August 27, 2025 Trying Together Asks Caregivers and Educators to Write Letters Advocating for the Importance of Play In recognition of the upcoming National Day of Play championed by the USA Affiliate (IPA USA) of the International Play Association on Sept. 20, Trying Together is asking caregivers and educators to take part in a letter-writing campaign to advocate for the importance of play for children in early childhood settings. Be an Advocate for Playful Learning Play-based learning and adequate recess time have been shown to support children’s health and holistic well being, aid in the development of executive function skills, improve behaviors, and increase academic knowledge acquisition. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the World Health Organization recommend one to three hours of vigorous activity for children each day and play-based learning as the primary instructional model for all of early childhood, birth to age 9, yet no state in the United States requires recess and most children in U.S. schools receive 40 minutes or less of recess per day. How Can You Help? Trying Together’s Advocacy Team recommends sending a letter to school principals, school board members, or other district leaders and mobilizing other members of the community to do the same. The Advocacy Team has put together a toolkit of sample letters to get started. Writers should be sure to include their own story and discuss why play matters to them. Letters can be sent by mail or email. Sample letters include ones for caregivers or teachers to administrators, ECE providers to school districts, formal memos to districts or birth to age 5 programs, and students. Another resource is a list of recommendations on physical activity by age. “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood“ -Mr. Rogers
July 14, 2025 PA Promise for Children Resource Emphasizes the Importance of Play PA Promise for Children has put together resources on the importance of play for children’s well-being and brain development. Learn More In The Importance of Play, PA Promise for Children notes that play is as important to a child’s well-being as work is for an adult. Play is important for brain development by teaching children new skills and how to share with others. It helps them to make decisions and learn about the world as well as work through scary and confusing experiences. But, PA Promise for Children writes, nearly 40 percent of elementary schools have eliminated recess or are considering it, and many kindergartners in full-day programs have no break for recess. Real Play Play workers in the United Kingdom consider real play to be “socially interactive, first-hand, and loosely supervised.” The American Academy of Pediatrics argues that play should be child-driven – not adult-directed – and that it is important that children have independent time away from TV, tablets, and video games for the purpose of producing “healthy, fit young bodies.” Encouraging play, PA Promise for Children notes, can help children who have time for free, open-ended play to score higher in reading and math tests. A lack of real play, on the other hand, can lead to childhood obesity, higher levels of frustration, stress, and aggression as well as a lack of creativity and imagination. Some of the types of play encouraged are: Large and small-motor play Language play (telling stories, making up silly songs) Construction play (building things) Sensory play (playing in mud or water) Make-believe play Rough-and-tumble and risk-taking play Symbolic play (turning a stick into a magic wand, for example) Mastery play (learning how to do new things) To learn more, read PA Promise for Children’s The Importance of Play.
March 18, 2025 Genius of Play Releases Book for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month The Genius of Play has released a book for children in honor of March’s National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Learn More The book – “Let’s Play: A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities” – focuses on how play provides an opportunity to engage in activities that best support their development. It notes that when there is focus on a child’s strengths, interests, and areas in which they need more support, a play approach offers opportunities to participate in the challenge level that is suitable for them. The free guide offers families a variety of adaptive, play-based activities to help children meet developmental milestones and promote social inclusion while having fun. The book can be downloaded on The Genius of Play’s website. The Genius of Play also offers play ideas for every age range, interest, and ability. Its resources include playbooks featuring games that help children to develop emotional intelligence, physical skills, and STEAM knowledge as well as activity sheets and other activities. The Genius of Play is a national movement spearheaded by The Toy Association to raise awareness about play’s vital role in child development.
August 8, 2024 Registration Open for UnConference: Beyond the Playground: Advancing Racial Equity in Play Registration is now open for UnConference: Beyond the Playground: Advancing Racial Equity in Play. Learn More Trying Together – in partnership with the P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education) Program, Hatch Partners in Play, and Playful Pittsburgh – will host the event on Monday, October 14 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants will attend expert-led sessions that focus on the value and necessity of play; the benefits of play-based learning; how school and state policy may impact their children’s play experiences; play, race, identity, and the arts; and the importance of risky play activities such as climbing and balancing. Keynote Speakers and Workshops This year’s UnConference will include two keynote addresses. Dr. Denisha Jones will present “Play as Liberatory Early Childhood Pedagogy” in the morning. The afternoon address will be “The Healing Power of Play and Optimism” by Antony (Ant) Toombs, of the Life is Good Playmaker Project. There will be two rounds of workshop sessions after the keynote speakers. PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available. Registration is required. Upon registration, attendees will be asked to select one workshop session from each timeframe. Workshops include: A session on the Playlab Framework that has been implemented in several public school classrooms in the region A dialogue-based workshop inspired by the playful engagement typical of a Parent LAB PLAY DAY A workshop exploring play equity and access in schools and communities A session exploring the critical role of risky play in early childhood education, highlighting its significance in fostering children’s physical, emotion, and cognitive development A session featuring P.R.I.D.E. artists as they share interactive themed art activities for early childhood-aged children Lunch will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to network with colleagues. More Details Free valet parking will be available for participants. Phipps is accessible via Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and POGOH, Pittsburgh’s bikeshare program. Some sessions will be held outdoors, so it’s recommended that participants wear layers and comfortable footwear. Some walking is required between sessions. Participants should note needed accommodations during registration and a Trying Together representative will reach out. Tickets for the UnConference are $25. Space is limited, so those interested in attending should register by Sept. 30. Event details are available on Trying Together’s UnConference page.
May 1, 2024 Recess and Play: Community Conversations Parents and caregivers of children, teachers, school leaders, and community members are invited to join Trying Together and Playful Pittsburgh for community conversations on play. Learn More Physical movement, the freedom to play, and playful learning during the school day improves a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills. However, many American children engage in less than one hour of unstructured play per day. We’d like to know how much your child is able to play. A community conversation being held on May 30 will discuss how play is a part of a child’s school life. The event will help attendees learn how to advocate for play and developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood. Dinner and child care will be provided to participants at the in-person event. There will also be a virtual event in June. Details Thursday, May 30 | 5 – 7 p.m. Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood, 134 East Elizabeth Street in Pittsburgh Register Monday, June 10 | 7 – 8 p.m. Virtual Register Can’t attend? Take the play advocacy survey to share your thoughts.
Recess and Play: Community Conversations Parents and caregivers of children, teachers, school leaders, and community members are invited to join Trying Together and Playful Pittsburgh for community conversations on play. Learn More Physical movement, the freedom to play, and playful learning during the school day improves a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills. However, many American children engage in less than one hour of unstructured play per day. We’d like to know how much your child is able to play. A community conversation being held on May 30 will discuss how play is a part of a child’s school life. The event will help attendees learn how to advocate for play and developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood. Dinner and child care will be provided to participants at the in-person event. There will also be a virtual event in June. Details Thursday, May 30 | 5 – 7 p.m. Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood, 134 East Elizabeth Street in Pittsburgh Register Monday, June 10 | 7 – 8 p.m. Virtual Register Can’t attend? Take the play advocacy survey to share your thoughts.
