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">dopamine\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (a neurotransmitter that impacts memory, motivation, attention and mood). Kids are “flooded, a lot of times in play, with positive emotions,” Dee said. Play is so powerful that it is often used as a form of therapy for children who deal with anxiety or trauma.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even as children move up through the early grades, research shows play can continue to have an impact. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://childrenatrisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-CHILDREN-AT-RISK-Texas-Recess-Report.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elementary principals\u003c/span>\u003c/a> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">have reported that recess, for example, has a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/is-recess-a-right-or-a-privilege/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">positive impact\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on academic performance and that students are more focused afterward. Play is considered to be integral to the academic environment for both social-emotional and academic development, according to the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/1/182/70699/The-Importance-of-Play-in-Promoting-Healthy-Child\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Academy of Pediatrics\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Researchers have largely relied on experiments with animals to hone in on play’s impact on the brain. A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2003\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> study of rats’ brains found that rats raised in a playful, stimulating environment had higher levels of a protein that grows and maintains brain cells than rats raised in a solitary, boring environment. Other studies have shown that play in young rats impacts the parts of the brain associated with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">social interactions and thinking\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Studies of children have also shown play’s benefits, including \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">improved language skills\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, problem solving skills and math skills. Certain types of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdev.12695\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have been found to improve perseverance. Play can even be used to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/twenty-six-studies-point-to-more-play-for-young-children/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">close achievement gaps\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> between young children, some experts argue.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">To truly benefit from play, children must be given ample, unstructured play time, said Bergen. That means they should receive at least an hour each day in a safe environment to “create their own enjoyment, their own rules, their own experiences,” she said. This child-led free play time can also help children internalize what they are taught about the world, she added. “Play is one of the main ways that children really consolidate their learning. The way we really make our skills permanent and enriched and highly developed, is often through our play experiences.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experts say such play time should not just happen outside of school or at recess, but should be a necessary part of teaching and learning. Supporting the most beneficial play activities, however, can take training and planning. Play should be looked at as a way to learn within schools, said Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Hirsh-Pasek sees play as a spectrum of activity, ranging from free play, where “adults should just get out of the way,” to direct instruction, where adults set the agenda.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60259\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60259\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-play-research-3-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children play a game at a forest school. Experts say unstructured play time is critical for healthy child development. \u003ccite>(Adria Malcolm for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s the middle of this spectrum, where children experience “guided play” with a learning goal in mind, that has perhaps the most potential for young children, she added. For instance, to teach engineering concepts, adults might tell children to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/psychology/pdf/klahr/PDFs/Guided%20Play%202016.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">build a sturdy skyscraper\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, then ask the children open-ended questions about their efforts. To foster the development of mathematical concepts and skills, adults might draw a number line on the ground, ask children to jump, and then compare their distances. Some research shows children can learn just as much – if not more -- through guided play experiences like these than when they are taught in less active ways. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An added benefit to increasing play-based learning in classrooms is that active and engaging learning experiences can lead to deeper, more permanent learning, Hirsh-Pasek said. “Where do you find these features: something being active, engaging, meaningful, iterative and joyful? They coalesce under this behavior we call play.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about the \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play/\">benefits of play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/earlychildhood/\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/a>.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"The benefits of play are immense across all ages, research shows.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1668432414,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":21,"wordCount":1646},"headData":{"title":"Want resilient and well-adjusted kids? Let them play - MindShift","description":"The benefits of play are immense across all ages, research shows.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"disqusIdentifier":"60251 https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/?p=60251","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2022/11/14/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play/","disqusTitle":"Want resilient and well-adjusted kids? Let them play","nprByline":"Jackie Mader, \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/a>","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","path":"/mindshift/60251/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1966, when psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown was assigned to a commission to investigate what led University of Texas student Charles Whitman to kill 12 people in one of the country’s first mass shootings, Brown and his colleagues considered many different aspects of Whitman’s background. The student had access to firearms at home; he had witnessed abuse while growing up; and he had a difficult relationship with his father.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Brown was struck by one other factor that came up in the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.playcore.com/news/rough-and-tumble-play-is-it-necessary-part-2\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">commission’s discussions\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Whitman had experienced play deprivation, or an “almost complete suppression of normal play behavior,” as the commission put it, while growing up. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That finding motivated Brown to ask more questions about play and its role in healthy human development. In the years after the shooting, he and a team of researchers interviewed men who were incarcerated in the Texas Huntsville Prison for homicide. When the researchers compared information about the inmates’ childhoods with a population outside the prison, they found that the comparison group could provide abundant examples of free play in childhood, while the group inside prison largely \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.playcore.com/news/rough-and-tumble-play-is-it-necessary-part-2\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">could not\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. “The parallelism between their play deficiencies, and the objective problems in forming trusting social bonds with others seems very significant,” concluded Brown in a 2018 article. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">While such play deficiencies did not on their own cause the men to commit homicide, they significantly shaped their well-being and development, Brown said in an interview with The Hechinger Report this summer. “The adaptive tolerance and empathy toward others that is learned in early preschool through rough and tumble play is really a fundamental part of our having tolerance for people who are different than we are,” Brown said. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now 89, Brown is the founder and past president of the National Institute for Play, and has spent much of his life studying play’s importance. While he cautions against drawing conclusions about outcomes for children who experience a lack of play, he said his findings in numerous studies since the Texas tragedy all underscore the fact that human beings – and, in fact, all mammals – have an innate need to engage in playful activities as a part of healthy development. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The presence or absence of play, particularly in child development, has a great deal to do with competency, resiliency, emotional health [and] brain size,” Brown said. Play is “not frivolous and not just for kids, but something that is an inherent part of human nature.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indeed, numerous researchers have found play is a natural and critical part of child development. This year, The Hechinger Report embarked on a reporting project to look at the often overlooked yet deeply consequential role of play in child development — and at the small but growing movement to bring play back into classrooms across the country. Our team of reporters found that although play is natural for children, opportunities to play in a school setting, and even outside of it, can be minimal and uneven and many obstacles stand in the way of increasing and improving play time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experts say adults, including parents and educators, need more support and encouragement to maximize the benefits of play, but face many obstacles in doing so. At the school level, it can be challenging to get a buy-in for more play time from stressed-out administrators and educators who are dealing with state testing pressures. Adults working in classrooms with younger children find that it takes planning and careful thought to design play environments and experiences that allow children to reap the benefits of play. And parents must be convinced that free time to play can be as important as organized activities and lessons. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the country emerges from a pandemic during which children spent more time \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2785686\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">in front of screens\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8393419/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">missing crucial play opportunities\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the stakes are high. Thoughtful efforts to reintegrate play into daily routines can be crucial for children’s emotional, social, and academic health and progress. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60258\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60258\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-Play-Research-2-800x534.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children play at a Milwaukee child care center. Research shows when children play, there is also a release of chemicals in the brain that can support social skills and impact memory and attention. \u003ccite>(Camilla Forte/The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Play should not be seen as tangential to learning, experts say, but should be viewed instead as the natural way young children learn. “The parts of the brain that are most developed in the early years are the ones that respond to active experiences,” said Dee Ray, a professor of early childhood education and director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas College of Education. In contrast, the parts of the brain that allow children to learn by listening to a lecture or watching a video are developed later, she added. “The brain is structured to learn from experience first, and then learn through all the other means that we usually use [to teach],” she said. “Play is essential to education. Play is education for children.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When children play with dolls, for example, they can test out different scenarios for responding to a crying baby, including holding the doll or feeding the doll, Dee added. They create new neural networks and gain new understanding. This “pretend play” is a critical way children explore their environment and learn about the world, said Doris Bergen, a professor at Miami University of Ohio’s Department of Educational Psychology whose research has focused on child development and play. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Research shows that when mammals play, their \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nifplay.org/what-is-play/biological-drive-to-play/#evolved\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">brains are activated\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in a way that can \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">change neuron connections\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the prefrontal cortex, which impact emotional regulation and problem-solving. Play can also release \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.primalplay.com/blog/play-and-the-feel-good-hormones\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">chemicals\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the brain, including oxytocin (which helps regulate emotions and supports social skills) and \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">dopamine\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (a neurotransmitter that impacts memory, motivation, attention and mood). Kids are “flooded, a lot of times in play, with positive emotions,” Dee said. Play is so powerful that it is often used as a form of therapy for children who deal with anxiety or trauma.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even as children move up through the early grades, research shows play can continue to have an impact. \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://childrenatrisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-CHILDREN-AT-RISK-Texas-Recess-Report.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elementary principals\u003c/span>\u003c/a> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">have reported that recess, for example, has a \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/is-recess-a-right-or-a-privilege/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">positive impact\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on academic performance and that students are more focused afterward. Play is considered to be integral to the academic environment for both social-emotional and academic development, according to the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/1/182/70699/The-Importance-of-Play-in-Promoting-Healthy-Child\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Academy of Pediatrics\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Researchers have largely relied on experiments with animals to hone in on play’s impact on the brain. A \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2003\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> study of rats’ brains found that rats raised in a playful, stimulating environment had higher levels of a protein that grows and maintains brain cells than rats raised in a solitary, boring environment. Other studies have shown that play in young rats impacts the parts of the brain associated with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">social interactions and thinking\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Studies of children have also shown play’s benefits, including \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://parentingscience.com/benefits-of-play/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">improved language skills\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, problem solving skills and math skills. Certain types of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdev.12695\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">imaginative play\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have been found to improve perseverance. Play can even be used to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/twenty-six-studies-point-to-more-play-for-young-children/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">close achievement gaps\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> between young children, some experts argue.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">To truly benefit from play, children must be given ample, unstructured play time, said Bergen. That means they should receive at least an hour each day in a safe environment to “create their own enjoyment, their own rules, their own experiences,” she said. This child-led free play time can also help children internalize what they are taught about the world, she added. “Play is one of the main ways that children really consolidate their learning. The way we really make our skills permanent and enriched and highly developed, is often through our play experiences.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experts say such play time should not just happen outside of school or at recess, but should be a necessary part of teaching and learning. Supporting the most beneficial play activities, however, can take training and planning. Play should be looked at as a way to learn within schools, said Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Hirsh-Pasek sees play as a spectrum of activity, ranging from free play, where “adults should just get out of the way,” to direct instruction, where adults set the agenda.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_60259\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-60259\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/23/2022/11/Mader-play-research-3-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children play a game at a forest school. Experts say unstructured play time is critical for healthy child development. \u003ccite>(Adria Malcolm for The Hechinger Report)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s the middle of this spectrum, where children experience “guided play” with a learning goal in mind, that has perhaps the most potential for young children, she added. For instance, to teach engineering concepts, adults might tell children to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/psychology/pdf/klahr/PDFs/Guided%20Play%202016.pdf\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">build a sturdy skyscraper\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, then ask the children open-ended questions about their efforts. To foster the development of mathematical concepts and skills, adults might draw a number line on the ground, ask children to jump, and then compare their distances. Some research shows children can learn just as much – if not more -- through guided play experiences like these than when they are taught in less active ways. