NEWS
#PlayConnects - Making Connections Through Play
Here are some resources about making connections through play.
The conversation around play so often focuses on youth, and rightfully so. Play influences the brain in a major way through development. There is so much to be said, learned, and implemented when it comes to thinking about the importance and benefits of play in the context of each cycle of human life. When we play as adults, we reduce stress, build connections, and practice cognitive flexibility.
Play connects us. Play transforms relationships and ecosystems, both social and environmental. We can learn from play practices and theories to build a kinder, braver, more intentionally connected world. Play connects caregivers to children, and harnessing the power of play in our adult sphere has never been more crucial. Play builds us up when we’re young, and it heals us as we grow.
Here are some resources about making connections through play:
WEBINAR: 5 Strategies for Building Stronger Connections with Children (HiMama)
Play: The Experience of the Unscripted Moment (Psychology Today)
Special Playtime (CDC)
5 group games from memory lane to pass on to your kids (Active For Life)
Connect, Regulate, and Teach Through Play (Generation Mindful)
Connecting to your Children Through Play (Child Guidance Resource Centers Blog)
In Elementary Classrooms, Demand Grows for Play-Based Learning (The Hechinger Report)
Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood (Trying Together)
“Play is Learning” Interview (Trying Together)
#SensoryPlay Resources for Children and Adults
Sensory play is a tool for people of all ages and backgrounds that helps ground and connect us with the world and people around us. There are plenty of ways to access this information online, but Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has curated a list for you to access.
Sensory play is a tool for people of all ages and backgrounds that helps ground and connect us with the world and people around us. There are plenty of ways to access this information online, but Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has curated a list for you to access. You’ll find resources geared for young people, tailored to adults, and framed for a range of abilities.
These articles, webinars, and videos are a great place to start for a better understanding of sensory play in practice.
Sensory Play for Young People
Kids’ Rhythm Instruments: Benefits for Autistic Children (Autism Parenting)
These Sensory Activities Won't Make a Giant Mess of Your Home (LifeHacker.com)
School Success Kit for Kids With Sensory Processing Issues (Child Mind Institute)
5 Benefits of Sensory Learning for Toddlers (Tinybeans)
Benefits of Sensory Play for Preschoolers - with Free Printables (HiMama.com)
Sensory Play Adult Resources
[VIDEO] Adults Need Playtime, Too, for Better Mental and Emotional Health (WDBJ-VA)
[PODCAST] The Powerful Pedagogy (FairyDustTeaching.com)
The Importance of Hierarchical Progressions Explained by Autism Expert Dr. Melanie Hsu (Beaming Health)
Outdoor Musical Instruments for Playgrounds - 3 Benefits (Playground Professionals)
Sensory Play Webinar Opportunities
Webinar Recording: Sensory Play for All Ages (Edxchange)
Webinar Recording: Sensory Processing Strategies (Advocate Medical Group)
Webinar Recording: Supporting Messy Play with Infants and Toddlers (Head Start ECLKC)
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and International Play Association
As of July of 2022, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative signed on to be an official member of the International Play Association (IPA).
About the Internal Play Association
The purpose of IPA is “to protect, preserve and promote children's right to play as a fundamental human right, according to the Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.” Article 31 says, “States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” Did you know that all nations eligible for signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child did, except for the United States?
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is dedicated to play advocacy. Our business has been advocating for recess locally, but we want to expand our conversation from focusing on local and national advocacy, to reaching and connecting with international efforts. In the month of October, IPA hosted two members only webinars: Building Social Cohesion and Community Wellbeing through Play and Providing for Play in Ukraine. Both webinars provided new perspectives on play, and affirmed that we’re engaged with equitable play practices other nations implement as well.
You can find more IPA information and updates on their website at:
Website: ipaworld.org
Facebook: facebook.com/internationalplay
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative’s Ultimate Play Day Highlighted by PLL City Network
In a new video, PLL highlights the annual Ultimate Play Day event, which is held in Pittsburgh and hosted by Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative:
On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, Brookings Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking and the Center for Universal Education, in partnership with Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN), hosted an in-person and virtual event to examine how cities are infusing playful learning in their communities.
