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Let the kids play: Children’s folklore, Newell’s paradox, and the triviality barrier

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2026

Brandon Barker Open the ORCID record for Brandon Barker [Opens in a new window] ,
Gwyn Harris  and
Eric McGoffin
Brandon Barker*
Affiliation:
Indiana University, Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology, Bloomington, IN, USA barkerbr@iu.edu gwroharr@iu.edu ecmcgoff@iu.edu https://folklore.indiana.edu/about/faculty/barker-k.html
Gwyn Harris
Affiliation:
Indiana University, Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology, Bloomington, IN, USA barkerbr@iu.edu gwroharr@iu.edu ecmcgoff@iu.edu https://folklore.indiana.edu/about/faculty/barker-k.html
Eric McGoffin
Affiliation:
Indiana University, Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology, Bloomington, IN, USA barkerbr@iu.edu gwroharr@iu.edu ecmcgoff@iu.edu https://folklore.indiana.edu/about/faculty/barker-k.html
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Lew-Levy and Amir (L&A)’s hypothesis that peer cultures contribute to cultural adaptation pulls from findings in children’s folklore studies. We consider the implications of two central theoretical concerns in children’s folklore scholarship, the triviality barrier and Newell’s paradox, and argue that the playful, parodical, and taboo-breaking nature of children’s folklore will be important for L&A’s hypothesis. Additionally, we suggest that adults’ tendencies to trivialize children’s folklore support the resilience of peer cultures in an adult-dominated world.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e226
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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