The benefits of letting boys be boys when it comes to childhood play [Video]

I generally agree with the problem Richard M. Perloff discusses in his Aug. 11 column, “America needs to rethink male culture and help boys understand their emotional frustrations.” Referencing Thomas Crooks, Donald Trump’s would-be assassin, Perloff cites boys’ retreat into video games as “a social crutch” with potential negative implications, as in Crooks’ alienation. I don’t entirely disagree.

But what’s driving boys there? Over the past 30 years, traditional “boy behavior” has come under attack, notably through zero-tolerance policies in schools that essentially demonize “boys will be boys” behavior. Consequences can involve severe penalties but also restrictive rules, such as prohibiting competitive activities during supervised play time. But when boys play together, there is a complexity of interactions which they are constantly negotiating that ultimately enable connection and help them develop healthy relations.

I was recently at an outside play area at a day care when two 3-year-old …