Play has been deeply misunderstood, and even more so, undervalued. Play is not an ‘extra’ and it is so much more than toys. Play has given us a natural way to heal from trauma, to recover emotional health, to build community, and to take in and digest the world around us. In addition to all of this, play can provide the space for discovering the gorgeous possibilities we hold within us.

Join us as we embark on an exploration of PLAY– what it is and what it isn’t.

How can we both preserve play and intentionally bring it back into our lives, our learning environments, and our communities?

Each week, Tamara and I will engage in lively discussions on the topic of play.

How kids use play to deal with the really hard stuff in life.

It’s fascinating to see how kids use play to deal with the really hard stuff in life. Why do they play games that seem ghoulish or sometimes even inappropriate? How does this type of play help them to feel safe?

We’ve replaced play with entertainment: Why play matters and what happens when it’s gone?

Exploring the cultural shifts that have replaced play with entertainment and skill-based activities. Understanding the vital link between play and emotional health and what happens when play is lost.

Play is not always fun.

Play is not always fun. Really?! How? Why? What is play then?

Why are there common themes in play?

Why are there common themes in children’s play all around the world? What does this tell us about play? What does this tell us about children?

Stuck on repeat: How replay helps kids process the tough stuff.

Kids will often replay the big events in their lives. They may tell us the same stories over and over. Or we might see them using their toys to replay something scary that happened to them. Is this normal? Why do they do this?

Do we need to play with our kids?

What is the adult’s role in a child’s play? Do we need to play with our children for them to be healthy?

What is the link between play and inclusion?

People don’t change simply because they know things. We change because we FEEL things, because we are moved in some way. How does play help us to feel connected to others?

The secret power of playmode

Where does creativity come from? How is playmode different from outcome mode and why is it important to understand the difference?

Why kids need free play

What is free play? And why do kids need it?

When kids resist play

Play is kind of like sleep. You can’t push it or force it to happen – you can only make it easy to fall into.

Exploring emotional playgrounds

What is an emotional playground? How can we use these natural mediums to allow our emotions to move and bring us closer to our feelings?

Music as an emotional playground

What is it about music that allows us to tap into our inner world? Here we explore the magic of music in helping us feel our emotions.

Dance as an emotional playground

Of all the emotional grounds, dance can be the one that makes us feel the most vulnerable. This is its challenge as well as its incredible gift.

Drama as an emotional playground

Drama isn’t limited to productions and professionals. Here we explore many of the ways emotion can be brought to life through movies, dress up, puppets and more.

Stories as an emotional playground

Stories have the magical ability to both draw us in and draw us out. Why do stories make it easy to feel the sometimes difficult emotions inside us?

Art as an emotional playground

Art isn’t limited to paper, paint, and professionals. How can we harness the power of art to bring feelings to life and express what is inside of us?

Nature as an emotional playground

You don’t need to live in the wilderness to experience the wild. Here we explore how the natural world can soften us and bring us to our feelings.