NEWS
Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health
As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting their children’s healthy development.
As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting their children’s healthy development. While it may sound like a big task, the first step is simple: incorporate developmentally appropriate activities into your daily routines!
Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health
According to the DAP series created by Trying Together, children’s early experiences play a critical role in their physical development. To best support growth, children need:
Access to fresh, healthy foods to receive the proper nutrition they need to grow;
At least one to two hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity or active play daily, depending on age;
Caring and supporting relationships with others in environments that don’t impose high stress and;
Regular health screenings and wellness exams to monitor healthy growth and development.
Play promotes healthy physical development by enhancing gross motor skills, like running, jumping, and climbing, which proves crucial for coordination, balance, and strength. Additionally, engaging in physical activities at a young age creates a strong foundation for maintaining an active lifestyle throughout life, leading to better physical fitness in the long run.
Engaging in physical play is beneficial for cognitive development in children. It stimulates their brains, promotes the growth of neural connections, and enhances cognitive abilities. Active play also helps develop problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and executive functions, such as planning, decision-making, and self-control.
Engaging in physical play is essential for a child's physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. It allows children to learn vital skills such as interacting with peers, cooperating, taking turns, and negotiating. These skills, in turn, help foster social skills and empathy.
Educators and caregivers can support the overall development of children by incorporating physical play into their practices. The infusion of both of these things helps children thrive physically, cognitively, and socially. Regular opportunities for active play are essential, and it's crucial to prioritize this aspect to ensure children can access the benefits of an active lifestyle from a young age.
This resource is available as a printable PDF (English) (Español).
To learn more about DAP and play, visit Trying Together’s Developmentally Appropriate Practices webpage.
Photo Credit: Crystal Joy Photography
How I’m Enjoying My Playful Summer
Summer provides many opportunities to enjoy, discover, and sometimes rediscover our playful side in many unique ways.
Photo Credit: Crystal Joy Photography
A Message from Adam James, Assistant Director
Summer provides many opportunities to enjoy, discover, and sometimes rediscover our playful side in many unique ways.
Have you explored the Kidsburgh-promoted activities? They offer a fantastic range of engaging experiences for children and their families. Have you visited your favorite Pittsburgh Park and strolled under the cool shade of towering trees? Or have you indulged in some wet and wild imaginative adventures at our local swimming holes or spray parks, finding relief from the summer heat? What about the renowned museums Pittsburgh has to offer? Have you ventured to one of these cultural havens to marvel at their treasures and escape the sun's scorching rays?
Visiting Kennywood Park
Speaking from personal experience, I find joy in indoor activities. The sweltering sun is too intense for me. However, this year, I've discovered immense delight in regular visits to Kennywood Park! Coincidentally, my partner and I recently moved to Swissvale, positioning us just ten minutes away from this nationally recognized amusement park. The allure of Kennywood, with its thrilling rides (and mouth-watering Potato Patch Fries!), never fails to captivate me. And the park consistently offers new and exciting attractions that keep the excitement alive.
Exploring Museums During Summer
When I'm not wandering through Kennywood's gorgeous grounds, you might find me immersing myself in the wonders of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History or Carnegie Museum of Art. These cultural gems constantly unveil new exhibitions, ensuring every visit feels unique and enthralling. The rotating art displays allow me to pause, reflect, and appreciate different pieces depending on my mood. Meanwhile, the Museum of Natural Museum presents abundant knowledge and fascinating discoveries, always leaving me eager to return for more enriching experiences. I encourage you to explore these incredible spaces and immerse yourself in their captivating offerings. These cultural locations also offer regular events, so be sure to check their events calendars for more summer programming information.
Photo Credit: Crystal Joy Photography
Summer is a time for adventure, discovery, and embracing the playful spirit within us. We at Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative are here to inspire and guide you toward memorable experiences. Whether you soak up the sun's warmth or seek solace in air-conditioned havens, we hope this summer brings you joy, laughter, and countless moments of playful wonder.
2023 Summer Play Resources
Want to find out what’s happening this Summer? Visit the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Summer Play Resources page for more!
DAP Dive Series: Introduction to Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP)
Developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) encompass a set of guidelines and principles that promote optimal learning experiences for young children.
Photo Credit: Crystal Joy Photography
Developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) encompass a set of guidelines and principles that promote optimal learning experiences for young children. At the heart of DAP lies the recognition of the crucial role of play in a child's development. Play is a powerful tool that intersects with various aspects of developmentally appropriate practices, fostering growth in all domains.
Play is inherently child-centered, aligning with the principle of individualization. Children play based on their unique interests, abilities, and needs. This self-directed exploration allows them to exercise their autonomy and make choices, leading to a deeper understanding of their capabilities.
Play also facilitates social-emotional development by encouraging interactions and cultivating empathy. Children learn to negotiate, communicate, and resolve conflicts through cooperative play, developing critical social skills. They also explore and express their emotions, building self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
In addition, play supports cognitive development by stimulating curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Playful activities engage children in hands-on exploration, which promotes active learning and fosters creativity. Children experiment with different roles and perspectives as they construct imaginary scenarios, enhancing their cognitive flexibility and imagination.
Play also helps children develop physically by engaging in large and small movements. Movements include running, jumping, climbing, and manipulating objects, which all work together to build coordination, strength, and agility. Play also promotes healthy habits and an appreciation for an active lifestyle.
In summary, play is a powerful catalyst at the intersection of all developmentally appropriate practices. It empowers children to actively participate in learning, nurturing their social-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. When we, as caregivers and educators, embrace play as an integral part of education and child development, we pave the way for holistic and meaningful experiences that optimize children's potential.
To learn more about DAP and play, visit Trying Together’s Developmentally Appropriate Practices webpage.
