NEWS

Nathan Davidson 1/23/23 Nathan Davidson 1/23/23

Playspaces in Pittsburgh and How You Can Help Improve Them

Playful Pittsburgh and Citiparks have worked together to give you the inside scoop on spaces that are elevating play all around the city area, and spaces that need public input to help with community development, as well as continue the mission of making Pittsburgh a playful city!

Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative spoke with Sue Lucas, Communications Specialist at CitiParks, to inquire about renovations to local spaces and if there are any clever, new projects coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Sue mentioned that Sheraden Park is entering Phase I of the Sheraden Park Master Plan. Sheraden Park is located in the West End of Pittsburgh and serves the neighborhoods of Sheraden, Esplen, Elliott, Chartiers City, Windgap, and Crafton Heights.

Arsenal Park, which is located in the heart of Lawrenceville, is also entering Phase I of improvements with its Master Plan as well.

Sue also shared that Anderson Playground, or “the dinosaur playground” surrounding Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Greenfield and Four Mile Run neighborhoods, is getting an exciting renovation.

The most exciting aspect of these park renovations is that you can use your voice to influence the end result. Community public input sessions allow for participants to attend virtually, and allow you to give your input on the direction of the playground’s design.

Here are the upcoming Community Meetings for each park mentioned here:

As an advocate for creating, improving, and enjoying all of the various playspaces around Pittsburgh, our hope is that everyone living in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities visit a space that inspires play and playful moments.

One last thing before you go -- Check out these awesome Pittsburgh playspace resources:

If Kids Built a City
Which dinosaur do you want to see at the updated Anderson Playground? (Kidsburgh)
15 fun indoor play spaces in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region (Kidsburgh)
24 Indoor Pools and Indoor Water Parks around Pittsburgh for Wintertime Swimming Fun (Kidsburgh)
A Parent's Guide to Indoor Play Places in Pittsburgh (Macaroni KID)
27 Fun Family Friendly Things To Do In Pittsburgh With Kids (TheEdvocate)

Nathan Davidson 12/20/22 Nathan Davidson 12/20/22

The Transformative Power of Games

Games bring people together and help them connect with a new, common language [or a new understanding of body language].

During the conference when programming finished for the day, there was time in the evenings to play games with conference attendees and new friends. A slew of board and card games were strewn across the banquet table. There were more games to choose from than one could have found time to play.

A favorite of mine was Sparkle Kitty, a game like Uno where silly word strings help you to unlock your princess from the tower.

Another game, called The Mind, has a deck with 100 numbered cards labeled one through one hundred. Players must get their scrambled hands in ascending order. The catch? There’s no talking. There were also many student developed games that were open to testing. From remote control to virtual reality, there was really something for everyone to play at this conference.

So, what did I learn about the transformative power of games? Games bring people together and help them connect with a new, common language [or a new understanding of body language]. Learning a game with someone new is a fantastic ice breaker. As you play together, you come to understand the flow of the game better together. You help and support one another as game play continues. During our game play at the Conference, we all shared laughs and groans. We got on the same wavelength through play, networked, and made memories that none of us will soon forget.

To continue the conversation around how games transform us, here are some resources about gaming and play that resonated with me after attending this conference:

[BOOK] The Transformational Framework
Let’s Answer a Burning Question…What is a Transformational Game? (Schell Games)
Gaming the System: The Many Educational Benefits of Game-Based Learning (EdSurge)
[GAME] IMPACT: Learning Edition (KnowledgeWorks)
[BLOG POST] Intro to Making Games using the Transformational Framework (Chaos Theory Gaming)
Game-based Learning in the Classroom (Schell Games)
Learn Through Play (PA Promise)
[ACTIVITIES] 8 Brain-Building Games to Play in the Car (PBS Kids)
Children’s Play Time Is a Key to Early Learning (BucksCo.Today)
Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood (Trying Together)
Art Activities that Encourage Social-Emotional Development (Trying Together)

Looking for more suggestions? Try these unique games:

Nathan Davidson 12/1/22 Nathan Davidson 12/1/22

Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Partner Member Highlight - SLB Radio / Open Studio

SLB Radio’s Director of Programs, Deanna Baringer, shared their story about why Open Studio is a great, playful space for teens to explore future opportunities in media.

Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member SLB Radio recently unveiled their Open Studio at the Youth Media Center (YMC), a free after school program for teens in grades 6-12 who are interested in podcasting and media creation. SLB Radio’s Director of Programs, Deanna Baringer, shared their story about why Open Studio is a great, playful space for teens to explore future opportunities in media.

SLB Radio Open Studio Highlight by Deanna Baringer

Microphones are a little bit magical: turn one on and suddenly, small voices become big. They invite us to tell stories, sing songs, play games, share our truths, and can help build connections between people young and old, across geographical and cultural divides. This is the kind of work SLB Radio has been doing for decades: amplifying the voices of youth over the airwaves, broadcasting live on Saturday mornings from our studio co-located in the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and offering programming for youth at sites around western Pennsylvania.

In May of 2022, we realized a long-time dream as we opened the Youth Media Center, a state-of-the-art 3,500 square foot expansion of our studio space designed to serve as a home for youth creators in Western Pennsylvania. The Youth Media Center includes flexible classroom space, recording pods, editing bays, and shelves full of books, games, and more. It’s the perfect place for young people to not only record podcasts, but to be creative in all sorts of ways.

Teens interested in podcasting and media creation are invited to join us at the Youth Media Center for Open Studio, our free drop-in program for teen creators in grades 6 - 12. Here are just some of the thing students can do during Open Studio:

Create original podcasts and audio projects
Record original work, such as poems, songs, stories, and essays
Learn about writing, recording, editing, and more
Play games, have conversation, and make new friends

…and so much more! Our specialty is audio, but the Youth Media Center is a place where creativity of all kinds is welcome and encouraged. Open Studio runs throughout the school year with weekly after-school hours Monday through Thursday, and weekend hours on Saturdays–a detailed schedule can be found on our website.

Nathan Davidson 12/1/22 Nathan Davidson 12/1/22

Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Aims to Understand How Play is Perceived in the Pittsburgh Region with New Survey

The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Play Survey is seeking input from the public to gain a better understanding of how caregivers, educators, child care professionals, and kids in Pittsburgh currently play, what play resources they need, how they perceive Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, and their current knowledge and understanding of play equity.

Play Survey Details

Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative advocates for equitable play opportunities for all people. The Collaborative is encouraging people throughout Pittsburgh to participate in this survey in order to continue its work of elevating the impact and benefits of play.

Those that participate in the Play Survey will be eligible to win one of ten $25 Visa gift cards.

The survey closes February 1st, 2023.

About Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative

The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is a group of organizations dedicated to advancing the importance of play in the lives of children, families, and communities in the Pittsburgh region by:

Raising awareness that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages.
Educating decision-makers (from parents to legislators) in our region so that their choices support access to play for people of all ages.
Modeling (and inspiring) through various activities the actions we hope our broader community will take in their daily lives.

For more questions about the survey, or to learn more about Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, contact Adam James at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org or visit playfulpittsburgh.org.

Nathan Davidson 12/1/22 Nathan Davidson 12/1/22

#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)
How Bluey Became the Best Kids’ Show of Our Time No other series gets the strange, hilarious magic of play (Vulture)
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)

Nathan Davidson 10/27/22 Nathan Davidson 10/27/22

#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. 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