About the Working Group on Play

At the 2009 World Forum on Early Care and Education, sixteen persons gathered from 10 countries to hold the first ever meeting for the Working Group on Play. Participants met for two consecutive days prior to the World Forum to explore themes such as creative play, promoting play in schools, and endangered play.

The group focused on four basic areas: explaining play, the influence of schools and home life on play, the influence of media and corporate cultures on play, and the role of gender and diversity on play. The immediate goal was to support one another in promoting play as a way to learn. We brainstormed about using slogans such as "Play teaches..." (filling in a particular skill), or "All children play!" or " Back to Basics: Play!" or "Play is OK!" Wouldn't it be exciting to see these ideas broadcast in media such as billboards, bumper stickers, or on media sites like facebook? We explored the idea of using videos (maybe youtube?) of children playing, along with commentary to describe what they learn through these activities.

The essential question evolved as, "How can we share information about the importance of play in the lives and learning of young children with parents , school administrators, elementary school teachers and others who do not understand the value of play?" We are hoping to help one another with information where we can find resources, ideas, workshops, articles, videos, activities - anything that we can use to spread the idea that young children learn best through play.

Contact Kathy Laskowski if you are interested in getting involved in this Working Group.