UPDATED: Summer 2023 Play Resources
Summer has arrived and Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has gathered a variety of guides and resources to inspire a summer of play.
Photo credit: Crystal Joy Photography
Summer has arrived, which means sunnier days, warmer weather, and a lot of opportunities to explore the world of play!
Whether you are hiking on a local park trail for a scavenger hunt, soaking in the fun at a pool or water park, or attending a arts or music festival, summer months gives us the perfect time to discover news hobbies, spend time with the ones you love, take a vacation adventure, and most important, get outside and play!
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has collected the following inclusive resources to help you to enjoy the summer in various playful ways:
Summer Guides
Pittsburgh City Paper's 2023 Summer Guide, Pittsburgh City Paper
Your Kid-Friendly Guide to Nearly 100 Pittsburgh Summer Events, Many of Them Free, Kidsburgh
CitiParks 2023 Summer Guide, CitiParks
CitiParks Announces Summer Activity Schedules for Concerts, Movies, and More, CitiParks
2023 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Summer Programming Guide, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Summer Bucket List: 10 Things to Do in Pittsburgh, NEXTPittsburgh
Our Guide to Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Pools, NEXTPittsburgh
Summer Resources
CitiParks Announces Free Pool Access for Area Youth, Trying Together
Allegheny County Shares Summer Safety Guidance, Trying Together
Strategies to Foster Risk Taking During Outdoor Play, Trying Together
Summer Safety for Babies and Toddlers: Expert Advice on Heat and Sun Exposure, Kidsburgh
12 Great Swimming Pools in Pittsburgh and the Surrounding Region, Kidsburgh
A Free Membership Just for Teens, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Live Well Allegheny Launches “Rethink Your Drink” Campaign to Promote Healthy Water Drinking Habits
Live Well Allegheny has launched a campaign to promote healthier beverage choices, called “Rethink Your Drink.”
Photo credit: Live Well Allegheny
Live Well Allegheny has launched a campaign to promote healthier beverage choices called “Rethink Your Drink.” The campaign provides education on the effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, like sodas and most juices, and encourages water as the best drink option to build healthy habits in children and teens.
(This post was updated on August 3, 2023 to include the Rethink Your Drink campaign Recipe Cards).
How To Participate in the Campaign
Allegheny County residents, schools, municipalities, afterschool programs, child care centers or providers, and community partners are encouraged by Live Well Allegheny to get involved in the campaign through a variety of methods.
Visit the Rethink Your Drink campaign webpage to find more resources and information, including a campaign toolkit. The toolkit includes:
Activity ideas for things to do at home, a community event, school fair, or summer camp;
social media messages; and
resources about the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages for children and families.
Those interested in participating can access free campaign materials, including water bottles, through the Rethink Your Drink Campaign Request Form.
Rethink Your Drink Fruit Infusion Activity and Recipe Cards
To further promote the importance of drinking water, Live Well Allegheny has created a Fruit Infused Water Activity and Recipe Cards to "infuse" some fun into regular water drinking habits.
About Live Well Allegheny
Live Well Allegheny, an initiative of the Allegheny County Health Department, is a county-wide campaign to improve the overall health and wellness of Allegheny County residents.
Visit the Live Well Allegheny website to learn more about the program and the Rethink Your Drink campaign.
2023 Ultimate Play Day Recap
Ultimate Play Day 2023, held at Lower McKinley Park, was terrific! Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative wants to give a giant shout-out to everyone who made this event a phenomenal success!
2023 Ultimate Play Day Recap
Ultimate Play Day 2023, held at Lower McKinley Park, was terrific! Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative wants to give a giant shout-out to everyone who made this event a phenomenal success!
Photo credit: Crystal Joy Photography
It was sponsored by Trying Together, CitiParks, and ZeroFossil as part of Remake Learning Days, and despite the rainy weather at the start of the event, the day was unforgettable. As soon as we started line dancing, the sun came out, the rain stopped, and the fun continued. With 27 playful partners present, interactive activities were abundant for everyone to enjoy.
From balloon art to airbrush tattoos, from a pop-up ball pit to art projects, there was something for everyone, especially adults, to experience the joy of being a child and playing again. Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative sincerely hopes everyone who did attend remembers to infuse playfulness and fun into their daily routine. We all need to experience the side effects of pure joy.
The transformative power of play is endless. It brings people together, fosters relationships, and teaches us vital communication, sharing, and conflict-resolution skills. Both children and adults benefit greatly from play. It's truly amazing to witness playful interactions occur naturally. Walking around the event and witnessing all the exciting interactions was genuinely magical. Play unites us and helps us understand each other with more empathy.
This event required a collective effort, and we couldn't have achieved it without the support of our community partners and attendees. Thank you all for joining in on the fun!
Photo credit: Crystal Joy Photography
Immense gratitude goes out to all the organizations who supported Ultimate Play Day with an interactive activity:
Babysitting Logistics LLC, Affiliate in Play (Tier 1)
Carnegie Mellon University - Entertainment Technology Center, Activist of Play (Tier 4)
CitiParks, Scholar of Play (Tier 3)
City Squeakers, Promoter of Play (Tier 2)
Hatch Partners in Play, Activist of Play (Tier 4)
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Promoter of Play (Tier 2)
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Promoter of Play (Tier 2)
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Activist of Play (Tier 4)
Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library, Promoter of Play (Tier 2)
Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, Believer of Play (Base)
Sunshine Parties And Play LLC, Promoter of Play (Tier 2)
The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Activist of Play (Tier 4)
Trying Together, Activist of Play (Tier 4)
University of Pittsburgh - Department of Health and Human Development, Opt-in to Play (Floating)
Venture Outdoors, Affiliate of Play (Tier 1)