Plan to Play

You may already play with your kids, but if you are like many of us, we squeeze it in between work, school, carpools, the laundry, the grocery store, etc. A recent article from the American Academy of Pediatrics reports,

Free and unstructured play is healthy and, in fact, essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.

Celebrate the importance of play for healthy early child development and join Providence Plays!, the first citywide play-a-thon, scheduled to take place on April 23.

Many educational centers and organizations around the city have been invited to participate in this event. You don’t have to be a part of one of the organizations to play, just arrange 45-60 minutes of uninterrupted free play with your children (no laundry or cell phone). I know I’ll be playing that day because I’ll be at my boys’ school, Child’s Play, and this parent-teacher cooperative school has built its curriculum around the idea that kids learn best through play.

Want some play ideas? Head to the park, build a tower of blocks, have a puppet show, play a board game or visit the following local open spaces to play on April 23:
10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Federal Hill House, 9 Courtland Street, Providence, RI.
1 pm - 2 pm. Roger Williams Park Zoo Education Center. (401) 785-3510.

Providence Plays! is sponsored by the Providence Partnership for Young Children. This new group of organizations and individuals are united in the belief that a young child’s healthy social, emotional, physical and cognitive development lay the foundation for future learning and leads to success in school, life and in society. The members of the Partnership work together to ensure that all infants and toddlers will experience nurturing relationships and strong families that provide positive learning opportunities.

The Providence Partnership for Young Children believes that everyone plays a part in giving children a healthy start. Research shows that a community that addresses the needs of its youngest members by supporting their families and caregivers will reap the benefit of a healthier and more productive future citizenry. Fnd out how you can join the Partnership in this important work. Contact Angela Muccio (Project coordinator) at (401) 421-4722, ext. 24 or email amuccio@federalhillhouse.org.

Category: education + schools, free / cheap, special events