We make kids happy! We can make you happy too! We’re looking for high caliber distributors who want to sell more! SportsPlay Equipment makes many unique play and playground products at value price points. We operate an open distributor network without assigned geographic territories and are always looking for aggressive companies who want to offer more products and make more sales. Make your move to sell SportsPlay Equipment. . .and sell MORE. We’ll make you happy!
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PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TRAINING The two-day Playground Maintenance Technician Training focuses on practical playground maintenance activities, inspection principles and best practices in making repairs. This program does not focus on play theory or memorizing standards.
Participant Benefits
• Learn about materials! Learn how to maintain playground equipment made of metal, plastic, wood and concrete • Learn about safety! Understand how to take damaged equipment out of service safely, keep proper records, and identify potential legal issues related to playground maintenance • Learn about surfaces! Learn how best to maintain unitary and loose-fill surfaces as well as fasteners and connectors • Cost effective! Train front-line maintenance staff at an affordable price • Ensure your equipment lasts through its useful life! Improve playground user safety and prolong the useful life of equipment
Upcoming Playground Maintenance Technician Programs • April 21-22, 2020: Wauwatosa, WI – Cities & Villages Mutual Insurance Company • September 9-10, 2020: Glenwood Springs, C0 (CIRSA members only) • September 21-22, 2020: Wheeling, WV – Oglebay National Training Center • September 23-24, 2020: Gunnison, C0 (CIRSA members only) • September 23-24, 2020: Tennessee Recreation and Park Association
Want to host a PMT program in your area? Contact the Program Coordinator at the Eppley Institute pmt@eppley.org Find out more at
www.playgroundmaintenance.org
Contents
Play and Playground Magazine | Volume 20 No. 1 | Spring 2020
8
Features 7
Maddie’s Magnificent Play Park
8
Play – An Entitlement Of Childhood
by Victoria Babb
by Joanna Priyadarshini Udaykumar
10 Play Deprivation and Its Impact Now is the Time For Play
by Deanna Tomaselli and Lynn Campanella
10
14 New Concepts to Encourage Outdoor Health and Wellness For All Ages by Michele Breakfield
18 Play Partners & Funders Why They Are Both So Importants by Pat Rumbaugh
14 DEPARTMENTS 5
4 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
CPSI Course Calendar
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
ay
CPSI Course Calendar
CANCELLATIONS During this time of uncertainty, we urge everyone to follow the guidlines set out by the CDC and otherUS government including Playsources, Coalition avoiding gatherings of 10 or more Coalition people. Most, ifpresents not all CPSI Courses will be postponed or cancelled. Please consult nrpa.org or your states park and recreation association for detials.
presents CALL US FOR PRICING
609-882- 0366
Maintenance and Inspection Device The GFactor is easily operated by one person.
Meets dimensional requirements of ASTM F1292/F355/F3313
Visit our website: GFactorGo.com
March 29 - April 1 US Play Coalition ONLINE Conference
nternational/Global Playpace • Multi/Intergenerational & Adults at Play • With the rapid of the Accessible Inclusive • Health, Recreation & Play • COVID-19 &outbreak, wePlay are officially ay • Multi/Intergenerational & Adults at Play • moving the 2020 Play Play Conference ture Based & Outdoor • Education & Play • Designing for Play • usive Play • Health, Recreation & Play • to an online format. We feelinit’sPlay the • Nuts & Bolts Emerging Trends r Play • Education & Play • Designing for Play • right and responsible thing to do. g Trends in Play • Nuts & Bolts
@usplaycoalition @usplaycoalition
re andwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine Register for the Play Conference usplaycoalition.org
SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 5
Magazine Publisher | Webmaster Jake Amen
Editor Sara Bowersox
Design Jake Amen
Accounting Brad Smith
Contributing Authors Victoria Babb
Message From the Editor
Sara Bowersox
NORMALLY I SHARE some of my playful activities with you in this editorial. Even though I did spend a week on the Big Island of Hawaii, it seems a bit trivial to talk about that now. We are in the uncharted territory of social distancing to flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread. We at Play & Playground Magazine and https://www.playgroundprofessionals. com/ have always strived to bring you the latest information on play and the playground and parks industries. We will continue to do that as well as share resources as we can to help weather this storm. I have full confidence that all of you playful people will find creative & resilient ways to help your families and communities. I am very sad not to be at the Play Conference this year. Attending for the
past couple of years has been a wonderful experience. I’ve gotten to know some great people, learned some interesting insights about human development and the need for play, and curated some excellent content for our website and magazine. If you are presenting a virtual session, or attending one, that you think needs to be shared far and wide, please email me! We want to continue spreading the word of the good works of this conference and the US Play Coalition in general. This issue covers how important play is in the lives of children along with the impacts of not getting the necessary play. You can also read articles about outdoor health, accessible playgrounds and the importance of partnerships. We value our partners in content and advertising.