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An added benefit to increasing play-based learning in classrooms is that active and engaging learning experiences can lead to deeper, more permanent learning, Hirsh-Pasek said. “Where do you find these features: something being active, engaging, meaningful, iterative and joyful? They coalesce under this behavior we call play.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This story about the \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play/\">benefits of play\u003c/a> was produced by \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://hechingerreport.org/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Hechinger Report\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation. Sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://hechingerreport.org/earlychildhood/\">Hechinger Report newsletters\u003c/a>.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/60251/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play","authors":["byline_mindshift_60251"],"categories":["mindshift_192","mindshift_21345"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_21078","mindshift_20720","mindshift_21214","mindshift_21184","mindshift_46","mindshift_498"],"featImg":"mindshift_60260","label":"mindshift"},"mindshift_58968":{"type":"posts","id":"mindshift_58968","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"mindshift","id":"58968","score":null,"sort":[1642752055000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"salivas-special-bond-babies-know-swapping-it-signals-love","title":"Saliva’s special bond: Babies know swapping it signals love","publishDate":1642752055,"format":"standard","headTitle":"MindShift | KQED News","labelTerm":{"site":"mindshift"},"content":"\u003cp>Even before they can talk, young babies know that two people must have a close relationship if they're willing to do to anything that involves swapping saliva.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kissing on the mouth, sharing a spoon, taking licks off of someone's ice-cream cone — all of these activities generally only happen when people have an especially intimate relationship, and this fact appears to be obvious to infants who are only 8 to 10 months old, according to a new \u003ca href=\"http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh1054\">study\u003c/a> in the journal \u003cem>Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"From a really young age, without much experience at all with these things, infants are able to understand not only who is connected but how they are connected,\" says \u003ca href=\"http://saxelab.mit.edu/people/ashley-thomas\">Ashley Thomas\u003c/a> of MIT, who studies what babies and young children understand about the complexities of their social world. \"They are able to distinguish between different kinds of cooperative relationships.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Who do babies look to first?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Thomas and her colleagues reached that conclusion after showing videos of carefully crafted puppet shows to babies and toddlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of their videos shows a woman rolling a ball back and forth with a blue fuzzy puppet. Then another woman shares an orange with that same puppet by putting a slice of orange in her mouth, then letting the puppet nibble on the slice, and then putting it back in her own mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Both of these interactions are perfectly friendly and pro-social,\" says Thomas, but taking bites off the same food suggests a more intimate relationship than simply playing ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To test whether infants made this distinction, the video then shows the two women with the blue fuzzy puppet in between them. The puppet starts to cry and puts its head down, as if it is suddenly unhappy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the puppet cried, infants and toddlers looked first and looked longer at the woman who had shared bites of her orange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"They're looking in that direction because they expect something to happen there,\" says Thomas. \"They expect that woman to be the one to respond to the puppet's distress.\u003cstrong>\"\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the two women were shown with a totally new puppet that started to cry, however, infants and young children looked at both women equally often. This suggested that they didn't see this particular food-sharing woman as especially helpful; instead, her relationship with the puppet was what really mattered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make sure it wasn't just sharing of food that seemed to make babies infer the existence of a close social connection, the researchers created another, similar video. This time, instead of sharing an orange slice, a woman simply put her finger in her own mouth and then put it in a purple puppet's mouth, before putting it back in her own mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then that same woman also interacted with a green puppet, touching its forehead and then touching her own forehead. After that, the video showed the woman seemingly in distress, with the purple and green puppets looking on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Infants and toddlers gazed at the purple puppet that had the more intimate, finger-in-the-mouth interaction, as if expecting this puppet to be more affected by the woman's consternation, presumably because they seemed to have a closer relationship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers also studied older children, aged 5 to 7, and told them about another child who was sharing stuff. Some of the sharing involved contact with saliva, although the scientists never explicitly referred to spit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We just said, like, 'This kid is eating applesauce with a spoon and he shares his applesauce with one of these two people using his spoon. Who do you think he shared with?' And the choices were always between a family member and a friend,\" explains Thomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For items that could be easily divvied up, like separate pieces of candy or toys, kids thought a person was just as likely to share with a friend as a family member.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"But when it comes to saliva-sharing items, like sharing an ice cream cone or using the same spoon, then kids think that the kid is more likely to share with family,\" says Thomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Saliva as social glue\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Other researchers find these results intriguing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"These findings not only illuminate what young children understand about the social structures around them but also spark further questions regarding how children come to acquire these expectations and how universal they might be,\" writes \u003ca href=\"https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N11-1148\">Christine Fawcett\u003c/a> of Uppsala University in Sweden, in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn5157\">commentary\u003c/a> that was published along with this new study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She notes that the idea of exchanging saliva with a stranger can create feelings of disgust, perhaps as a way to protect people from contamination or disease, but that people will happily do this with those close to them, even pet dogs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There could be an evolutionary pressure to suppress disgust with bodily substances to aid in taking care of babies, and infants' experience of this kind of caretaking could then lead to a learned expectation that such behavior is associated with closeness, Fawcett points out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"https://anthro.ucla.edu/person/alan-page-fiske/\">Alan Fiske\u003c/a>, an anthropologist at UCLA, believes that babies have an innate understanding of certain kinds of social relationships. He's \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1991-97016-000\">written\u003c/a> that humans are born primed to recognize four fundamental forms of relationships, and he calls this study \"enormously important.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In relationships characterized by \"communal sharing,\" he says, sharing saliva \"is a way of connecting bodies, or making bodies the same in some respect. And that's the crucial thing. When people feel that some how they are essentially the same, almost in an embodied way, then they feel socially the same.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Spit sharing is one instance of, or one type of, connecting bodies physically through bodily substances,\" says Fiske. But there are other ways — such as having sex, breastfeeding, or even mingling blood to become \"blood brothers.\" The ritual of communion in Christianity, he notes, involves ingesting the body and blood of Jesus Christ as a way for that religion to express and reinforce a communal sharing relationship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of close relationship can be created between people in other ways that don't involve body fluids, however, such as grooming, snuggling and hugging, or synchronous rhythmic movement such as dancing or marching, says Fiske.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this view, babies seem to just know all this innately. He believes that future studies will show that babies not only observe these activities to understand the social links of those around them, but also actively initiate these behaviors themselves in order to forge relationships with others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"They know how to hug and snuggle, and they know how to feed you, and they like to do those things,\" says Fiske. \"And they don't feed just anybody, they feed the people that they love. They don't cuddle with just anybody, they cuddle with the people that they love.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Even+babies+and+toddlers+know+that+swapping+saliva+is+a+sure+sign+of+love&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"For infants, toddlers, and children, one sign of an especially close relationship is if two people do something that involves exchanging saliva, like taking bites from the same piece of food.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1642752055,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":29,"wordCount":1147},"headData":{"title":"Saliva’s special bond: Babies know swapping it signals love - MindShift","description":"Babies and toddlers know that activities involving swapping saliva – such as sharing food or kisses – generally only happen when people have an especially intimate relationship.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":""},"disqusIdentifier":"58968 https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/?p=58968","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2022/01/21/salivas-special-bond-babies-know-swapping-it-signals-love/","disqusTitle":"Saliva’s special bond: Babies know swapping it signals love","nprImageCredit":"freemixer","nprByline":"Nell Greenfieldboyce","nprImageAgency":"Getty Images","nprStoryId":"1074256096","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=1074256096&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"https://www.npr.org/2022/01/20/1074256096/even-babies-and-toddlers-know-that-swapping-saliva-is-a-sure-sign-of-love?ft=nprml&f=1074256096","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:04:00 -0500","nprStoryDate":"Thu, 20 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0500","nprLastModifiedDate":"Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:03:03 -0500","nprAudio":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2022/01/20220120_atc_even_babies_and_toddlers_know_that_swapping_saliva_is_a_sure_sign_of_love.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1007&d=226&p=2&story=1074256096&ft=nprml&f=1074256096","nprAudioM3u":"http://api.npr.org/m3u/11074500493-d05269.m3u?orgId=1&topicId=1007&d=226&p=2&story=1074256096&ft=nprml&f=1074256096","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","path":"/mindshift/58968/salivas-special-bond-babies-know-swapping-it-signals-love","audioUrl":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2022/01/20220120_atc_even_babies_and_toddlers_know_that_swapping_saliva_is_a_sure_sign_of_love.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1007&d=226&p=2&story=1074256096&ft=nprml&f=1074256096","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Even before they can talk, young babies know that two people must have a close relationship if they're willing to do to anything that involves swapping saliva.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kissing on the mouth, sharing a spoon, taking licks off of someone's ice-cream cone — all of these activities generally only happen when people have an especially intimate relationship, and this fact appears to be obvious to infants who are only 8 to 10 months old, according to a new \u003ca href=\"http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh1054\">study\u003c/a> in the journal \u003cem>Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"From a really young age, without much experience at all with these things, infants are able to understand not only who is connected but how they are connected,\" says \u003ca href=\"http://saxelab.mit.edu/people/ashley-thomas\">Ashley Thomas\u003c/a> of MIT, who studies what babies and young children understand about the complexities of their social world. \"They are able to distinguish between different kinds of cooperative relationships.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Who do babies look to first?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Thomas and her colleagues reached that conclusion after showing videos of carefully crafted puppet shows to babies and toddlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of their videos shows a woman rolling a ball back and forth with a blue fuzzy puppet. Then another woman shares an orange with that same puppet by putting a slice of orange in her mouth, then letting the puppet nibble on the slice, and then putting it back in her own mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Both of these interactions are perfectly friendly and pro-social,\" says Thomas, but taking bites off the same food suggests a more intimate relationship than simply playing ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To test whether infants made this distinction, the video then shows the two women with the blue fuzzy puppet in between them. The puppet starts to cry and puts its head down, as if it is suddenly unhappy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the puppet cried, infants and toddlers looked first and looked longer at the woman who had shared bites of her orange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"They're looking in that direction because they expect something to happen there,\" says Thomas. \"They expect that woman to be the one to respond to the puppet's distress.\u003cstrong>\"\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the two women were shown with a totally new puppet that started to cry, however, infants and young children looked at both women equally often. This suggested that they didn't see this particular food-sharing woman as especially helpful; instead, her relationship with the puppet was what really mattered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make sure it wasn't just sharing of food that seemed to make babies infer the existence of a close social connection, the researchers created another, similar video. This time, instead of sharing an orange slice, a woman simply put her finger in her own mouth and then put it in a purple puppet's mouth, before putting it back in her own mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then that same woman also interacted with a green puppet, touching its forehead and then touching her own forehead. After that, the video showed the woman seemingly in distress, with the purple and green puppets looking on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Infants and toddlers gazed at the purple puppet that had the more intimate, finger-in-the-mouth interaction, as if expecting this puppet to be more affected by the woman's consternation, presumably because they seemed to have a closer relationship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers also studied older children, aged 5 to 7, and told them about another child who was sharing stuff. Some of the sharing involved contact with saliva, although the scientists never explicitly referred to spit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We just said, like, 'This kid is eating applesauce with a spoon and he shares his applesauce with one of these two people using his spoon. Who do you think he shared with?' And the choices were always between a family member and a friend,\" explains Thomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For items that could be easily divvied up, like separate pieces of candy or toys, kids thought a person was just as likely to share with a friend as a family member.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"But when it comes to saliva-sharing items, like sharing an ice cream cone or using the same spoon, then kids think that the kid is more likely to share with family,\" says Thomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Saliva as social glue\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Other researchers find these results intriguing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"These findings not only illuminate what young children understand about the social structures around them but also spark further questions regarding how children come to acquire these expectations and how universal they might be,\" writes \u003ca href=\"https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N11-1148\">Christine Fawcett\u003c/a> of Uppsala University in Sweden, in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn5157\">commentary\u003c/a> that was published along with this new study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She notes that the idea of exchanging saliva with a stranger can create feelings of disgust, perhaps as a way to protect people from contamination or disease, but that people will happily do this with those close to them, even pet dogs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There could be an evolutionary pressure to suppress disgust with bodily substances to aid in taking care of babies, and infants' experience of this kind of caretaking could then lead to a learned expectation that such behavior is associated with closeness, Fawcett points out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"https://anthro.ucla.edu/person/alan-page-fiske/\">Alan Fiske\u003c/a>, an anthropologist at UCLA, believes that babies have an innate understanding of certain kinds of social relationships. He's \u003ca href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1991-97016-000\">written\u003c/a> that humans are born primed to recognize four fundamental forms of relationships, and he calls this study \"enormously important.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In relationships characterized by \"communal sharing,\" he says, sharing saliva \"is a way of connecting bodies, or making bodies the same in some respect. And that's the crucial thing. When people feel that some how they are essentially the same, almost in an embodied way, then they feel socially the same.