"Let My Children Play" ©
A Hands-on Parent Play Education Training Program and National Media Campaign
We believe, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), "play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children” (Ginsburg, 2007, p. 182).
We believe, as documented by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), "play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation as well as for promoting language, cognition, and social competence” (Copple & Bredkamp, 2009, p. 15).
In spite of these recommendations by AAP, NAEYC and current research, play is overlooked and undervalued by parents as an essential source for their child's healthy development.
"Let My Children Play" © is a unique Parent Play Education Training Program designed to:
Inform and educate parents on the value and importance of self active play for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development
Support the goals of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Promote Developmentally Appropriate Practices as recommended by NAEYC
Strengthen communication and build enduring family relationships.
Help parents become active advocates of play in the lives of children and adults.
Using a variety of open-ended materials and carefully guided hands-on play experiences, parents develop a renewed understanding of the importance and value of play and ways of engaging in healthy developmentally appropriate play with their children.
American Academy of Pediatrics, www.AAP.org
National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.NAEYC.org
Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). (Eds.). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Chlidhood Programs. Washington, D.C.: The National Association for the Education of Young Children. www.NAEYC.org
Ginsburg, K.R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. PEDIATRICS, 119 (1),182-191. www.AAP.org