Evolution, Medicine, and the Monkey Bars

Play is an essential part of childhood, and growing attention has focused on the potential health benefits of ‘risky’ or ‘thrill-seeking’ play. Such play is readily observed on any playground, where it can sometimes lead to injuries from falls. Monkey bars account for ~7% of childhood arm fractures in the USA, an alarming statistic that raises difficult questions over its costs and benefits.
This talk will commemorate the centennial anniversary of monkey bars by highlighting the factors that led to its invention. We will also call attention to the human fossil record and play behaviors of non-human primates, providing a novel perspective that bolsters arguments for the adaptive significance of thrill-seeking play.