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Spit sharing is one instance of, or one type of, connecting bodies physically through bodily substances,\" says Fiske. But there are other ways — such as having sex, breastfeeding, or even mingling blood to become \"blood brothers.\" The ritual of communion in Christianity, he notes, involves ingesting the body and blood of Jesus Christ as a way for that religion to express and reinforce a communal sharing relationship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of close relationship can be created between people in other ways that don't involve body fluids, however, such as grooming, snuggling and hugging, or synchronous rhythmic movement such as dancing or marching, says Fiske.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this view, babies seem to just know all this innately. He believes that future studies will show that babies not only observe these activities to understand the social links of those around them, but also actively initiate these behaviors themselves in order to forge relationships with others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"They know how to hug and snuggle, and they know how to feed you, and they like to do those things,\" says Fiske. \"And they don't feed just anybody, they feed the people that they love. They don't cuddle with just anybody, they cuddle with the people that they love.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Even+babies+and+toddlers+know+that+swapping+saliva+is+a+sure+sign+of+love&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/mindshift/58968/salivas-special-bond-babies-know-swapping-it-signals-love","authors":["byline_mindshift_58968"],"categories":["mindshift_21385"],"tags":["mindshift_767","mindshift_20720","mindshift_21414","mindshift_21134"],"featImg":"mindshift_58969","label":"mindshift"}},"programsReducer":{"possible":{"id":"possible","title":"Possible","info":"Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.","airtime":"SUN 2pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.possible.fm/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Possible"},"link":"/radio/program/possible","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"}},"1a":{"id":"1a","title":"1A","info":"1A is home to the national conversation. 1A brings on great guests and frames the best debate in ways that make you think, share and engage.","airtime":"MON-THU 11pm-12am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/1a.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://the1a.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/1a","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=1188724250&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/1A-p947376/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510316/podcast.xml"}},"all-things-considered":{"id":"all-things-considered","title":"All Things Considered","info":"Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/all-things-considered"},"american-suburb-podcast":{"id":"american-suburb-podcast","title":"American Suburb: The Podcast","tagline":"The flip side of gentrification, told through one town","info":"Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"13"},"link":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"}},"baycurious":{"id":"baycurious","title":"Bay Curious","tagline":"Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time","info":"KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED Bay Curious","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/baycurious","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"4"},"link":"/podcasts/baycurious","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS9iYXktY3VyaW91cy1wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdA","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"}},"bbc-world-service":{"id":"bbc-world-service","title":"BBC World Service","info":"The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service","meta":{"site":"news","source":"BBC World Service"},"link":"/radio/program/bbc-world-service","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/","rss":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"}},"code-switch-life-kit":{"id":"code-switch-life-kit","title":"Code Switch / Life Kit","info":"\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />","airtime":"SUN 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"}},"commonwealth-club":{"id":"commonwealth-club","title":"Commonwealth Club of California Podcast","info":"The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.","airtime":"THU 10pm, FRI 1am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Commonwealth Club of California"},"link":"/radio/program/commonwealth-club","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"}},"considerthis":{"id":"considerthis","title":"Consider This","tagline":"Make sense of the day","info":"Make sense of the day. Every weekday afternoon, Consider This helps you consider the major stories of the day in less than 15 minutes, featuring the reporting and storytelling resources of NPR. Plus, KQED’s Bianca Taylor brings you the local KQED news you need to know.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Consider-This-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"Consider This from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/considerthis","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"7"},"link":"/podcasts/considerthis","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1503226625?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/coronavirusdaily","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM1NS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z6JdCS2d0eFEpXHKI6WqH"}},"forum":{"id":"forum","title":"Forum","tagline":"The conversation starts here","info":"KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal","officialWebsiteLink":"/forum","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"8"},"link":"/forum","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"}},"freakonomics-radio":{"id":"freakonomics-radio","title":"Freakonomics Radio","info":"Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png","officialWebsiteLink":"http://freakonomics.com/","airtime":"SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/freakonomics-radio","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"}},"fresh-air":{"id":"fresh-air","title":"Fresh Air","info":"Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.","airtime":"MON-FRI 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/fresh-air","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"}},"here-and-now":{"id":"here-and-now","title":"Here & Now","info":"A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.","airtime":"MON-THU 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/here-and-now","subsdcribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"}},"how-i-built-this":{"id":"how-i-built-this","title":"How I Built This with Guy Raz","info":"Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this","airtime":"SUN 7:30pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/how-i-built-this","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"}},"inside-europe":{"id":"inside-europe","title":"Inside Europe","info":"Inside Europe, a one-hour weekly news magazine hosted by Helen Seeney and Keith Walker, explores the topical issues shaping the continent. No other part of the globe has experienced such dynamic political and social change in recent years.","airtime":"SAT 3am-4am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Inside-Europe-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Deutsche Welle"},"link":"/radio/program/inside-europe","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-europe/id80106806?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Inside-Europe-p731/","rss":"https://partner.dw.com/xml/podcast_inside-europe"}},"latino-usa":{"id":"latino-usa","title":"Latino USA","airtime":"MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm","info":"Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://latinousa.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/latino-usa","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"}},"live-from-here-highlights":{"id":"live-from-here-highlights","title":"Live from Here Highlights","info":"Chris Thile steps to the mic as the host of Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion), a live public radio variety show. Download Chris’s Song of the Week plus other highlights from the broadcast. Produced by American Public Media.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-8pm, SUN 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Live-From-Here-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.livefromhere.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"american public media"},"link":"/radio/program/live-from-here-highlights","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1167173941","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Live-from-Here-Highlights-p921744/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/a-prairie-home-companion-highlights/rss/rss"}},"marketplace":{"id":"marketplace","title":"Marketplace","info":"Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.","airtime":"MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.marketplace.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"American Public Media"},"link":"/radio/program/marketplace","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"}},"mindshift":{"id":"mindshift","title":"MindShift","tagline":"A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids","info":"The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn","officialWebsiteLink":"/mindshift/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"2"},"link":"/podcasts/mindshift","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"}},"morning-edition":{"id":"morning-edition","title":"Morning Edition","info":"\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3am-9am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/morning-edition"},"onourwatch":{"id":"onourwatch","title":"On Our Watch","tagline":"Police secrets, unsealed","info":"For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"On Our Watch from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/onourwatch","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"1"},"link":"/podcasts/onourwatch","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"}},"on-the-media":{"id":"on-the-media","title":"On The Media","info":"Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us","airtime":"SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wnyc"},"link":"/radio/program/on-the-media","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"}},"our-body-politic":{"id":"our-body-politic","title":"Our Body Politic","info":"Presented by KQED, KCRW and KPCC, and created and hosted by award-winning journalist Farai Chideya, Our Body Politic is unapologetically centered on reporting on not just how women of color experience the major political events of today, but how they’re impacting those very issues.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-7pm, SUN 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Our-Body-Politic-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://our-body-politic.simplecast.com/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kcrw"},"link":"/radio/program/our-body-politic","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-body-politic/id1533069868","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9feGFQaHMxcw","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4ApAiLT1kV153TttWAmqmc","rss":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/_xaPhs1s","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Our-Body-Politic-p1369211/"}},"pbs-newshour":{"id":"pbs-newshour","title":"PBS NewsHour","info":"Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/pbs-newshour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/","rss":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"}},"perspectives":{"id":"perspectives","title":"Perspectives","tagline":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991","info":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Perspectives-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/perspectives/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"15"},"link":"/perspectives","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"}},"planet-money":{"id":"planet-money","title":"Planet Money","info":"The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/sections/money/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/planet-money","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"}},"politicalbreakdown":{"id":"politicalbreakdown","title":"Political Breakdown","tagline":"Politics from a personal perspective","info":"Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.","airtime":"THU 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Political Breakdown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"11"},"link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5Nzk2MzI2MTEx","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"}},"pri-the-world":{"id":"pri-the-world","title":"PRI's The World: Latest Edition","info":"Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.","airtime":"MON-FRI 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world","meta":{"site":"news","source":"PRI"},"link":"/radio/program/pri-the-world","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/","rss":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"}},"radiolab":{"id":"radiolab","title":"Radiolab","info":"A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.","airtime":"SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/radiolab","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/","rss":"https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"}},"reveal":{"id":"reveal","title":"Reveal","info":"Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.","airtime":"SAT 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/reveal","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/","rss":"http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"}},"says-you":{"id":"says-you","title":"Says You!","info":"Public radio's game show of bluff and bluster, words and whimsy. The warmest, wittiest cocktail party - it's spirited and civil, brainy and boisterous, peppered with musical interludes. Fast paced and playful, it's the most fun you can have with language without getting your mouth washed out with soap. Our motto: It's not important to know the answers, it's important to like the answers!","airtime":"SUN 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Says-You-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.saysyouradio.com/","meta":{"site":"comedy","source":"Pipit and Finch"},"link":"/radio/program/says-you","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/says-you!/id1050199826","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Says-You-p480/","rss":"https://saysyou.libsyn.com/rss"}},"science-friday":{"id":"science-friday","title":"Science Friday","info":"Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.","airtime":"FRI 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/science-friday","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"}},"science-podcast":{"id":"science-podcast","title":"KQED Science News","tagline":"From the lab, to your ears","info":"KQED Science explores science and environment news, trends, and events from the Bay Area and beyond.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-News-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"kqed","order":"17"},"link":"/science/category/science-podcast","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqed-science-news/id214663465","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2Jsb2dzLmtxZWQub3JnL3NjaWVuY2UvZmVlZC8","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed-science-news","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/feed/podcast"}},"selected-shorts":{"id":"selected-shorts","title":"Selected Shorts","info":"Spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers take on a new life when they are performed by stars of the stage and screen.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Selected-Shorts-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/selected-shorts","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"pri"},"link":"/radio/program/selected-shorts","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=253191824&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Selected-Shorts-p31792/","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/selectedshorts"}},"snap-judgment":{"id":"snap-judgment","title":"Snap Judgment","info":"Snap Judgment (Storytelling, with a BEAT) mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. WNYC studios is the producer of leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, Note To Self, Here’s The Thing With Alec Baldwin, and more.","airtime":"SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/snapJudgement.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://snapjudgment.org","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/snap-judgment","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=283657561&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Snap-Judgment-p243817/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/snapjudgment-wnyc"}},"soldout":{"id":"soldout","title":"SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America","tagline":"A new future for housing","info":"Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/soldout","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":3},"link":"/podcasts/soldout","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america","tunein":"https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vc29sZG91dA"}},"ted-radio-hour":{"id":"ted-radio-hour","title":"TED Radio Hour","info":"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/ted-radio-hour","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"}},"tech-nation":{"id":"tech-nation","title":"Tech Nation Radio Podcast","info":"Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.","airtime":"FRI 10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://technation.podomatic.com/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"Tech Nation Media"},"link":"/radio/program/tech-nation","subscribe":{"rss":"https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"}},"thebay":{"id":"thebay","title":"The Bay","tagline":"Local news to keep you rooted","info":"Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED The Bay","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/thebay","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"6"},"link":"/podcasts/thebay","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM4MjU5Nzg2MzI3","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"}},"californiareport":{"id":"californiareport","title":"The California Report","tagline":"California, day by day","info":"KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The California Report","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareport","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"9"},"link":"/californiareport","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1MDAyODE4NTgz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"}},"californiareportmagazine":{"id":"californiareportmagazine","title":"The California Report Magazine","tagline":"Your state, your stories","info":"Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.","airtime":"FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareportmagazine","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"10"},"link":"/californiareportmagazine","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"}},"theleap":{"id":"theleap","title":"The Leap","tagline":"What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?","info":"Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Leap","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/theleap","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"14"},"link":"/podcasts/theleap","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM0NTcwODQ2MjY2","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"}},"masters-of-scale":{"id":"masters-of-scale","title":"Masters of Scale","info":"Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.","airtime":"Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://mastersofscale.com/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WaitWhat"},"link":"/radio/program/masters-of-scale","subscribe":{"apple":"http://mastersofscale.app.link/","rss":"https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"}},"the-moth-radio-hour":{"id":"the-moth-radio-hour","title":"The Moth Radio Hour","info":"Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://themoth.