As part of this event, Playful Learning Landscapes introduced its PLL City Network through a video. The Network is helping to build momentum and engagement around playful learning in urban areas across the U.S. and abroad.
The video highlights the annual Ultimate Play Day event, which is held in Pittsburgh and hosted by Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative:
Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages. This annual event is an opportunity for people from throughout the Pittsburgh region to play together and aims to raise awareness of the benefits of play for everyone. Partners and community organizations, such as fellow Collaborative Member and PLL City Network partner Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, offer play activities for all ages at a different venue annually. This past year’s Ultimate Play Day helped activate Liberty Green Park in the Larimar neighborhood.
For more information on past Ultimate Play Days, visit playfulpittsburgh.org/ultimate-play-day.
About
Playful Learning Landscapes (PLL) is a culturally adaptable and sustainable approach for creating more child-friendly cities by augmenting opportunities for play, learning, and healthy development in the public realm.
Learn more and visit PLL’s website by visiting playfullearninglandscapes.com/.
You may also enjoy findings from last year’s “Finding Joy Through Playful Learning” virtual conference.
Welcome our Newest Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members! - October 2022
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is constantly growing to help advocate for play in and around Pittsburgh!
Communities in Schools
Communities In Schools® (CIS®) surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
For more information, visit communitiesinschools.org.
Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition
The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is celebrating 50 years of community development! Through the coalition's planning of community-based initiatives, led by volunteer committees, Squirrel Hill residents and organizations have the space to both voice their concerns and rejoice in their celebrations with one another. From activities like tree-watering and litter patrol, to the night market and treasure dinner, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition helps facilitate community engagement through events involving service, social outings, education, and more facets of residential development. On the website linked below, you can navigate to the community calendar which has an event that caters to everyone
Be sure to follow the coalition on instagram @squirrellhillurbancoalition for further reminders and event details! For more information, visit shuc.org.
Dr. Sharon Ross, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Sharon Ross is an Associate Professor of Health and Human Development in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research centers on physical activity and healthy lifestyle promotion in children and families, with a particular focus on Latinx families. Her community-engaged research studies typically utilize trained community health workers (promotores in Spanish) to deliver the home- and community-based programs/interventions. Dr. Ross teaches courses on health equity and tailoring programs for diverse populations, evidence-based program design and evaluation, health promotion policy and program implementation, and improvement science methods. She lives in Greenfield with her husband, two daughters, and goldendoodle Axl. Her favorite way to get moving is to go hiking, walk her dog, or play at the playground with her daughters.
For more information, visit pitt.edu.
CitiParks
Citywide events, neighborhood festivals and year-round recreational activities truly enhance the quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh – 365 days a year. Whether you are looking for a relaxing walk through a park or a challenging run through the streets, check out this website for ideas about how to spend your leisure time seven days a week.
For more information, visit pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks.
Child in Mind Consulting
Child In Mind Consulting provides individualized developmental consulting for parents & educators of typical young children ages 0-5, at home or in the classroom (in-person & virtual).
"My philosophy is a play-based approach with a focus on mindfulness that allows children to curiously explore their environments through their senses, while learning to communicate their thoughts and feelings when present. This approach promotes freedom of choice, autonomy, and self-regulation. Raising/working with children tends to bring out the unhealed child in us. A mindfulness approach allows encouragement without force, reciprocal relationships, and self-expression. My philosophy teaches caretakers techniques to focus their awareness on the present moment to co-regulate with their child."
For more information, visit childinmindconsulting.com.
Play Around Pittsburgh: 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.
Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge held a Community Day fundraiser on Saturday, 9/19 to benefit the organization’s mommy concierge to continue to provide maternal health education. The organization had twelve families show up to the fundraiser. Kangaroo Birthing was able to raise an estimated $2,000 towards their maternal education efforts. See below a few playful images from the fundraiser!
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative provided games and equipment, including our popular oversized “Connect Four” game.
For more information on Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge, visit kangaroobirthing.com.
