Facilitating Play
Play's the Thing:
Facilitating Play for Young Children
Save the Week: June 8-12, 2009
Sarah Lawrence College —a leader in child development and early childhood education—now offers a program on the overarching importance of play in the life of the child. Participants explore uses of play in learning and therapeutic contexts as well as approaches to serving as a “playworker” in a range of settings, including outdoor parks, children’s museums, and hospitals. Sessions on campus are complemented by field observations of children at play.
Keynote Address
“Playing for England: How Play Advocates Achieved a Play Strategy for England”Adrian Voce, Director of Play England
By combining theoretical perspectives with practical field experiences, students examine play across a wide spectrum of social contexts and environments. The program provides:
- Exposure to the world of play, including history, culture, development, sociology, advocacy, and practical applications
- Exploration of methods for working directly with children in both community and therapeutic play environments
- Timely, challenging, and rewarding educational experiences
- Close interaction with respected faculty and professional peers
- A relaxing small-college campus atmosphere
- Close proximity to New York City (30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan)
View a photo gallery from the 2008 Program»
The program is designed for professionals and graduate students who serve as:
- Social workers
- Early childhood educators
- Play therapists
- Child-life specialists in hospitals
- “Playworkers” in outdoor parks, playgrounds, and children’s museums
- Specialists in other areas of child development and education
Read comments from past participants»
Organized around the developmental importance of play, this summer intensive features:
- Lectures, discussions, case studies, hands-on seminars, and field-based observations
- An interdisciplinary approach to play
- Multiple perspectives offered by faculty and practitioners
Students are expected to read a set of articles in advance of the program and to prepare for seminar and workshop activities as required. All participants who complete the program will receive a certificate of attendance.