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"prx"},"link":"/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/","rss":"http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"}},"the-new-yorker-radio-hour":{"id":"the-new-yorker-radio-hour","title":"The New Yorker Radio Hour","info":"The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.","airtime":"SAT 10am-11am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"}},"the-takeaway":{"id":"the-takeaway","title":"The Takeaway","info":"The Takeaway is produced in partnership with its national audience. It delivers perspective and analysis to help us better understand the day’s news. Be a part of the American conversation on-air and online.","airtime":"MON-THU 12pm-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Takeaway-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/takeaway","meta":{"site":"news","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-takeaway","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-takeaway/id363143310?mt=2","tuneIn":"http://tunein.com/radio/The-Takeaway-p150731/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/takeawaypodcast"}},"this-american-life":{"id":"this-american-life","title":"This American Life","info":"This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.","airtime":"SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wbez"},"link":"/radio/program/this-american-life","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","rss":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"}},"truthbetold":{"id":"truthbetold","title":"Truth Be Told","tagline":"Advice by and for people of color","info":"We’re the friend you call after a long day, the one who gets it. Through wisdom from some of the greatest thinkers of our time, host Tonya Mosley explores what it means to grow and thrive as a Black person in America, while discovering new ways of being that serve as a portal to more love, more healing, and more joy.","airtime":"","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Truth-Be-Told-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Truth Be Told with Tonya Mosley","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.kqed.ord/podcasts/truthbetold","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr","order":"12"},"link":"/podcasts/truthbetold","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-be-told/id1462216572","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS90cnV0aC1iZS10b2xkLXBvZGNhc3QvZmVlZA","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/719210818/truth-be-told","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=398170&refid=stpr","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/587DhwTBxke6uvfwDfaV5N"}},"wait-wait-dont-tell-me":{"id":"wait-wait-dont-tell-me","title":"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!","info":"Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.","airtime":"SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"}},"washington-week":{"id":"washington-week","title":"Washington Week","info":"For 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.","airtime":"SAT 1:30am-2am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/washington-week.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/washington-week","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/washington-week-audio-pbs/id83324702?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Current-Affairs/Washington-Week-p693/","rss":"http://feeds.pbs.org/pbs/weta/washingtonweek-audio"}},"weekend-edition-saturday":{"id":"weekend-edition-saturday","title":"Weekend Edition Saturday","info":"Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.","airtime":"SAT 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"},"weekend-edition-sunday":{"id":"weekend-edition-sunday","title":"Weekend Edition Sunday","info":"Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.","airtime":"SUN 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"},"world-affairs":{"id":"world-affairs","title":"World Affairs","info":"The world as we knew it is undergoing a rapid transformation…so what's next? Welcome to WorldAffairs, your guide to a changing world. We give you the context you need to navigate across borders and ideologies. Through sound-rich stories and in-depth interviews, we break down what it means to be a global citizen on a hot, crowded planet. Our hosts, Ray Suarez, Teresa Cotsirilos and Philip Yun help you make sense of an uncertain world, one story at a time.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Affairs-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg ","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.worldaffairs.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"World Affairs"},"link":"/radio/program/world-affairs","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/world-affairs/id101215657?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/WorldAffairs-p1665/","rss":"https://worldaffairs.libsyn.com/rss"}},"on-shifting-ground":{"id":"on-shifting-ground","title":"On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez","info":"Geopolitical turmoil. A warming planet. Authoritarians on the rise. We live in a chaotic world that’s rapidly shifting around us. “On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez” explores international fault lines and how they impact us all. Each week, NPR veteran Ray Suarez hosts conversations with journalists, leaders and policy experts to help us read between the headlines – and give us hope for human resilience.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2022/12/onshiftingground-600x600-1.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://worldaffairs.org/radio-podcast/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"On Shifting Ground"},"link":"/radio/program/on-shifting-ground","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/on-shifting-ground/id101215657","rss":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/36668/rss"}},"hidden-brain":{"id":"hidden-brain","title":"Hidden Brain","info":"Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain","airtime":"SUN 7pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"NPR"},"link":"/radio/program/hidden-brain","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"}},"city-arts":{"id":"city-arts","title":"City Arts & Lectures","info":"A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.cityarts.net/","airtime":"SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am","meta":{"site":"news","source":"City Arts & Lectures"},"link":"https://www.cityarts.net","subscribe":{"tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/","rss":"https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"}},"white-lies":{"id":"white-lies","title":"White Lies","info":"In 1965, Rev. James Reeb was murdered in Selma, Alabama. Three men were tried and acquitted, but no one was ever held to account. Fifty years later, two journalists from Alabama return to the city where it happened, expose the lies that kept the murder from being solved and uncover a story about guilt and memory that says as much about America today as it does about the past.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/White-Lies-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510343/white-lies","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/white-lies","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/whitelies","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1462650519?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM0My9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/12yZ2j8vxqhc0QZyRES3ft?si=LfWYEK6URA63hueKVxRLAw","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510343/podcast.xml"}},"rightnowish":{"id":"rightnowish","title":"Rightnowish","tagline":"Art is where you find it","info":"Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/rightnowish","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"kqed","order":"5"},"link":"/podcasts/rightnowish","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"}},"jerrybrown":{"id":"jerrybrown","title":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","tagline":"Lessons from a lifetime in politics","info":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"16"},"link":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/","tuneIn":"http://tun.in/pjGcK","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9zZXJpZXMvamVycnlicm93bi9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv"}},"the-splendid-table":{"id":"the-splendid-table","title":"The Splendid Table","info":"\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.splendidtable.org/","airtime":"SUN 10-11 pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/the-splendid-table"}},"racesReducer":{"5921":{"id":"5921","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":158422,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.97,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Doris Matsui","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":89456,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tom Silva","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":48920,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Mandel","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":20046,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:00:38.194Z"},"5922":{"id":"5922","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rudy Recile","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Garamendi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5924":{"id":"5924","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":185034,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.07,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark DeSaulnier","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":121265,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katherine Piccinini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34883,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nolan Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":19459,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Sweeney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":7606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mohamed Elsherbini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1821,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:02:32.415Z"},"5926":{"id":"5926","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":153801,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lateefah Simon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":85905,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Tran","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22964,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Daysog","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17197,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Slauson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9699,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Glenn Kaplan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6785,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4243,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Abdur Sikder","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2847,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ned Nuerge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2532,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Andre Todd","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:22:36.062Z"},"5928":{"id":"5928","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":125831,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.14,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Eric Swalwell","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":83989,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Vin Kruttiventi","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":22106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alison Hayden","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11928,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luis Reynoso","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7808,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:51:36.366Z"},"5930":{"id":"5930","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":182135,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","timeUpdated":"3:04 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sam Liccardo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":38489,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Evan Low","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Simitian","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Ohtaki","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23275,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Dixon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14673,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rishi Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12377,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karl Ryan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11557,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Julie Lythcott-Haims","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11383,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ahmed Mostafa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5811,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Greg Tanaka","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joby Bernstein","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1651,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:32:05.002Z"},"5931":{"id":"5931","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":117534,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.92,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ro Khanna","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73941,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anita Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31539,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ritesh Tandon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5728,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mario Ramirez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4491,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Dehn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":1835,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T01:50:53.956Z"},"5932":{"id":"5932","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":96302,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.93,"eevp":98.83,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Zoe Lofgren","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":49323,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Peter Hernandez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31622,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Charlene Nijmeh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":10614,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Lawrence Milan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2712,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luele Kifle","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2031,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:26:02.706Z"},"5963":{"id":"5963","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":139085,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.62,"eevp":98.6,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Greer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38079,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Rogers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":27126,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rusty Hicks","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25615,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ariel Kelley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Frankie Myers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17694,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ted Williams","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9550,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Click","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1538,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-22T21:38:36.711Z"},"5972":{"id":"5972","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":99775,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lori Wilson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":50085,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dave Ennis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":26074,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Wanda Wallis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14638,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeffrey Flack","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8978,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T02:01:24.524Z"},"5973":{"id":"5973","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":143532,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Damon Connolly","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":111275,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andy Podshadley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17240,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Eryn Cervantes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15017,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:25:32.262Z"},"5975":{"id":"5975","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":106997,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.06,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Buffy Wicks","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":78678,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Margot Smith","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18251,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Utkarsh Jain","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":10068,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:30:34.539Z"},"5976":{"id":"5976","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":97144,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.98,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sonia Ledo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":30946,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anamarie Farias","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":29512,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Monica Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":24775,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karen Mitchoff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11911,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T00:19:38.858Z"},"5977":{"id":"5977","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joseph Rubay","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rebecca Bauer-Kahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5978":{"id":"5978","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":111003,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Haney","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":90915,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Manuel