Message from the Publisher
tice what Play and Playground Magazine preaches like never before. In order to facilitate play in my household, I will be reviewing and referring to our archive of informative articles available on playgroundprofessionals.com. The kids and I plan on a spring hike this weekend, which will provide us with about as much social distancing as you can get. Just this morning my 6-yearold daughter and I had a Jojo Siwa danceathon in the kitchen. We definitely broke a sweat, even though it may not have looked pretty (at least my dance moves didn't). We will strive to continue daily physical play. I hope you will do the same. Stay healthy and stay at play.
Lynn Campanella Michele Breakfield Pat Rumbaugh Deanna Tomaselli Joanna Priyadarshini Udaykumar
Copyright, 2019 published by Playground Professionals, LLC, 4 issues per year, sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for content of ads and submitted materials, mail permits.
Jake Amen
AS A FATHER OF 3, the fast-moving developments of the Coronavirus pandemic have presented me and parents all over the world with a dilemma. Nation-wide school closures, with the potential for schools to stay closed for the remainder of the year, have forced millions into a home-school situation. For me, I was overeager for our school district to make the call, obviously because of the dangers posed by the virus. Now, my children are home indefinitely, and I am already fearful that the wifi will be on overdrive. This pandemic will force me to prac-
CORPORATE OFFICE Playground Professionals LLC P.O. Box 595 Ashton, Idaho 83420
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MADDIE’S MAGNIFICENT PLAY PARK Colonial Heights, VA by Victoria Babb “IN THE DISABILITY WORLD, we don’t see color, we see diagnosis. Our normal is not so normal, except to us”. - Jamie Mann Jaime Mann, the founder of The Maddie Mann Foundation for Accessible Play, choked back tears as she spoke to the crowd who gathered before her on December 7th, 2019. It took 5 years to get to this point – the summit to a climb that on some days felt insurmountable. Together with the City of Colonial Heights, faithful volunteers, and Play 4 ALL – the social impact division of Cunningham Recreation, a play campaign was waged and won. Jamie went on to explain, “barriers are our norm.” Maddie uses a mobility device and lives with numerous health conditions that make the most common daily tasks difficult. Despite ADA laws and a heightened awareness on accessibility that has evolved over the past decade, playgrounds pose barriers that prevent a percentage of children and adults the opportunity to access and be included. The crowd on that chilly, yet sunny, December day clapped feverishly, tears streaming down faces as Maddie, her father Michael, Jamie, and other family members cut the ribbon to Maddie’s Magnificent Play Park. Located in White Bank Park, this Inclusive Playground was designed using Playcore’s 7 Principles
of Inclusive Design™, a research-based guide to creating spaces that truly ensure not only access but inclusion. Every element is mindfully designed to fulfill the developmental needs of the whole child and the whole family. “For the first time, in 20 years of life, she is going to be able to meet at the local play park and not be forced aside or segregated from everyone else,” Jamie shared. As children ran to play on the equipment, Maddie was now able to join them by navigating up to the highest decks thanks to the poured-in-place rubber surfacing and the fully ramped play structure. With his family by his side, a soldier who had been wounded, joined from the nearby pavilion. People buzzed around the entire play space, regardless of age and ability…together. This flagship playground was a beacon of hope for many years to so many people and is now a reality. “The City of Colonial Heights was excited to partner with Maddie Mann Foundation, Play 4 ALL and Cunningham Recreation to bring a barrier-free playground to White Bank Park. We are experiencing a tremendous increase in attendance to the park thanks to the playground,” stated Parks Director, Craig Skalak. None of this would have happened had Maddie’s parents accepted their “normal” and resigned to the fact that their child would not be able to play like the other children. Instead, they saw the barriers that stood before them as a calling to make a change. Play 4 ALL worked
closely with the Maddie Mann Foundation and local volunteers to identify and mobilize philanthropic resources. Tools were created to tell the story and engage donors. A dedicated grant writer stepped up to help submit proposals. Slowly but surely money started to trickle and finally, roll in. It was the philanthropic spirit of community groups, foundations, corporations and individuals that hoisted the small, yet mighty non-profit to the top of their mountain. Thank you to the Colonial Heights community and beyond for believing in a mother and father’s vision to change the world one playground at a time.
