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.' "