At a time of growing concern about increased childhood stress and illness, people are again looking toward creative play as an essential activity for a healthy childhood. Yet open-ended, child-initiated play has largely disappeared from children’s lives. “Children don’t know how to play anymore,” is a comment frequently heard.

Join us for a conference entitled, “The Play Initiative: Reconnecting Children to Play,” to be held at the Park District of Franklin Park on Tuesday, May 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at 10040 Addison Street in Franklin Park. We will explore the importance of play and ways to bring it back into children’s lives - in homes, schools and especially in community settings. The Chicago area is already a playful and creative center for children and families, but we will explore ways to expand our reach in the community.

Who should attend? Representatives and staff from local park districts, museums, zoos, schools, and child-focused non-profit organizations. This is a great networking opportunity!

We hope you can join us on May 15, that you will be inspired to bring play back to children in your own programs, and that you will meet others with whom you can collaborate. The conference is free, but we ask that you let us know if you are coming and whether you would like to order a lunch for $10. For more information or to register for the conference, please contact Maria Laskowski at 847-455-2852 or mlaskowski@fpparks.org.

Speakers:
Penny Wilson is a professional playworker and educator of young play specialists in the United Kingdom. She is experienced in promoting play with children of all ages, focusing especially on children with disabilities. This seminar is her third trip to Chicago.

Joe Modrich is Director of Parks and Recreation at the Park District of Franklin Park. Joe is a passionate supporter of play and will share ways that he and his staff have integrated play in their work with children and how this experience has been for children, parents and staff.

Joan Almon is an educator and serves as coordinator of the Alliance for Childhood, a national Maryland based group that advocates for play and works with parks, museums and other venues wishing to integrate play into their programs and communities. She will speak about play in children’s development and offer examples of how institutions and communities are supporting play.