AS SOON AS THE GIRLS HAD COMPLETED THEIR HOMEWORK, Mom signaled, “hey girls, it’s Playtime!” Immediately Suzie ran to the balcony of their apartment and tossing the ball to Stephanie, yelled – “Catch!” Stephanie attempted to grab the ball, but it slipped out of her tiny palms. She exclaimed- “Oops! I missed again” to which her sister replied, “try one more time”. The ball toss continued till little Stephanie proudly declared - “Yipee…I finally caught it!” Suzie too was delighted and said, “Playing is so much fun!!” Play is a multifaceted activity ranging from peekaboo, patty-cake, and Lego to organized sports like soccer or gymnastics. Research indicates that between three and twelve, a child’s physical growth accelerates, making them pursue vigorous outdoor activities like running, climbing and jumping. This stimulates their 8 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
muscle growth, activates their digestive system and enhances their brain development (Jenson, 2000). Hence, children’s impulse to play is a biological, psychological and social necessity that propels them to engage in diverse activities, both indoors and outdoors and their innate desire to explore the world determines the intent and content of their play.
Factors Influencing Play Today
Although play is dominantly a biologicallybased activity of children’s lives in all cultures, it mirrors their family ethnic practices and social values. The radical shift from physical to sedentary play activities has garnered attention from educators and health professionals in ‘digital India’ too. According to reports by EduSports (2014), an annual health and fitness www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
survey, 40% of Indian children suffered from chest infections and lifestyle diseases like obesity and hypertension, due to the consumption of junk food propelled by their addiction to technology and apathy towards physical activities. Children’s low endurance levels and unhealthy body mass index have also compelled doctors to recommend that “every child below the age of 16 should engage in some form of outdoor activity for at least 45 minutes a day” (Agarwal, 2015). In the last decade, the predominant site of children’s play has moved from public spaces like streets to semi-public spaces like playgrounds or parks and gradually shifted indoors. Ginsburg (2007) attributes the decrease in child-initiated free play to socio-cultural trends such as reduced multigenerational households, the professionalization of parenthood, rigorous academic coursework, mediacentered activities and safety concerns voiced by parents. The rapidly evolving consumption patterns of portable and versatile electronic devices have triggered a pervasive shift from nature-based recreation to indoor screen time in many communities today. The dominance of digital culture in an increasingly urbanized world offers children few opportunities for healthy play. Nowadays, children are rarely seen playing independently outdoors as sedentary lifestyles outweigh active play increasing their risk of developing short sight, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases at a young age. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
While the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated a surge in ‘screen dependency disorders’, there has been a dramatic reduction in public outdoor provision, especially in developed countries. Previous attempts to explain the decline in outdoor activities highlighted the barriers to play, whereas current research focuses on the inducements for children indoors. In urban areas, children are shielded due to ‘helicopter-parenting’ for three main reasons – decline in the provision of public play facilities, the rising tide of parental fear about children’s safety and anxieties about the changing nature of childhood. Modern-day parents act as “gatekeepers” and their mollycoddling often restricts children’s play to the front yard, as most parents feel kids are safer in front of the Xbox in the next room” (Louv, 2005). Conscious initiatives are being made to engage kids in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from an early age. For instance, in a cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru, commercialized playscapes like Play Arena, E-Zone and Decathlon provide sporting equipment and offer ample space for children and adults to interact with each other by participating in friendly matches on a regular basis at a minimal cost. In fact, the International Play Association’s ‘Declaration on the importance of play’ (2014) affirms the need to protect, preserve and promote a child’s ‘right to play’ (Article 31, UNCRC). Children are
‘hardwired’ to move and play, so it is essential to equip them with safe spaces to reap the benefits of play by affording them the time, space and opportunity to access outdoor play. Therefore, parents, teachers, local and national policy-makers need to work in tandem to generate unequivocal support for children’s play and promote their holistic development. Let’s create a world where kids can explore their environment, engage with people and enjoy an active and happy childhood.