Noris-Barrera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13843,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Otto Duke","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6245,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:36:19.697Z"},"5979":{"id":"5979","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":86008,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.1,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mia Bonta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andre Sandford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":4575,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mindy Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4389,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cheyenne Kenney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T08:03:23.729Z"},"5980":{"id":"5980","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":113959,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.8,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Catherine Stefani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":64960,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":33035,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nadia Flamenco","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":8335,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Arjun Sodhani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-11T23:50:23.109Z"},"5981":{"id":"5981","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 20","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Ortega","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5982":{"id":"5982","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 21","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Gilham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Diane Papan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5984":{"id":"5984","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 23","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":116963,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Marc Berman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":67106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lydia Kou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":23699,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Gus Mattammal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13277,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Allan Marson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12881,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:13:06.280Z"},"5987":{"id":"5987","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 26","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":72753,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Patrick Ahrens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25036,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tara Sreekrishnan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19600,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sophie Song","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15954,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Omar Din","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8772,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bob Goodwyn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":2170,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ashish Garg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1221,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T21:06:29.070Z"},"5989":{"id":"5989","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 28","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Gail Pellerin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Liz Lawler","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6010":{"id":"6010","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 49","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Fong","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Long Liu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6018":{"id":"6018","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":229348,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.05,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jared Huffman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":169005,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Coulombe","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":37372,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tief Gibbs","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18437,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jolian Kangas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":3166,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Brisendine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1368,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:46:10.103Z"},"6020":{"id":"6020","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":187640,"precinctsReportPercentage":96.32,"eevp":96.36,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":118147,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Munn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":56232,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andrew Engdahl","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11202,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Niket Patwardhan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":2059,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:30:57.980Z"},"6025":{"id":"6025","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":121271,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.17,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Harder","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":60396,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Lincoln","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":36346,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John McBride","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15525,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Khalid Jafri","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:49:44.113Z"},"6031":{"id":"6031","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Anna Kramer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Mullin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6035":{"id":"6035","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":203670,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.11,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jimmy Panetta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":132540,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jason Anderson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":58120,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sean Dougherty","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Grn","voteCount":13010,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:23:46.779Z"},"6066":{"id":"6066","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jamie Gallagher","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Aaron Draper","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6067":{"id":"6067","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Cecilia Aguiar-Curry","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6087":{"id":"6087","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 24","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":66643,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alex Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45544,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Brunton","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14951,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marti Souza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6148,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T23:23:49.770Z"},"6088":{"id":"6088","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 25","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":69560,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.31,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ash Kalra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":35821,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ted Stroll","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18255,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lan Ngo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":15484,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T02:40:57.200Z"},"6092":{"id":"6092","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 29","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Robert Rivas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"J.W. Paine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6223":{"id":"6223","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 46","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:16 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lou Correa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Pan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6530":{"id":"6530","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":222193,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Thom Bogue","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":61776,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christopher Cabaldon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":59041,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rozzana Verder-Aliga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45546,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jackie Elward","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41127,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jimih Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14703,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:24:31.539Z"},"6531":{"id":"6531","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":171623,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jim Shoemaker","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":74935,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jerry McNerney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":57040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Carlos Villapudua","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":39648,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T20:07:46.382Z"},"6532":{"id":"6532","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":192446,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.72,"eevp":98.78,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jesse Arreguín","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61837,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jovanka Beckles","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34025,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dan Kalb","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28842,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Kathryn Lybarger","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28041,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sandre Swanson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22862,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeanne Solnordal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16839,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:58:11.533Z"},"6533":{"id":"6533","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tim Grayson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marisol Rubio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6534":{"id":"6534","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":228260,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Scott Wiener","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":166592,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Yvette Corkrean","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34438,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Cravens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18513,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jing Xiong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":8717,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T02:01:51.597Z"},"6535":{"id":"6535","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":227191,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Becker","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":167127,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alexander Glew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":42788,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christina Laskowski","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17276,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:56:24.964Z"},"6536":{"id":"6536","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":180231,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.81,"eevp":98.95,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dave Cortese","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":124440,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Robert Howell","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34173,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Loaiza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":21618,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T01:15:45.365Z"},"6548":{"id":"6548","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 39","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:55 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Akilah Weber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Divine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6611":{"id":"6611","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":188732,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.89,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Nancy Pelosi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":138285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bruce Lou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marjorie Mikels","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9363,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bianca Von Krieg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":7634,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Zeng","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6607,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Boyce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4325,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Larry Nichelson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3482,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eve Del Castello","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2751,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:31:55.445Z"},"8589":{"id":"8589","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7276537,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2299507,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2292414,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1115606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":714408,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":240723,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Bradley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":98180,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61755,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sharleta Bassett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":54422,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sarah Liew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Laura Garza ","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":34320,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Reiss","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34283,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34056,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gail Lightfoot","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":33046,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Denice Gary-Pandol","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":25494,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Macauley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23168,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Harmesh Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21522,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Peterson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21076,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Douglas Pierce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19371,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Major Singh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":16965,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"John Rose","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14577,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Perry Pound","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14134,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Raji Rab","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":13558,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mark Ruzon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":13429,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Forrest Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":13027,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stefan Simchowitz","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12717,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Martin Veprauskas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9714,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Don Grundmann","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":6582,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T05:01:46.589Z"},"8686":{"id":"8686","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":3589127,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:48 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Biden","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":3200188,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marianne Williamson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":145690,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Dean Phillips","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":99981,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Armando Perez-Serrato","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":42925,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gabriel Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41261,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"President Boddie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25373,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Lyons","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21008,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eban Cambridge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12701,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:12:27.559Z"},"8688":{"id":"8688","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":2466569,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Donald Trump","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":1953947,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nikki Haley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":430792,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ron DeSantis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":35581,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Chris Christie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":20164,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Vivek Ramaswamy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11069,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rachel Swift","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4231,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Stuckenberg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3895,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ryan Binkley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3563,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Asa