from BillyPenn
by Karthika Swamy Cohen
What if parents didn’t have to take kids to a playground to get in some fun activity — but instead, the play space came to them?
That’s the idea behind Kathy Hirsh-Pasek’s Urban Thinkscape project, one of several initiatives planting activity and learning spaces all around the city where people naturally spend time with their kids. Think doctor’s offices, grocery stores, even bus stops.
For instance, Urban Thinkscape has taken a swath of land in West Philly — comprising a bus stop and surrounding empty lot and sidewalk — and turned it into a kid learning paradise. A puzzle on the back wall behind the bus stop inspires children to play while improving their math and spatial skills. Footprints on a hopscotch pad builds focus, and helps them understand patterns as they jump around.