JOANNA PRIYADARSHINI UDAYKUMAR Joanna is a Doctoral Student at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), India, currently pursuing research on ‘Urban Parents'; and Children's Perspectives on the Quality of Parent-Child Play in Bengaluru city’. She is an eloquent orator, articulate writer, avid reader and sports enthusiast who is passionate about working with children and aspires to be a Counselor.
SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 9
PLAY DEPRIVATION AND ITS IMPACT
Now is the Time For Play by Deanna Tomaselli and Lynn Campanella
OVER THE LAST one to two decades, we’ve seen an unsettling shift in play. Just consider this: unsupervised playground play is becoming non-existent (but research shows free play encourages children to develop skills that build self-confidence). Recess has been reduced or cut across schools in both the U.S. and Canada (but according to a 2018 survey by the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and its Voice of Play initiative, 100% of teachers agree that recess is essential for young students’ mental and physical development). Childhood depression and
anxiety have increased over time. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of children ages 6-17 having ever been diagnosed with either depression or anxiety has increased from 5.4% in 2003 to 8.4% in 2011–2012. The World Health Organization also cited that the number of overweight or obese infants and young children (0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million in 1990 to 41 million in 2016 globally. Not to mention, play outside has decreased and screen time has increased. The World Health Organization notes that obesity in childhood is associated
10 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
with a range of health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. According to research by Dr. Stuart L. Brown, play deficiencies tend to be associated with declining adaptive capabilities, more proneness to fixed defensive behaviors, and increased prevalence of interpersonal difficulties in finding and sustaining long term intimacy. This is a concern, as when children are deprived of play, it is linked to a variety of issues such as depression, aggression, stress and more. Play is critical for the development of physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills in children, and www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
is essential for a lifetime. According to the IPEMA and Voice of Play survey, 81% of teachers said that kids’ behaviors change positively after recess, including more positive moods, longer attention spans, fewer behavior issues, increased participation in class, more eagerness to learn, and improved academic performance. Now more than ever is the time for play!
Creating a Strong School Community Through Play
By definition, play is intrinsic within each of us. Research from Dr. Jaak Panksepp and Dr. Sergio Pellis indicates that play is housed in the ancient region of our brain along with eating, sleeping, and procreation, all necessary for the survival of our species. We promote the necessity for healthy eating and the proper amount of sleep for children, why are we not advocating for the recommended amount of play to support a healthy developing child? The overwhelming common denominator: play has been devalued over the last 40 years and the results have proven to be devastating. Mr. Rogers sums up the value of play quite nicely: “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.” Where else could a child practice developing physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively without fear of the repercussions from the harsh real world than during play? Play allows for organic learning. Children are spending a large amount of their time at school. Not taking into consideration before and after care, on average, children spend 6.5 hours a day at school for approximately six months of the year. The math plays out (pun intended) like this: 180 days x 6.5 hours/day = 1170 hours (70,200 minutes!) children spend at school per year. With this many hours in one location, children need their schools to create a strong sense of community where they feel they belong, they are valued, and they are heard. A simple way for the school leaders to foster and encourage these needs is to allow relationships to develop through play. One of the many opportunities for authentic play at school is during recess. These scheduled breaks www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 11
Linking the School | Energy on the Playground | All Play | Dynamic Leaders allow children to develop social/emotional, cognitive and physical skills:
Social/Emotional Learning (SEL)
Children learn about peer and selfregulation; if they do not play fairly, they are told they cannot participate. Children learn how to be resilient, flexible and problem-solve disagreements in order to keep the game going. When they are empathic, they develop a connection with someone.
Physical Learning
They learn how to skip, play four square, or throw a ball for a game of wallball. Practicing for hours is not unheard of and we naturally mimic friends who are doing it right! When children enjoy what they are playing, they develop confidence in their abilities because they are competent in their fundamental movement skills.