Hutchinson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3327,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:13:19.766Z"},"81993":{"id":"81993","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I Unexpired Term","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7358837,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2444940,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2155146,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1269194,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":863278,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":448788,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":109421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":68070,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:31:08.186Z"},"82014":{"id":"82014","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"Proposition, 1 - Behavioral Health Services Program","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":7221972,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3624998,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3596974,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:11:06.265Z"},"timeLoaded":"April 18, 2024 12:17 AM","nationalRacesLoaded":true,"localRacesLoaded":true,"overrides":[{"id":"5921","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5922","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5924","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5926","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/congress-12th-district"},{"id":"5928","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5930","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/congress-16th-district"},{"id":"5931","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5932","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5963","raceName":"State Assembly, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5972","raceName":"State Assembly, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5973","raceName":"State Assembly, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5975","raceName":"State Assembly, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5976","raceName":"State Assembly, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/state-assembly"},{"id":"5977","raceName":"State Assembly, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5978","raceName":"State Assembly, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5979","raceName":"State Assembly, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5980","raceName":"State Assembly, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5981","raceName":"State Assembly, District 20","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5982","raceName":"State Assembly, District 21","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5984","raceName":"State Assembly, District 23","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-assembly-23rd-district"},{"id":"5987","raceName":"State Assembly, District 26","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/state-assembly-26th-district"},{"id":"5989","raceName":"State Assembly, District 28","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6010","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6018","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6020","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6025","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6031","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6035","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6067","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6087","raceName":"State Assembly, District 24","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6088","raceName":"State Assembly, District 25","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6092","raceName":"State Assembly, District 29","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6223","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6530","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-3rd-district"},{"id":"6531","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6532","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-7th-district"},{"id":"6533","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6534","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6535","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6536","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6611","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"8589","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Full Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/senator"},{"id":"8686","raceName":"California Democratic Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 496 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/president/democrat"},{"id":"8688","raceName":"California Republican Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 169 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://kqed.org/elections/results/president/republican"},{"id":"81993","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Partial/Unexpired Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election."},{"id":"82014","raceName":"Proposition 1","raceDescription":"Bond and mental health reforms. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/proposition-1"}],"AlamedaJudge5":{"id":"AlamedaJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":200601,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Terry Wiley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":200601}]},"AlamedaJudge12":{"id":"AlamedaJudge12","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":240853,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Fickes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":133009},{"candidateName":"Michael P. Johnson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107844}]},"AlamedaBoard2":{"id":"AlamedaBoard2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33580,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Lewis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6943},{"candidateName":"Angela Normand","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":26637}]},"AlamedaBoard5":{"id":"AlamedaBoard5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":26072,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Guadalupe \"Lupe\" Angulo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7521},{"candidateName":"Janevette Cole","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13338},{"candidateName":"Joe Orlando Ramos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5213}]},"AlamedaBoard6":{"id":"AlamedaBoard6","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 6","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":30864,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Guerrero","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9989},{"candidateName":"Eileen McDonald","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20875}]},"AlamedaSup1":{"id":"AlamedaSup1","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":41038,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Haubert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":41038}]},"AlamedaSup2":{"id":"AlamedaSup2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":31034,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Elisa Márquez","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":31034}]},"AlamedaSup4":{"id":"AlamedaSup4","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":57007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jennifer Esteen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22400},{"candidateName":"Nate Miley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34607}]},"AlamedaSup5":{"id":"AlamedaSup5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":81059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ben Bartlett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13518},{"candidateName":"Nikki Fortunato Bas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":27597},{"candidateName":"John J. Bauters","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":16783},{"candidateName":"Ken Berrick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7520},{"candidateName":"Omar Farmer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1240},{"candidateName":"Gregory Hodge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3419},{"candidateName":"Chris Moore","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7428},{"candidateName":"Gerald Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":305},{"candidateName":"Lorrel Plimier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3249}]},"AlamedaBoard7":{"id":"AlamedaBoard7","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Flood Control & Water Conservation District Director, Zone 7, Full Term","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":134340,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alan Burnham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15723},{"candidateName":"Sandy Figuers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22454},{"candidateName":"Laurene K. Green","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":30343},{"candidateName":"Kathy Narum","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23833},{"candidateName":"Seema Badar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7468},{"candidateName":"Catherine Brown","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34519}]},"AlamedaAuditor":{"id":"AlamedaAuditor","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Oakland Auditor","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":59227,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Houston","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59227}]},"AlamedaMeasureA":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Civil service. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282335,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":167903},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":114432}]},"AlamedaMeasureB":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Recall rules. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282683,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182200},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":100483}]},"AlamedaMeasureD":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Oakland. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":79797,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59852},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19945}]},"AlamedaMeasureE":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Alameda Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":22692,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17280},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5412}]},"AlamedaMeasureF":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"Piedmont. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":4855,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3673},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1182}]},"AlamedaMeasureG":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Albany Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":5898,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4651},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1247}]},"AlamedaMeasureH":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Berkeley Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33331,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":29418},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913}]},"AlamedaMeasureI":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Hayward Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":21929,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14151},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7778}]},"AlamedaMeasureJ":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureJ","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure J","raceDescription":"San Leandro Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":12338,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7784},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4554}]},"CCD2":{"id":"CCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":45776,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Candace Andersen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":45776}]},"CCD3":{"id":"CCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":25120,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Diane Burgis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":25120}]},"CCD5":{"id":"CCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":37045,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Barbanica","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14338},{"candidateName":"Jelani Killings","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5683},{"candidateName":"Shanelle Scales-Preston","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12993},{"candidateName":"Iztaccuauhtli Hector Gonzalez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4031}]},"CCMeasureA":{"id":"CCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Martinez. Appoint City Clerk. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":11513,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7554},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3959}]},"CCMeasureB":{"id":"CCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Antioch Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17971,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10397},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7574}]},"CCMeasureC":{"id":"CCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Martinez Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":9230,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6917},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2313}]},"CCMeasureD":{"id":"CCMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Moraga School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":6007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4052},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1955}]},"MarinD2":{"id":"MarinD2","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":18466,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Brian Colbert","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7971},{"candidateName":"Heather McPhail Sridharan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4851},{"candidateName":"Ryan O'Neil","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2647},{"candidateName":"Gabe Paulson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2997}]},"MarinD3":{"id":"MarinD3","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":13274,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Moulton-Peters","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13274}]},"MarinD4":{"id":"MarinD4","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":12986,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dennis Rodoni","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10086},{"candidateName":"Francis Drouillard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2900}]},"MarinLarkspurCC":{"id":"MarinLarkspurCC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Larkspur City Council (Short Term)","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4176,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Andre","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2514},{"candidateName":"Claire Paquette","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1008},{"candidateName":"Lana Scott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":654}]},"MarinRossCouncil":{"id":"MarinRossCouncil","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Ross Town Council","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1740,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Charles William \"Bill\" Kircher, Jr.","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":536},{"candidateName":"Mathew Salter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":502},{"candidateName":"Shadi Aboukhater","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":187},{"candidateName":"Teri Dowling","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":515}]},"MarinMeasureA":{"id":"MarinMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Tamalpais Union High School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":45345,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24376},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20969}]},"MarinMeasureB":{"id":"MarinMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":132,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":62},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":70}]},"MarinMeasureC":{"id":"MarinMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Belvedere. Appropriation limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":870,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":679},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureD":{"id":"MarinMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Larkspur. Rent stabilization. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-d","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4955,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2573},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2382}]},"MarinMeasureE":{"id":"MarinMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Ross. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":874,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":683},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureF":{"id":"MarinMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"San Anselmo. Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":5193,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3083},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2110}]},"MarinMeasureG":{"id":"MarinMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Bel Marin Keys Community Services District. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":830,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":661},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":169}]},"MarinMeasureH":{"id":"MarinMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, fire protection. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1738,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1369},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":369}]},"MarinMeasureI":{"id":"MarinMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, parks. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1735,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1336},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":399}]},"NapaD2":{"id":"NapaD2","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":8351,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Alessio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6340},{"candidateName":"Doris Gentry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2011}]},"NapaD4":{"id":"NapaD4","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":7306,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Amber Manfree","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913},{"candidateName":"Pete Mott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3393}]},"NapaD5":{"id":"NapaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":5356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mariam Aboudamous","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2379},{"candidateName":"Belia Ramos","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2977}]},"NapaMeasureD":{"id":"NapaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Howell Mountain Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":741,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":367},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":374}]},"NapaMeasureU":{"id":"NapaMeasureU","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":86,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":63},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23}]},"NapaMeasureU1":{"id":"NapaMeasureU1","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Yountville. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":793},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":132}]},"SFJudge1":{"id":"SFJudge1","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-1","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202960,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Begert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":124943},{"candidateName":"Chip Zecher","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":78017}]},"SFJudge13":{"id":"SFJudge13","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 13","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-13","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202386,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jean Myungjin Roland","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":90012},{"candidateName":"Patrick S. Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":112374}]},"SFPropA":{"id":"SFPropA","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition A","raceDescription":"Housing bond. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":225187,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":158497},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":66690}]},"SFPropB":{"id":"SFPropB","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition B","raceDescription":"Police staffing. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222954,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":61580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":161374}]},"SFPropC":{"id":"SFPropC","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition C","raceDescription":"Transfer tax exemption. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":220349,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":116311},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":104038}]},"SFPropD":{"id":"SFPropD","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition D","raceDescription":"Ethics laws. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222615,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":198584},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24031}]},"SFPropE":{"id":"SFPropE","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition E","raceDescription":"Police policies. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222817,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":120529},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":102288}]},"SFPropF":{"id":"SFPropF","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition F","raceDescription":"Drug screening. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-f","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":224004,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":130214},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":93790}]},"SFPropG":{"id":"SFPropG","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition G","raceDescription":"Eighth-grade algebra. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222704,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182066},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":40638}]},"SMJudge4":{"id":"SMJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":108919,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sarah Burdick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":108919}]},"SMD1":{"id":"SMD1","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":29650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jackie Speier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20353},{"candidateName":"Ann Schneider","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9297}]},"SMD4":{"id":"SMD4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22725,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Antonio Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5730},{"candidateName":"Lisa Gauthier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10358},{"candidateName":"Celeste Brevard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1268},{"candidateName":"Paul Bocanegra","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1909},{"candidateName":"Maggie Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3460}]},"SMD5":{"id":"SMD5","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":19937,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Canepa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19937}]},"SMMeasureB":{"id":"SMMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"County Service Area #1 (Highlands). Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1360},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":189}]},"SMMeasureC":{"id":"SMMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Jefferson Elementary School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":12234,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8543},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3691}]},"SMMeasureE":{"id":"SMMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Woodside Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1392,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":910},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":482}]},"SMMeasureG":{"id":"SMMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Pacifica School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":11548,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7067},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4481}]},"SMMeasureH":{"id":"SMMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"San Carlos School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":9938,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6283},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3655}]},"SCJudge5":{"id":"SCJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":301953,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jay Boyarsky","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":142549},{"candidateName":"Nicole M. Ford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":52147},{"candidateName":"Johnene Linda Stebbins","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107257}]},"SCD2":{"id":"SCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":44059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Corina Herrera-Loera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10519},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Margaret Celaya","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2394},{"candidateName":"Madison Nguyen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12794},{"candidateName":"Betty Duong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14031},{"candidateName":"Nelson McElmurry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4321}]},"SCD3":{"id":"SCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":42549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Otto Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42549}]},"SCD5":{"id":"SCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":88712,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Margaret Abe-Koga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":37172},{"candidateName":"Sally J. Lieber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":21962},{"candidateName":"Barry Chang","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6164},{"candidateName":"Peter C. Fung","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17892},{"candidateName":"Sandy Sans","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5522}]},"SCSJMayor":{"id":"SCSJMayor","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José Mayor","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":167064,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Mahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":144701},{"candidateName":"Tyrone Wade","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22363}]},"SCSJD2":{"id":"SCSJD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14131,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4950},{"candidateName":"Pamela Campos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436},{"candidateName":"Vanessa Sandoval","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2719},{"candidateName":"Babu Prasad","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3026}]},"SCSJD4":{"id":"SCSJD4","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14322,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kansen Chu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5931},{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8391}]},"SCSJD6":{"id":"SCSJD6","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":25108,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9875},{"candidateName":"Alex Shoor","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3850},{"candidateName":"Angelo \"A.J.\" Pasciuti","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2688},{"candidateName":"Michael Mulcahy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8695}]},"SCSJD8":{"id":"SCSJD8","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 8","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":21462,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tam Truong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6982},{"candidateName":"Domingo Candelas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8466},{"candidateName":"Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5513},{"candidateName":"Surinder Kaur Dhaliwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":501}]},"SCSJD10":{"id":"SCSJD10","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 10","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22799,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"George Casey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8805},{"candidateName":"Arjun Batra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8354},{"candidateName":"Lenka Wright","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5640}]},"SCMeasureA":{"id":"SCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed city clerk. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20315,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13735}]},"SCMeasureB":{"id":"SCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed police chief. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20567,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5680},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14887}]},"SCMeasureC":{"id":"SCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Sunnyvale School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14656,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10261},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4395}]},"SolanoD15":{"id":"SolanoD15","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Department 15","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":81709,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":36844},{"candidateName":"Bryan J. Kim","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":44865}]},"SolanoD1":{"id":"SolanoD1","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":13786,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6401},{"candidateName":"Cassandra James","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7385}]},"SolanoD2":{"id":"SolanoD2","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":19903,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Monica Brown","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10951},{"candidateName":"Nora Dizon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3135},{"candidateName":"Rochelle Sherlock","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5817}]},"SolanoD5":{"id":"SolanoD5","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17888,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mitch Mashburn","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11210},{"candidateName":"Chadwick J. Ledoux","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6678}]},"SolanoEducation":{"id":"SolanoEducation","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Sacramento County Board of Education","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":3650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Heather Davis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2960},{"candidateName":"Shazleen Khan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":690}]},"SolanoMeasureA":{"id":"SolanoMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Benicia. Hotel tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10136,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7869},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2267}]},"SolanoMeasureB":{"id":"SolanoMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Benicia. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10164,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7335},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2829}]},"SolanoMeasureC":{"id":"SolanoMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Benicia Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10112,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6316},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3796}]},"SolanoMeasureN":{"id":"SolanoMeasureN","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure N","raceDescription":"Davis Joint Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":15,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10}]},"SonomaJudge3":{"id":"SonomaJudge3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":115405,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kristine M. Burk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":79498},{"candidateName":"Beki Berrey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":35907}]},"SonomaJudge4":{"id":"SonomaJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":86789,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Paul J. Lozada","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":86789}]},"SonomaJudge6":{"id":"SonomaJudge6","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":117990,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Omar Figueroa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42236},{"candidateName":"Kenneth English","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":75754}]},"SonomaD1":{"id":"SonomaD1","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":30348,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rebecca Hermosillo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23958},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Mathieu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6390}]},"SonomaD3":{"id":"SonomaD3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/supervisor-3rd-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":16312,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Chris Coursey","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11346},{"candidateName":"Omar Medina","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4966}]},"SonomaD5":{"id":"SonomaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":23356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lynda Hopkins","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23356}]},"SonomaMeasureA":{"id":"SonomaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":13756,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10320},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436}]},"SonomaMeasureB":{"id":"SonomaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":24877,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15795},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9082}]},"SonomaMeasureC":{"id":"SonomaMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Fort Ross School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":286,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":159},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":127}]},"SonomaMeasureD":{"id":"SonomaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Harmony Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":1925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1089},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":836}]},"SonomaMeasureE":{"id":"SonomaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Petaluma City (Elementary) School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":11133,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7622},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3511}]},"SonomaMeasureG":{"id":"SonomaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Rincon Valley Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":14577,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8668},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5909}]},"SonomaMeasureH":{"id":"SonomaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Sonoma County. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/measure-h","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":145261,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":89646},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":55615}]}},"radioSchedulesReducer":{},"listsReducer":{"posts/mindshift?tag=brain-research":{"isFetching":false,"latestQuery":{"from":0,"postsToRender":9},"tag":null,"vitalsOnly":true,"totalRequested":9,"isLoading":false,"isLoadingMore":true,"total":51,"items":["mindshift_61863","mindshift_61695","mindshift_61026","mindshift_60468","mindshift_60253","mindshift_60255","mindshift_60248","mindshift_60251","mindshift_58968"]}},"recallGuideReducer":{"intros":{},"policy":{},"candidates":{}},"savedPostsReducer":{},"pfsSessionReducer":{},"siteSettingsReducer":{},"subscriptionsReducer":{},"termsReducer":{"about":{"name":"About","type":"terms","id":"about","slug":"about","link":"/about","taxonomy":"site"},"arts":{"name":"Arts & Culture","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"description":"KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.","type":"terms","id":"arts","slug":"arts","link":"/arts","taxonomy":"site"},"artschool":{"name":"Art School","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"artschool","slug":"artschool","link":"/artschool","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareabites":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"bayareabites","slug":"bayareabites","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareahiphop":{"name":"Bay Area Hiphop","type":"terms","id":"bayareahiphop","slug":"bayareahiphop","link":"/bayareahiphop","taxonomy":"site"},"campaign21":{"name":"Campaign 21","type":"terms","id":"campaign21","slug":"campaign21","link":"/campaign21","taxonomy":"site"},"checkplease":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"checkplease","slug":"checkplease","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"education":{"name":"Education","grouping":["education"],"type":"terms","id":"education","slug":"education","link":"/education","taxonomy":"site"},"elections":{"name":"Elections","type":"terms","id":"elections","slug":"elections","link":"/elections","taxonomy":"site"},"events":{"name":"Events","type":"terms","id":"events","slug":"events","link":"/events","taxonomy":"site"},"event":{"name":"Event","alias":"events","type":"terms","id":"event","slug":"event","link":"/event","taxonomy":"site"},"filmschoolshorts":{"name":"Film School Shorts","type":"terms","id":"filmschoolshorts","slug":"filmschoolshorts","link":"/filmschoolshorts","taxonomy":"site"},"food":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"type":"terms","id":"food","slug":"food","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"forum":{"name":"Forum","relatedContentQuery":"posts/forum?