Everyday Learning Play Spaces Update

Early Learning Play Spaces planning team touring a space.​

Always Saving Space for Collaboration ​

By Sarah Vrabic
Project Manager, PEC Everyday Learning Play Spaces

The first collaborative Meet & Greet between Everyday Learning Play Spaces and The BELL Project was a success! 
On May 24th, BELL team members gathered with the Everyday Learning Play Spaces team on Zoom to facilitate “Play & Learning: Fun for Families and the Developing Child.” Parents staying in housing assistance programs with their children, the staff from those programs, and staff from high quality early childhood education programs joined us to play games and learn new ways to integrate play and learning into their daily lives.

Particularly during these times of uncertainty and stress, families are looking for new and creative ways to play with and nurture their children during their experience of temporary homelessness. We also wanted to model as a team how learning can happen naturally through play, and that play has as much benefit for adults as it does children. 
We facilitated games to play together throughout the workshop that parents and staff could then try again with their children every day. We had a lot of fun and shared many laughs and prizes!  

Example games included collectively creating a story together, telling it popcorn style around the zoom screen, and spinning a daily routine wheel to brainstorm ways to make daily activities fun and playful. These games are not only fun, but help build skills like self-regulation, confidence, and creativity. 

Here’s what some of our participants said about the event: 

“I had the best time ever!” – Housing program partner 
“Great exercises, thank you so much for this opportunity to connect.” – Housing program partner 
“I enjoyed it and learned a lot too!” – Parent staying in emergency housing 

Their sentiments can serve as a reminder that the benefits of play can be found every day and at any age!  

For more information about Everyday Learning Play Spaces, visit www.pec-cares.org/everyday-learning-play-spaces.​