Why our kids can’t handle boredom | ft. Cas Holman HTS w/ DrG #428

Heal Thy Self with Dr. G

Wellness Loud

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

5 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sponsored By: → Tonum | For an exclusive offer go to tonum.com and use promo code HEALTHYSELF for 10% OFF! → Cornbread Hemp | For an exclusive offer go to cornbreadhemp.com/drg and use promo code DRG for 30% OFF your first order! → JASPR | For an exclusive offer go to jaspr.co/DRG and get $200 OFF for a limited time. Episode Description: Kids today can’t sit still without a screen. Their days are packed from morning to night, every game has rules, every moment has a goal, and the second boredom hits, the phone swoops in. Here’s what that’s creating: anxious teens who become adults afraid to fail, constantly waiting to be told what to do. In this episode, Dr. G sits down with Cas Holman, the world-famous toy designer whose play systems are transforming classrooms worldwide. Cas doesn’t make toys that entertain kids, she builds tools that awaken creativity and imagination. Together, they explore how modern parenting, performance culture, and screen addiction have stripped us (and our children) of something vital: unstructured play. In This Episode: • Why kids have lost the ability to entertain themselves • How constant stimulation leads to anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of failure • Why boredom is essential for creativity and nervous system regulation • How to design your home and habits to invite more play — without turning your kitchen into a jungle gym • The difference between toys that entertain and toys that teach imagination • How rigid upbringings or lack of play can block self-expression as adults • Why play strengthens relationships, community, and emotional connection • One simple way to bring more play into your day — starting right now Key Takeaways: ✅ When play disappears, so does curiosity, creativity, and confidence ✅ Adults who suppress play often feel disconnected, anxious, or creatively blocked ✅ Play isn’t childish — it’s medicine for your nervous system ✅ You can rewire your stress response through small, daily moments of joy and play ✅ The most powerful form of healing sometimes looks like laughter, movement, and imagination Find Cas Holman here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casholman/?hl=en Website: https://casholman.com/ Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 2:53 – What Kids Did That Adults Need to Rediscover 6:30 – Free Play vs Structured Play 12:10 – Why Unstructured Play is Critical for Child Development 17:13 – How Adults Suppress Play & the "Play Voice" vs "Adult Voice" 23:18 – Three Steps to Reconnect with Play as an Adult 34:01 – Simple Shifts: How to Make Daily Life More Playful 45:20 – How Play Strengthens Relationships & Partnerships 51:17 – One Playful Practice to Try This Week 54:29 – About the Book: "Playful" – Science, Stories & Solutions

Transcript

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0:00.0	I have three things that I want adults to try to channel in order to reconnect with our play.
0:06.0	The first one is release the judgment.
0:08.0	The second is embrace possibility.
0:10.0	And then the third thing is reframing success.
0:13.0	Listen up, we are raising kids who can't entertain themselves anymore.
0:16.0	Their days are packed from the morning to the night and you know it.
0:19.0	Their games already come with goals and rules. And the second boredom hits, what happens? The phone screen swoops to fill in the silence. There's no space left for children to make something up of their own. And guess what? The result isn't just bored kids. We have anxious teens. and then what? Adults who are scared to fail.
0:38.5	A whirl full of people waiting to be told what to do, and educators around the world are starting
0:42.8	to notice a problem. And when they need help, rethinking play, we call Cass Holman. Cass is a world
0:48.4	famous toy designer. Her play systems have been used in all classrooms all over the world. She
0:53.1	doesn't make toys that just entertain kids.
0:56.0	She builds true tools that spark creativity and imagination and children early on.
1:00.0	If you think back to your childhood, you didn't have gadgets, you didn't have screens.
1:05.0	You had a stick, a bike, cardboard box that was enough.
1:08.0	We used to build whole worlds from nothing, but today, kids are
1:11.4	constantly handed rules, schedules, screens, and when play disappears, so does creativity, curiosity,
1:17.7	and confidence. Cass is on a mission to bring that back. It's not just about toys. It's about
1:22.4	adults coming back to play. Play can completely change your mental health, your physical health, and your
1:28.5	relationships. And honestly, if you've been suffering with so many years and your doctor hasn't
1:33.7	told you to relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, and play, it can completely change your
1:39.0	life. And that's what this podcast is all about. All right welcome to the show cass i am so excited to have
1:48.4	our conversation because you are a designer you are your spirit of designing
	...

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