Architecture’s Tax on Childhood Play

Modern adult‑centric spaces make normal kid behavior—running, climbing, yelling—misaligned with 'acceptable' conduct, forcing nonstop correction. This shifts parental energy from mentoring to micromanaging and squeezes out free play that builds social and physical skills. The result is a structural pressure point that worsens as societies move indoors and formalize public space. — If design choices systematically suppress play, urban and school policy should prioritize child‑tolerant environments rather than only blaming parenting or screens.