PlayCore and GameTime continue to reboot play with scholarly research and product innovation that promotes healthy family togetherness outdoors. There’s never been a timelier message; nor a wider selection of new ways to get people engaged.

GameTime’s Expression Swing is the only swing that allows adults and preschool aged children to experience attunement, an important developmental bonding experience. The patented face-to-face design features a bucket seat for children and a comfortable adult seat so users can interact and experience one another’s facial expressions while swinging.

The Challenge Course also addresses the fastest-growing segment of outdoor recreation: obstacle racing. Designed to engage children and families–together–it’s a perfect way to encourage multi-generational fitness and recreation! See it in action here.

PlayCore’s ongoing research with top scholars continues to set the standard and help inform product development and grassroots advocacy. Coupled with their National Demonstration Site program, promoting best practice in nature, inclusive, and active play and fitness design, the company is truly building communities through play! Log on to GameTime and PlayCore’s websites, or contact info@playcore.com to learn more.

A big, loud, cheerful THANK YOU to everyone who gave on Giving TuesPLAY! Thanks to YOU we raised funds for two action grants and then some! With 100% participation from our amazing steering committee and dozens of first time donors, we cannot be more proud of our very first Giving Tuesday initiative.

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday is #GivingTuesday. It is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, the US Play Coalition was a part of #GivingTuesday, encouraging members, friends and play advocates to support us by donating to our Action and Research Grants to create our first ever #GivingTuesday Grants for playmakers and researchers whose work has the potential to improve and expand the Play Movement. We called it Giving TuesPLAY! (Get it?!)

Even though GivingTuesPLAY has passed, you can give play every day! If you believe in the value of play, please give when you can!

Supplies:
• 2 wooden craft sticks, ¾ inch wide
• 1 wide rubber band (approximately ¼ inch wide and 3 inches long (not stretched))
• 2 smaller rubber bands (approximately 1/16 inch wide)
• 2 strips of paper, ¾ inch x 4 inches
• 2 pieces tape

To make:
Put the two craft sticks together like a sandwich. Wrap the strips of paper completely around each end of the “stick sandwich.” Secure the ends of the paper with a piece of tape making sure the tape does not adhere to the sticks.
• Slide out one of the sticks, keeping the paper in place on the other one. Carefully set the stick with the paper on the table.
• On the empty stick, stretch the wide rubber band lengthwise from end to end. Carefully place the stick with the rubber band and set it on top of the stick with the paper. Do not put the rubber band stick inside the paper.
• Wrap a small rubber band around both sticks at each end.

To play:
Blow air through the small space between the sticks. Experiment with the amount of airflow to change pitches. Also try pinching the ends while blowing.

Source: ©2015. Joyce Hemphill, Laura Scheinholtz, and Heather Von Bank and adapted from The Power of Playful Learning.

Play is play. It has elements of being self initiated and process oriented, and it should be fun! However, what happens when play becomes ‘dangerous’ and we suddenly stop playing and remove our kids from that immediate danger? Do we panic? Do we scream? What do we do?

The first thing we need to understand is that there is a difference between hazards and risks in the play environment. Hazards can easily lead to a dangerous situation whereas risks in a risky environment may not necessarily lead to a dangerous situation.

Hazardous = As unsafe as possible (it is clearly dangerous, and the chances of injury are high)

Risky = As safe as possible: Given the situation and the possibilities, there is an element of risk, but it is not hazardous.

Think about it as a stop light:

Green light: unstructured play on a brand new play space, with a mixture of natural and artificial play parts that are all safe and usable by all children. Within that space there are no hazards and children are playing naturally, jumping off small objects, running in various directions, and having fun.

Yellow light: the same as above except there are more opportunities for children to take risks. For example, the rocks they are jumping off may be higher, there may be a few logs they can walk and balance along, or they may have opportunities to play going from high to low objects. There may be some dirt, rust and or bugs present. However, these opportunities to take risks in this environment are present but are not hazardous.

Red light: Here the play space would have rusted, jagged artificial structures, old boards would allow for a child’s foot to easily poke through, and nuts/bolts would be exposed in multiple areas of movement. This environment would be a hazardous environment where it would no longer be risky to use this play space, but in fact hazardous.