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"forum","slug":"forum","link":"/forum","taxonomy":"site"},"futureofyou":{"name":"Future of You","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"futureofyou","slug":"futureofyou","link":"/futureofyou","taxonomy":"site"},"jpepinheart":{"name":"KQED food","relatedContentQuery":"trending/food,bayareabites,checkplease","parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"jpepinheart","slug":"jpepinheart","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"liveblog":{"name":"Live Blog","type":"terms","id":"liveblog","slug":"liveblog","link":"/liveblog","taxonomy":"site"},"livetv":{"name":"Live TV","parent":"tv","type":"terms","id":"livetv","slug":"livetv","link":"/livetv","taxonomy":"site"},"lowdown":{"name":"The Lowdown","relatedContentQuery":"posts/lowdown?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"lowdown","slug":"lowdown","link":"/lowdown","taxonomy":"site"},"mindshift":{"name":"Mindshift","parent":"news","description":"MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.","type":"terms","id":"mindshift","slug":"mindshift","link":"/mindshift","taxonomy":"site"},"news":{"name":"News","grouping":["news","forum"],"type":"terms","id":"news","slug":"news","link":"/news","taxonomy":"site"},"perspectives":{"name":"Perspectives","parent":"radio","type":"terms","id":"perspectives","slug":"perspectives","link":"/perspectives","taxonomy":"site"},"podcasts":{"name":"Podcasts","type":"terms","id":"podcasts","slug":"podcasts","link":"/podcasts","taxonomy":"site"},"pop":{"name":"Pop","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"pop","slug":"pop","link":"/pop","taxonomy":"site"},"pressroom":{"name":"Pressroom","type":"terms","id":"pressroom","slug":"pressroom","link":"/pressroom","taxonomy":"site"},"quest":{"name":"Quest","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"quest","slug":"quest","link":"/quest","taxonomy":"site"},"radio":{"name":"Radio","grouping":["forum","perspectives"],"description":"Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.","type":"terms","id":"radio","slug":"radio","link":"/radio","taxonomy":"site"},"root":{"name":"KQED","image":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":630,"headData":{"title":"KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California","description":"KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."},"type":"terms","id":"root","slug":"root","link":"/root","taxonomy":"site"},"science":{"name":"Science","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"description":"KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.","type":"terms","id":"science","slug":"science","link":"/science","taxonomy":"site"},"stateofhealth":{"name":"State of Health","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"stateofhealth","slug":"stateofhealth","link":"/stateofhealth","taxonomy":"site"},"support":{"name":"Support","type":"terms","id":"support","slug":"support","link":"/support","taxonomy":"site"},"thedolist":{"name":"The Do List","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"thedolist","slug":"thedolist","link":"/thedolist","taxonomy":"site"},"trulyca":{"name":"Truly CA","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"trulyca","slug":"trulyca","link":"/trulyca","taxonomy":"site"},"tv":{"name":"TV","type":"terms","id":"tv","slug":"tv","link":"/tv","taxonomy":"site"},"voterguide":{"name":"Voter Guide","parent":"elections","alias":"elections","type":"terms","id":"voterguide","slug":"voterguide","link":"/voterguide","taxonomy":"site"},"mindshift_767":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_767","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"767","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"brain research","slug":"brain-research","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"brain research Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null,"imageData":{"ogImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","width":1200,"height":630},"twImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"},"twitterCard":"summary_large_image"}},"ttid":770,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/brain-research"},"mindshift_21385":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21385","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21385","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Parenting","slug":"parenting","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Parenting Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20657,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/parenting"},"mindshift_21581":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21581","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21581","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"addiction","slug":"addiction","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"addiction Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20853,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/addiction"},"mindshift_21474":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21474","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21474","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"behavior management","slug":"behavior-management","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"behavior management Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20746,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/behavior-management"},"mindshift_21678":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21678","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21678","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"dopamine","slug":"dopamine","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"dopamine Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20950,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/dopamine"},"mindshift_46":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_46","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"46","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Neuroscience","slug":"neuroscience","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Neuroscience Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":46,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/neuroscience"},"mindshift_20568":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_20568","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"20568","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"parenting","slug":"parenting","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"parenting Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":19845,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/parenting"},"mindshift_21116":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21116","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21116","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"phone addiction","slug":"phone-addiction","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"phone addiction Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20388,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/phone-addiction"},"mindshift_20816":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_20816","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"20816","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"screen time","slug":"screen-time","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"screen time Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20093,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/screen-time"},"mindshift_21679":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21679","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21679","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"tech addiction","slug":"tech-addiction","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"tech addiction Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20951,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/tech-addiction"},"mindshift_193":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_193","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"193","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Teaching Strategies","slug":"teaching-strategies","taxonomy":"category","description":"Innovative ideas - projects, processes, curricula, and more - that are transforming how we teach and learn.","featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Teaching Strategies Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":"Innovative ideas - projects, processes, curricula, and more - that are transforming how we teach and learn.","ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":193,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/teaching-strategies"},"mindshift_21454":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21454","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21454","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"loud classroom noise","slug":"loud-classroom-noise","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"loud classroom noise Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20726,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/loud-classroom-noise"},"mindshift_21637":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21637","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21637","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Nina Kraus","slug":"nina-kraus","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Nina Kraus Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20909,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/nina-kraus"},"mindshift_21639":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21639","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21639","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"noise","slug":"noise","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"noise Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20911,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/noise"},"mindshift_21638":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21638","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21638","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"sound","slug":"sound","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"sound Archives - KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20910,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/sound"},"mindshift_21445":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21445","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21445","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Adolescence","slug":"adolescence","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Adolescence Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20717,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/adolescence"},"mindshift_21280":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21280","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21280","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Mental Health","slug":"mental-health","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Mental Health Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20552,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/mental-health"},"mindshift_20874":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_20874","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"20874","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Teenage Years","slug":"teenage-years","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Teenage Years Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20152,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/teenage-years"},"mindshift_21093":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21093","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21093","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"adolescence","slug":"adolescence","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"adolescence Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20365,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/adolescence"},"mindshift_21339":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21339","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21339","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"LGBTQ","slug":"lgbtq","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"LGBTQ Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20611,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/lgbtq"},"mindshift_30":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_30","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"30","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Social Media","slug":"social-media","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Social Media Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":30,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/social-media"},"mindshift_21159":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21159","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21159","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"teenage brain","slug":"teenage-brain","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"teenage brain Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20431,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/teenage-brain"},"mindshift_21504":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21504","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21504","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Education research","slug":"education-research","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Education research Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20776,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/education-research"},"mindshift_21078":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21078","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21078","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"cognitive development","slug":"cognitive-development","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"cognitive development Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20350,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/cognitive-development"},"mindshift_192":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_192","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"192","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Big Ideas","slug":"big-ideas","taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest findings from experts in the field related to the future of learning.","featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Big Ideas Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":"The latest findings from experts in the field related to the future of learning.","ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":192,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/big-ideas"},"mindshift_21345":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21345","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21345","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"COVID-19","slug":"covid-19","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"COVID-19 Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20617,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/category/covid-19"},"mindshift_21473":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21473","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21473","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"early adolescence","slug":"early-adolescence","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"early adolescence Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20745,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/early-adolescence"},"mindshift_21214":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21214","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21214","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"free play","slug":"free-play","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"free play Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20486,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/free-play"},"mindshift_21184":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21184","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21184","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Learning and the Brain","slug":"learning-and-the-brain","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Learning and the Brain Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20456,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/learning-and-the-brain"},"mindshift_145":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_145","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"145","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Middle School","slug":"middle-school","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Middle School Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":145,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/middle-school"},"mindshift_498":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_498","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"498","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"play","slug":"play","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"play Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":501,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/play"},"mindshift_20720":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_20720","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"20720","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"early childhood education","slug":"early-childhood-education","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"early childhood education Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":19997,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/early-childhood-education"},"mindshift_21101":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21101","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21101","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"elementary","slug":"elementary","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"elementary Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20373,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/elementary"},"mindshift_164":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_164","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"164","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"prek","slug":"prek","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"prek Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":164,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/prek"},"mindshift_21414":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21414","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21414","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"infant development","slug":"infant-development","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"infant development Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20686,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/infant-development"},"mindshift_21134":{"type":"terms","id":"mindshift_21134","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"mindshift","id":"21134","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"prosocial behavior","slug":"prosocial-behavior","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"prosocial behavior Archives | KQED Mindshift","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":20406,"isLoading":false,"link":"/mindshift/tag/prosocial-behavior"}},"userAgentReducer":{"userAgent":"claudebot","isBot":true},"userPermissionsReducer":{"wpLoggedIn":false},"localStorageReducer":{},"browserHistoryReducer":[],"eventsReducer":{},"fssReducer":{},"tvDailyScheduleReducer":{},"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer":{},"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer":{},"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer":{},"userAccountReducer":{"routeTo":"","showDeleteConfirmModal":false,"user":{"userId":"","isFound":false,"firstName":"","lastName":"","phoneNumber":"","email":"","articles":[]}},"youthMediaReducer":{},"checkPleaseReducer":{"filterData":{},"restaurantData":[]},"reframeReducer":{"attendee":null},"location":{"pathname":"/mindshift/tag/brain-research","previousPathname":"/"}}
