A hub for family learning and creativity
PHA Youth and Family Center
The PHA Youth and Family Center features a collection of playful, community-centered installations designed to create a welcoming and engaging environment for children and families. The interactive Puzzle Wall invites visitors to collaborate and explore as they arrange pieces into colorful designs. Overhead, a flock of Origami Birds adds movement and visual interest, symbolizing imagination and connection. The Modular Bookshelf offers a flexible space for displaying books and fostering shared moments of reading and discovery. Together, these elements transform the Youth and Family Center into a lively gathering space where art, play, and community come together.
The Learning Goals
The installations at the PHA Youth and Family Center engage children and families in hands-on, creative learning experiences that blend art, literacy, and play. The Puzzle Wall, featuring two rotating puzzles, supports critical thinking as children turn the cylinders to align images and complete each design. The Origami Birds, a DIY activity where children create their own paper birds, nurture creative innovation by encouraging self-expression, imagination, and fine motor skills. The Modular Bookshelf, with cozy reading nooks and built-in literacy games, promotes communication as children and caregivers share stories, explore words, and engage in playful language activities together. Each element transforms everyday moments into joyful opportunities for discovery, conversation, and learning.
The Team
The PHA Youth and Family Center was created through a collaboration between Playful Learning Landscapes and the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), with fabrication by Jon Lubow, who designed the Puzzle Wall, and Future Together, who created the Modular Bookshelf installation.
Supporters
The PHA Youth and Family Center was generously supported by the William Penn Foundation, whose investment helped bring playful learning and creativity to this community space.
