The Latest from Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network
Here’s what we’ve been up to recently…
Youth Today: “Play streets” bring summer camp atmosphere to neighborhoods
from Youth Today by Stell Simonton This summer, select cities across the country will block traffic to “play streets,” creating child-friendly zones in urban neighborhoods that lack parks and other public amenities. In some cities, play streets are one-time events....
WHYY: Playstreets celebrate Fab Youth Philly play captains
from WHYY by Emily Rizzo Four Philadelphia teenagers were expecting an ordinary first day of work on Monday morning. Instead, they were met with a red carpet and community members cheering their names. The four teens, Jah’sier Brickett, Semaj Mcfadden, Makalah...
PLLAN Job Opening: Program Manager
from PLLAN Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN) fosters the creation of playful learning infrastructure and activities in everyday spaces where children and families gather. PLLAN works with communities, designers, and researchers to transform...
PBS SoCal: Santa Ana Families Design Playful Learning Experiences for Kids in the Community
from PBS SoCal by Hanh Truong Messages of gratitude and excitement from parents filled a Zoom chat on May 19, 2021, as organizers concluded the seventh workshop for the research project Stimulating STEM in the City: Co-Designing with Latinx Families to Promote...
The Hechinger Report: Twenty-six Studies Point to More Play for Young Children
from The Hechinger Report by Jackie Mader What if one of the answers to reducing inequality and addressing mental health concerns among young children is as simple as providing more opportunities to play? A growing body of research and several experts are making the...
Bloomberg CityLab: Let’s Declare this the Summer of Play
from Bloomberg CityLab by Alexandra Lange On July 5, 1976, Philadelphia capped off the nation’s bicentennial celebrations not with flags and fireworks — all those grand displays were held on the 4th — but with play. Frisbee Golf on Winter Street. Paper airplanes at...
PLLAN: Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network Welcomes Sarah Lytle, Ph.D.
from PLLAN PLLAN has a new head of its leadership team! We are pleased to welcome Sarah Lytle, PhD. Sarah comes to PLLAN after a decade at the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, where she was most recently the Director of Outreach...
Early Learning Nation: Top Takeaways from Three Sessions of the Finding Joy Through Playful Learning Conference
from Early Learning Nation by Mark Swartz Contributor Mark Swartz tuned in to three virtual sessions from the recent Finding Joy Through Playful Learning conference sponsored by the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN). Keep reading here...
The Gazette-Virginian: A thought process for ‘Thinkscapes’ in Halifax, South Boston
from The Gazette-Virginian by Miranda Baines The managers of the Downtown South Boston Farmers’ Market and the Halifax Market Place both are designing downtown “Thinkscapes” to promote childhood learning through play. “The whole goal for the Thinkscape is to have a...
Star News Philly: A children’s playful learning installation is coming to Bridesburg
from Star News Philly by Tom Beck Later this year, young children in 16 neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia will have the opportunity to engage with brand new playful learning installations designed to create literacy-rich environments, strengthen caregiver-child...