An Inclusive Litany

11/24/92

The most harmful game that children could play is musical chairs, according to Mary Ann Tobert, Ph.D. at Temple University in Philadelphia and director of the Leonard Gordon Institute for Human Development Through Play. Tobert claims the game of musical chairs appeared innocuous but is actually quite harmful to developing children. "Musical chairs is a lousy game," according to Tobert. "In the game the child who is unable to find a chair is out. They're learning that they're losers. They're also learning that if they want to stay in there, they have to knock everyone else out of the way. It's very 'me-centered.' "