In his new book Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety (Thesis/Penguin Random House, 2026), Research Professor of Psychology Peter Gray contends that adult overprotection is a large part of the reason children today struggle. He says this “hovering omnipresence” leads to over-scheduling, structured play, and strict safety laws, robbing children of the independent, risky play necessary to build emotional resilience. He adds that children need what is missing from modern childhood: chances to explore, solve problems, and take age-appropriate risks without constant adult supervision. Read more in BC News. Listen to Gray on WBUR.