The Power of Play in Young Leader Development

Since February, 2024, our youngest son has been the personal strength and conditioning trainer for none other than LA Dodger, Mookie Betts. If you follow baseball, you know that name. But even the biggest MLB stars started the same way—just kids, playing ball with friends, like in The Sandlot. That’s what fascinates me—watching kids play. You can see the natural leaders emerge, the ones who take charge and the ones who instinctively follow. Long before they ever wear a suit or run a company, children are learning leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving on the playground. That’s exactly why I sat down with Dr. Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn, for this week’s podcast. His research is eye-opening—proving that unstructured play is essential for developing leadership, confidence, and resilience. Yet, well-meaning parents often fill their kids’ schedules with structured activities, unknowingly stifling these critical skills. Get ready to be surprised (or even a little shocked) by what this Boston College research professor has to say. He makes the case that kids learn more when we push them less. For info on KidLead Academy go to www.kidlead.com/kla