Cognitive Learning
Children learn that if they want to change the game or even the rules during
a game, they use their negotiation skills to make it happen. Communication skills increase as they learn to articulate thoughts, so others understand the new game being shared. When younger children are supported by trained and caring recess leaders (older children in the same school) they develop relationships through play. They greet each other in the hallways by name, they ask for help if there is a problem during recess, and they open opportunities to have conversations that would probably not occur if the school did not have an intentional peer leadership recess program. With the L.E.A.D. Recess program, student leaders receive year-long training in leadership and social skills. The staff champion who has also received training supports these student leaders as they role model and engage youngsters in positive, creative play experiences. Student leaders are scheduled to ‘work’ with the younger students one to two recesses per week allowing just enough time for the magic of play to develop relation-
12 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
ships that can transcend the parameters of the recess bells. Evidence-based experience has shown us that poor social skill abilities are the greatest cause of problems on the playground and ensure that a game will stop. In the L.E.A.D. Recess program, we teach the C.A.T. Skills, a program that teaches student leaders how to offer strategies and problem solve the three most common issues that cause problems on the playground. C.A.T. addresses communication skills, how we ask for something and turn-taking. By giving the senior students in a school the training to reduce play deficiencies we are empowering them to be Superheroes of Play! Through the L.E.A.D. Recess program we are preparing student leaders to encourage play, give them strategies to help solve the social/emotional squabbles that prevent play from continuing, and foster the imaginative growth of the children they are interacting with. The L.E.A.D. Recess program provides schools with the tools and blueprints to equip a generation to www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
learn how to be resilient to physical and mental challenges. Student leaders who have role-modeled positive skills will have the coping strategies to overcome the results of play deprivation. Through authentic play, children gain life skills and the tools needed to equip them with a well-stocked invisible tool belt they will carry with them throughout life. Let’s use our powers for good and shift the narrative back to play!
About Playocracy Inc.
Playocracy Inc. develops educational resources and workshops that complement the current educational system. We focus on fostering social and emotional learning through play at recess. For over a decade our L.E.A.D. Recess program has helped schools across Canada and into the States better understand the value and benefits of recess. This evidence-based program functions as an active recess leadership program that aims to create a sense of belonging and develops a strong school community through play. We are play and recess specialists.
Maintaining your parks and playgrounds just got a lot easier.
877.984.0418 www.playgroundguardian.com info@playgroundguardian.com
About IPEMA and the Voice of Play
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) is a non-profit, membership, trade association that represents and promotes an open market for manufacturers of playground equipment and surfacing. Its Voice of Play initiative promotes growth in the quality and quantity of children’s free play and the use of playgrounds. By providing information and resources, the Voice of Play’s goal is to increase education and awareness about the many benefits of children’s play, including the development of critical physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills.
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SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 13
New Concepts to Encourage Outdoor
Health and Wellness For All Ages
by Michele Breakfield RESEARCH SHOWS that 74 percent of kids between the ages of 5 and 12 get less than one hour of outdoor playtime per day. Children 8 years of age and younger spend about 48 minutes a day in front of an iPad or mobile device. Furthermore, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of their lives indoors, leaving only 7% of your entire life outdoors. That’s only one half of one day per week outdoors. And we wonder why being overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the United States.
Q. So, I ask you ---In today’s digital world, how can we get children and their families to go outdoors and be more physically active for longer periods of time? A. We need to be more creative and innovative, think multigenerational, be inclusive and provide more opportunities for communities to be physically active. How? Let’s explore a few concepts.