Ultimately, it is up to you as a caregiver, parent, or playground supervisor as to what you choose to expose your children to. However, it is important to always ask yourself before allowing your child to play, “Is this play environment risky or hazardous to my child?”

By: Ryan Fahey, B.Ed, BKin

Ryan is a new regular blogger for the US Play Coalition. He is working to develop our Play Ambassador program and spread the word about the Value of Play.

Earlier this month, several members of our steering committee were featured at GreenUrbanScape Asia 2015 – the region’s leading event for urban design, landscape and greenery. Co-chair Fran Mainella was the keynote speaker for the parks and recreation track of the conference held in Singapore. Her keynote address was “The Value of Play – A Key to Success for Cities and Nations.” Additionally, Fran offered a breakout session called, “The Play Prescription – An International Health Solution.”

Steering committee member and Playground Maintenance Training (PMT) Instructor Ken Kutska led a full PMT program as well as a session entitled “Facilitating the Balance between the Need for Safety and Risk: Whose job is it?” Both Ken and Fran participated in a panel discussion moderated by our own Tom Kalousek.

Grant funding is a distinctive feature of our annual Play Conference, and we are proud to have awarded $35,000 in funding to date. Through competitive funding opportunities, we offer both Action and Research Grants to playmakers and researchers whose work has the potential to improve and expand the Play Movement.

Our 2015 Research Grant Recipients from Appalachian State University have used our funds to pilot a pediatrician prescription program for outdoor play targeting children.  Currently, we have 3 local pediatricians providing patients and their parents with “Outdoor Activity in Nature” prescriptions and info on local places for play and why play is important.

One of our 2015 Action Grant Recipients is Play at the Core from Right to Play.  This year, using our Action Grant Funds, Play at the Core has piloted two different parent engagement formats—with the aim of familiarizing, and fostering confidence in using play-based learning practices in the home. They work in under-resourced Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in New York City located in the Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights.

Our other 2015 Action Grant Winners were from Missouri State University. Their project looked at providing appropriate play experiences for children with autism.  They worked with 28 children, grades K-12, with ASD from the Rivendale Institute of Learning and Center for Autism in Springfield, MO, and approximately 25 undergraduate Kinesiology majors at MSU.

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday is #GivingTuesday. It is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, the US Play Coalition will be a part of #GivingTuesday, encouraging YOU to support PLAY by donating to our Action and Research Grants to create our first ever #GivingTuesday Grants for playmakers and researchers whose work has the potential to improve and expand the Play Movement. We are calling it Giving TuesPLAY! (Get it?!) Big or small, your gift MATTERS!!

Our 2015 Research Grant Recipients from Appalachian State University have used our funds to pilot a pediatrician prescription program for outdoor play targeting children.  Currently, we have 3 local pediatricians providing patients and their parents with “Outdoor Activity in Nature” prescriptions and info on local places for play and why play is important.

One of our 2015 Action Grant Recipients is Play at the Core from Right to Play.  This year, using our Action Grant Funds, Play at the Core has piloted two different parent engagement formats—with the aim of familiarizing, and fostering confidence in using play-based learning practices in the home. They work in under-resourced Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in New York City located in the Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights.

Our other 2015 Action Grant Winners were from Missouri State University. Their project looked at providing appropriate play experiences for children with autism.  They worked with 28 children, grades K-12, with ASD from the Rivendale Institute of Learning and Center for Autism in Springfield, MO, and approximately 25 undergraduate Kinesiology majors at MSU.

YOU CAN HELP US GIVE MORE PLAY IN 2016 WITH YOUR GIVING TUESPLAY GIFT!  JOIN THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT AND DONATE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1!!!  YOUR GIFT MATTERS!!

Source: ©2015. Joyce Hemphill, Laura Scheinholtz, and Heather Von Bank and adapted from The Power of Playful Learning.

Don’t let the cold and damp weather of November put a damper on your golf game. Bring the game inside using what you can find around the house.

