Zen masters. Taoist sages. Hasidic storytellers. Clowns and performance artists. Such prophets - and all the spiritual traditions have them - encourage us not to take ourselves too seriously. To our sensible selves, their actions seem silly, shameless, even shocking. But they have an important role in the spiritual life....
The Alliance for Early Childhood
OUR MISSION The Alliance for Early Childhood is a collaborative, community organization that supports and guides families and educators to nurture the healthy, well-rounded development of children from birth to eight years old. OUR VISION As a community, we can "put the child back in childhood" and build a strong...
Outdoor Play Canada
Outdoor Play Canada is a national organization that brings together advocates, practitioners, researchers and partner organizations to promote, protect, and preserve access to play in nature and the outdoors for all people living in Canada. Outdoor Play Canada provides leadership to galvanize the outdoor play movement across Canada to promote...
The Alliance for Self-Directed Education
Imagine what would happen if, instead of sending children to conventional schools where their natural ways of learning are curtailed, we provided them with the resources that would allow their curiosity, playfulness, and other natural ways of learning to flourish. That is "Self-Directed-Education" (SDE): education that derives from the self-chosen...
Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide
The Good Toy Guide was founded by child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer in 2012. Created to provide an independent, expert accreditation service for children's products, The Guide provides a trusted resource for parents and gift-givers to find truly Good Toys. Amanda has a PhD in Neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate...
The Hula Hoop Girl/Teach Hoop Dance
The Hula Hoop Girl is a body and movement play practice that guides adults to reconnect to their own natural born rhythm, evoke joy and a sense of freedom, and enliven creative expression to foster emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Hoop dancing is an embodied movement meditation practice that uses...
Guidepost Montessori
Guidepost is the world's largest Montessori network - With over 80 campuses across the US and Asia, and at home virtual learning programs. This site explains the Montesorri method and provides a means for finding their school nearest to you. Maria Montessori had this to say about play: "Play is...
The Recess Project
The design of a schoolyard can impact how students connect with each other - a connection that carries over into the rest of their school day. During the school day, children need regular opportunities to play, socialize, rest, and re-energize. These opportunities improve mood, well-being, resilience, and social harmony -...
Institute for Self Active Education
Mission The Institute for Self Active Education (ISAE) is a non-profit charitable organization established in 1980, founded by Dr. Walter and Kitty Drew. As a community of practice, it promotes self active play as a tool for encouraging and awakening the creative potential in children, teachers, parents and others to...
Kaboom!
Our Mission We unite with communities to build kid-designed playspaces that can spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for the kids who are often denied opportunities to thrive. Our mission: end playspace inequity for good.
Let Grow
We Are Leading the Movement for Childhood Independence Let Grow believes today's kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. We reject the idea that they are in constant physical, emotional or psychological danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies,...
Outside Play – Take a risk, go play outside
Helping parent, caregivers and educators gain the confidence and skills to support children's outdoor play. Includes interactive journeys through the site for two categories of individuals: 1) parents & caregivers and 2) early childhood educators Also explains what outdoor play is and why it is important. The site is supported...
PLAY & GROW
We want ALL children to THRIVE and it iswithin every child’s reach. How? Through PLAY! PLAY is the natural and holistic way young children learn. Fortunately, things happening in your everyday Life can serve as the basis for learning activities. Additionally, learning opportunities don’t have to be expensive. In fact,...
Learning Through Play – Lego Foundation
Children already know play is their superpower. We’re here to convince the grown-ups Children are born scientists and explorers Watch children play and you’ll see them experiment, imagine, work together, and overcome emotional ups and downs. They’re stretching their minds as well as their muscles. They’re learning. And they’re picking...
Play Like a Champion Today
Play Like a Champion Today is an independent 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing leadership in a worldwide effort to change the culture of youth sports through education and consultancy. Since 2006, Play Like a Champion has served over 130,000 coaches and parents through a network of 230+ partners across the United...
PlayCore
Our Mission Our Mission is building communities through Play & Recreation. Our Values: Play & Recreation We Believe that various forms of play, recreation, and physical activity are essential throughout life as they provide a healthy life balance and greatly enrich people of all ages and abilities. Leadership We Believe...
PlayMatters
PlayMatters is an Occupational Therapy Clinic specializing in serving families and children with Sensory Processing disorders. A child's "job" is to play and to learn. For a child, activities like running, swinging, climbing, buttoning, drawing, and writing are their "occupation." For some children, this comes naturally. For others, these activities...
PlayWorks
Playworks has been helping educators re-think playtime since 1995 We help kids to stay active and build valuable life skills through play. Playworks brings out the best in kids, through play Playtime is kids' time. But schools can and should create play environments that help kids be their best. Studies...
Right To Play
OUR MISSION To protect, educate and empower children to rise above adversity using the power of play. OUR STORY For more than 20 years, Right To Play has worked in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on earth to help children to stay in school and graduate, resist...
