I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen any comments (admittedly, I got too distracted to read them) about the decline of children's free play and the increase in ad

I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen any comments (admittedly, I got too distracted to read them) about the decline of children's free play and the increase in adult-guided activities in America over the past 50 years. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 and have intermittently suffered through it over the years. I took meds for a while, but I felt like an amped-up zombie and stopped some time during college. Kids have not always gone to school for full 7 hour days starting at age four or five, where they have been subject to strict rules that emphasize obedience to adults and "sitting still." In fact, some research indicates that children at a young age learn best how to regulate themselves through play with other kids, including through games (that they themselves create) and role-playing. Kids figure out how to regulate themselves from each other, not from adults. (This could explain why increases in ADHD, bullying and teen suicide seem to be happening at the same time.) I look back and think that at least in my case, this might explain a bit of my issues. In my case, I think there are probably underlying causes that are only now, years later, being looked at, including pretty serious trouble sleeping and some hormone problems. But I also think that I lacked the child-oriented play that kids really need, and was wound up in adult-guided activities where I didn't learn to govern myself. I'm not anti-schooling, but I do think that the schools have gotten too high-stakes at earlier ages, and we should probably limit younger kids to shorter school days and allow them to engage in relatively hands-off free play with each other. (Of course, this is much easier said than done - teachers unions and the lawyers' guild are quite powerful, and we moms and dads love the free babysitting we get at the public expense.)