Supplies:

Equipment:

• Long paper tube (e.g., wrapping paper tube)
• Sponge (Note: Use a clean sponge for this activity. When finished playing, reuse the sponge for washing dishes.)
• Balls of various sizes OR crumpled newspaper/scrap paper

For the Course:

• Foam egg cartons (Wash egg cartons in warm soapy water or clean with anti-bacterial wipes)
• Plastic cups or canisters of various sizes and shapes
• Plastic container lids
• Paper tubes (e.g., wrapping paper tubes, paperboard tubes from trouser hangers)
• Cardboard or paperboard boxes
• Books

Hole Flags:

• Individual serving-sized yogurt, fruit, or pudding cups
• Round bamboo skewers

Other:

• Paper
• Marker
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Stapler

To make:

This activity works best in a room with lots of floor space.

• Using duct tape, attach the sponge to the long paper tube to serve as the golf club.
• On paper, design and plan the shape of the golf course. Think about fun challenges along the course and indicate where they will go. Examples of challenges include:
  • Putting the ball through an egg carton tunnel
  • Maneuvering the ball around obstacles, such as cups set upside down in a random pattern or groupings of paper tubes
  • Hitting the ball through a zigzag section made from paper tubes
  • Tapping the ball up and down a ramp made from pieces of cardboard and a stack of books.
• Use the various boxes, foam egg cartons, and/or paper tubes to create a barrier or bumper for the golf course.
• For the holes, lay the plastic containers, paper, and/or canisters on their sides.
• Identify each hold with a flag.
  • Make a flag by taping a triangular piece of paper onto the flat/smooth end of a bamboo skewer.
  • Insert the pointed end through exterior center point of the yogurt cup’s bottom.

The new Generation Swing by Little Tikes Commercial brings a whole new dimension to swinging.

The new face-to-face adult/toddler Generation Swing means that parents and caregivers are no longer relegated to the sidelines, pushing or simply watching their child swing. Now adults can experience the joy of swinging along with their children.

The unique design encourages social development and intergenerational play. It’s even great for siblings, grandparents and other caregivers! Everyone knows how important it is for children to get out and play, but we often forget that adults can also get involved and increase the benefits for everyone. When a toddler makes eye contact with their parent, both experience a rush of joy. This emotional connection through play is known as attunement play, which is strengthened when parents and toddlers are able to swing face-to-face, both experiencing the joy of swinging together.

Learn more about the Generation Swing here.

Often times our days are filled with busy calendars. Our routines and commitments keep us so busy that we forget what is actually important. Play is often overlooked and replaced by other “productive” habits which are usually outcome driven.

However, if you are reading this you probably are already bought into the idea that play can invigorate your day, enrich your week, and if done frequently can change your life for the better. In a book I just read called The Power of Habit, the author describes this well. He claims that, “Our lives are nothing more than a series of habits”. He is right. Our lives are really just a series of habits and decisions we choose to create and sustain. When we move or change jobs we often replace old habits with new ones. If this is true, it is also true that we need to be mindful in incorporating play into our daily lives as we become adults of habits. Our habits become more engrained as we age and become harder to change. However, if you are going to increase the prevalence of play in your life you need to start slowly placing it into your life by replacing existing habits that are tightly established. This intentional change can happen to allow you to have time in your schedule dedicated to “Play.”

Whatever that form of play looks like is totally up to you! You could incorporate any form of play you want ONCE you have made a habit of allowing time for it to happen each day.

I know that in my own life I have to be very intentional about including play into my daily routine. For me, working out is a form of active play! I literally think of the gym as a giant playground. If you were to see me in a gym working out you would totally see that I am clearly playing and enjoying the process more than the outcome.

I have also made a conscious effort to set aside 15-20 min per day just for unstructured play time. That could be for walking in the park, writing poetry (creative play) or singing when I am cooking a nice meal.. Some days I find it challenging to include play into my schedule but once I know I have that 15-20 min I choose to make the most of it!

The important thing to remember from this blog is that you are totally in control of including play in your daily routines, and you are fully capable of including play in your lifelong habits. It is up to you. I choose to enjoy and enriching life filled with play each day. Will you choose playful habits?

By: Ryan Fahey, B.Ed, BKin

Ryan is a new regular blogger for the US Play Coalition. He is working to develop our Play Ambassador program and spread the word about the Value of Play.