Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Update - September 2022

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View this email in your browser #HowDoYouPlay With School Back in Session? Welcome Back! As a child, recess was built into my day, but there were seemingly random times when our teacher would tell the class, “It’s time to play ‘Seven Up’!” With that phrase, the room exploded, the clamoring commenced, and the energy uplifted. “Seven Up” became a favorite recess pastime in elementary school. The game was simple enough: seven people stood at the front of the room, and everyone else rested their head on their desk, closed their eyes, and waited in unnerving silence. In that quiet classroom space, the seven people standing began to tip-toe around the room, lightly touching the shoulder of an anticipating (although unsuspecting) classmate. When all seven people made their choice, they returned to the front of the room. Next came the heat of the game. Those who were tapped on the shoulder stood next to their seat, and then declared who they thought nudged them. If you made the correct guess, you swapped places with the person standing in the front of the room who tapped your shoulder, and you got to be an active agent in the game. If you were wrong, you sat back down, as the people who might have selected you giggled, swayed in place, and maybe tapped their foot to no particular rhythm. This was a perfect game to kick off the start of the school year. This time of the year was always exciting for me because it helped me connect with friends, play, and learn twists on common games from other classmates. As the school year kicks off, remember that play doesn’t have to stop.  We want to know, #HowDoYouPlay when leaves start to change and the school year returns? Did you play “Seven Up” in elementary school, or did you play another schoolyard favorite like “Red Rover,” “Red Light, Green Light,” or “Four Square”? Take a trip down memory lane and share with us ways you played when school kicked back into full swing!  - Adam James, Assistant Director, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Back to School #HowDoYouPlay? Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative's #BeKind21 Campaign Recap Adam James Zahren answered 21 questions about kindness and what kindness means to them as a part of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative #BeKind21 campaign. We’re celebrating our successful #BeKind21campaign! You probably noticed our social media accounts promoting this hashtag throughout September. #BeKind21 is a campaign organized by Lady Gaga’s organization, Born This Way Foundation. During the first 21 days of September, participants were encouraged to practice kindness each day in order to make being kind a habit. Watch our video above to check out our 21 #BeKind21 questions with Adam! You can also check out Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative’s #BeKind21 social media campaign recap. Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative’s #BeKind21 Campaign NEW Game Rental Form Did you know that Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has a vast library of games, playboxes, and equipment to help you infuse play into your next event? Did you know that we recently updated our Google Form? That’s because we have a slew of NEW games and equipment that we can’t wait for you to borrow at no cost. If your organization has an event approaching, borrow some games or play equipment, and make the day one for the scrapbooks! Borrow Games and Equipment Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative's Member Playhouse Latest Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative member news and updates Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is constantly growing to help advocate for play in and around Pittsburgh! Welcome our Newest Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members!  Kenny's in Homewood Family Foundations Lion of Judah Enterprises Carnegie Mellon Entertainment and Technology Center Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Get to know the organizations and individuals joining the Pittsburgh Playful Collaborative as its newest members! New Member Profiles What Our Playful Members Are Up To! - Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was recently awarded a $235,000 grant from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust to plan, design and conduct community engagement for an outdoor sensory classroom at the Frick Environmental Center (FEC).  Read More About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Become a Member of Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Are you part of an organization that values play? Do you want to get involved with an initiative with like-minded folks dedicated to advancing the role of play in their own work, lives, and communities? Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is just the space for you! We’re always looking for new members, and we’d love to have you in the conversation. If you’re interested in joining the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, please contact us at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org or fill out this form and our Assistant Director Adam James will contact you! Join Us! Playful Happenings Around Pittsburgh Events and activities around Pittsburgh encouraging and advocating for play Be A Good Neighbor Block Parties (University of Pittsburgh) The University of Pittsburgh held four block parties with a totally of almost 600 long-term and student residents in South Oakland, North Oakland, Oakcliffe and Oakland Square. Read More Back to School Community Birth Doula Fundraiser (Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge) Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge held a Community Day fundraiser to benefit the organization’s mommy concierge to continue to provide maternal health education. Read More Upcoming Playful Events and Activities Local programming from Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative members. Featured Event: UnConference: Race Equity in Practice Saturday, 10/22 | 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Trying Together, in partnership with The Frick Pittsburgh, will host Unconference: Race Equity and Practice. Keynote speaker Dr. Rose Marie Allen will be presenting “Aware is Only Halfway There: Concrete Strategies for Supporting Children’s Racial Identity Development. Are you Ready?” Dr. Allen will discuss how awareness of racial equity is important, but not enough. Registration is now open and specific workshop dates and times will be added. UnConference Registration Additional Playful Events In Pittsburgh Asian Lantern Festival, Selected dates through 10/30 | 10:30 p.m. Storytime at Schenley Plaza, Friday, 9/30 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Child Health Day at Kenny's Homewood, Saturday, 10/1 | 1 - 5 p.m. Carnegie Fall Fest, Saturday, 10/1 | 2 - 7 p.m. Kid’s Day at Schenley Plaza, Sunday, 10/9 | 12 - 4 p.m. 40th Annual Latin American & Caribbean Festival, Saturday, 10/15 | 2 - 8 p.m. Family Day in Allegheny Commons Park, Sunday, 10/16 | 1 - 3 p.m. Chess Week in Pittsburgh Celebration, Sunday 10/2 | 12 - 4 p.m. Creatures and Crafts with The Ellis School and Humane Animal Rescue, Saturday, 10/22 | 1 - 2:30 p.m. Open Studio at the SLB Radio's Youth Media Center 2022-23 Schedule Mondays - Thursdays | 3 - 7 p.m. Saturdays | 1 - 5 p.m. Find More Events ICYMI: "Play is Learning” Interview w/ Emily Neff of Trying Together Trying Together was recently featured on an episode of the Voices for the Voiceless: The Student Experience podcast. In this episode titled “Play is Learning,” Emily Neff, Director of Public Policy for Trying Together, discusses the achievement gap in early childhood education, resources for teachers, and the importance of play for children today. Listen Here #HowDoYouPlay Back To School Resources Early Childhood Resources Teaching Children to Initiate Conversations Gives Them Needed Confidence (The Gainesville Sun) How Movement and Gestures Can Improve Student Learning (KQED) Separation Anxiety: Everything You Need To Know (Forbes Health) 20 Simple Ways to Get Active with Your Kids After School this Fall (Active For Life) Why Kids Need Free Play (and How to Protect Downtime) (Active For Life) Teen Resources Plenty of Sleep, Healthy Meals and Exercise are Part of Your Routine. What's Missing? (CNN Health) Learning and Love: A Lesson From Mister Rogers at the Start of a New School Year (The 74) 9 Books That Will Get Kids Moving and Exploring—from Toddlers to Teens (Active For Life) Adult Resources The Best Ways to Exercise on the Playground (Playground Professionals) Prepare for Back-to-School with These Fun Downloadables and Activities (SimplyFun) September Recalls on Children’s Products (Trying Together) Share Your Playful Events with the Collaborative Are you hosting an event and you want to get the word out about it? Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative can help! We developed this tool just for you 🤗.Simply visit the link to our Event Submission Form, and select the channels you’d like your event promoted through (including Kidsburgh), and let us take care of the rest! We’re happy to promote your playful event on our website, through our newsletter, and through social media. If you have questions, reach out to us at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org. Submit Your Event "Play gives children a chance to practice what they’re learning." –  Fred Rogers Copyright © 2022 Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to hear the latest news from the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative. Our mailing address is: Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative c/o Trying Together  5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 For questions, contact: Adam James Zahren/ Assistant Director  (412) 421-3889 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences   forward this email