Film Screening & ECO Launch Party

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Dates:	Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Saturday, May 16, 2026
Hours:	1:00 pm - 2:30 p.m.
Ages:	Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	Free see below
Category:	Arts & Culture

From the Rwandan jungle to the university laboratory, 'Rough and Tumble: Taking Play Seriously' explores the beneficial role of human play through the play of wild gorillas, dolphins, dogs, and rats.

The film draws connections between the study of play in non-human animals and the crucial role play serves in human development.

Human play is often thought of as a childhood pastime, but it imparts critical skills and experiences that are life-enhancing.

Through play, we learn the rules of social behavior, how to bond with others and develop our imaginations, while improving our physical and emotional well-being.

As unstructured play is supplanted by hours of screen time, what deficiencies will our children face as adults?

While play may seem trivial in our lives, it may define who we are and how we came to be.

Experts featured in the film include primatologists Drs. Dieter and Netzin Steklis, educational psychologist Dr. Anthony Pellegrini, evolutionary biologist Dr. Marc Bekoff, the late neuroscientist Dr. Jaak Panksepp, as well as nature writer Brenda Peterson and interviews with a Waldorf teacher and a social worker.

COST

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Free and Open to All

WEBSITE

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www.every-child-outdoors.org/events

LOCATION

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30 South Street, Boston, MA, 02130 map

The Jamaica Plain Library is located at 30 South Street.