Interactive Play
What is interactive play? Interactive play is where the digital and physical worlds around us meet. In short, it is "real-life gaming.” The electronic video
14 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
game portion brings challenges, problem-solving and a continued renewal of game options to play. The physical portion brings benefits such as exercise, social interaction, teamwork and experiencing the outdoors in a healthy manner. Yalp has five interactive play and sports products. Most popular, the Yalp Sona is an interactive dance and play arch. It is an audio-guided play space, specially designed for outdoor use. Games are played by motion and encourage physical activity, learning, and socialization. It provides an awesome workout - 40% more intensive than competitive basketball. Games can be changed and updated www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
regularly to keep continued interest and challenge for the user. Park districts can also track the play statistics—like what games are played the most, how long the equipment was in use, and when it was used. The Yalp Sutu is an interactive soccer wall containing impact-sensitive panels that measure and react to ball impact. Vivid LED lights and audio speakers give players feedback and encouragement on their performance. Again, these types of interactive real-life gaming products give park districts the ability to change or update games regularly and the mobile app encourages friendly competition among friends, classes, and schools. It’s fun for all ages and ability levels, not just avid sports fans. Other interactive products include learning and math games, health and nutrition, outdoor DJ booth for those older adolescents and the musically inclined. Interactives of this type are great for city centers and retail areas. Interacwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
tive products provide all users of varying abilities the opportunity to stay fit and be physically active, as well as to develop socially and cognitively with appropriate challenges.. The versatility of interactive products makes them one of the most popular multigenerational play activities. Interactive play is suitable for outdoor parks as well as indoor rec centers. Just like traditional play, interactive play can be performed anywhere. The equipment is designed to be durable, accessible and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. Communities can easily incorporate one or two of these products into their existing parks and/or recreational facilities to encourage families to be more active, get outdoors and live healthier lifestyles.
Family Fit Zones
Family Fit Zones are multigenerational destination play and fitness parks that provide the entire family an opportunity to play, stay physically active and develop good practices for health and wellness together. Family Fit Zones can vary in size, price point, and layout; but all of them should include a traditional play component, an interactive play and/ or sports product, outdoor adult fitness or obstacle course activities, along with
shade, site furnishings, and safety surfacing. We all know what traditional play looks like. Just keep in mind many families will have toddlers, so the 2-5 age group should also be taken into consideration. Interactive play and sports products, as discussed above, bring children and families outdoors to explore this new “real-life gaming” concept. Make sure to look for adult outdoor fitness equipment that identifies muscle fitness, balance and flexibility, core and aerobic fitness for a well-rounded total body workout. Obstacle course events, like GT Challenge Course, make for a great social fitness experience that encourage friends and family to exercise and achieve their personal fitness goals and stay fit while having fun outdoors. The perfect solution for older children and teens looking for something more challenging and different from traditional play. Freestanding shaded areas or shaded benches, site furnishings and various types of safety surfacing provide comfort and better user experience. Using these varied play and fitness components will not only give your design its own unique look, but have something that will appeal to all ages, abilities,
SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 15
fitness levels and provide adequate places for caregivers who may need to take a break, or families that want to bring a lunch and stay an extended amount of time. When planning a Family Fit Zone or a destination play or fitness park, it is important to keep in mind several things: location and accessibility, facilities i.e. restrooms, additional amenities, and future expansion or growth. Is this truly a place where the entire family can find something they like and consider fun or interesting, and/or something they can do together.
Playful Landscapes
Playful landscapes can be defined as play spaces that offer a wide range of open-ended play options and allow people to be creative and use their imagination. Sometimes these playful landscapes can look and feel like a natural environment; using rocks and boulders combined with nets and ropes for climbing. Most designs incorporate the topography of the land where they are building the play space adding another element of play. For example, a hillside slide or terraced play elevation change. These playful landscapes can also be whimsical in nature, brightly colored using ropes, nets, mounds, and trampolines and push the boundaries of traditional play. They can vary in height and style. Playful landscapes can include theming elements and pieces of playful art or play
16 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
sculptures. Playspaces like this encourage free play and provide opportunities for safe risk-taking and challenges. Playful landscape type play spaces often become popular parks drawing visitors from other areas because they are different by design and have non-typical play equipment creating those one-ofkind experiences. Providing unique recreational play and fitness spaces will not only be a great draw to your community but also promote health and wellness. Research proves those who exercise outdoors tend to exercise more frequently and stay with a fitness program longer than those who work out inside at a gym. Not to mention the added benefits of being outdoors in nature. Those who begin to develop healthier active lifestyles and take an interest in nature at a younger age tend to stay healthy, remain physically active longer and be a good steward of the world around them. Bring new play and fitness concepts to your park district’s community that encourages physical activity and being outdoors in nature.
MICHELE BREAKFIELD Michele Breakfield is the Director of Marketing for Cunningham Recreation and Playground Guardian and has over 15 years of experience in the playground industry. Michele has both a sales and marketing background with knowledge and experience in brand management, corporate communications, social media, event planning, and public relations. Her greatest strengths are her creativity, dedication and her eye for detail. Michele has a Bachelor of Science in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Southeast Missouri State University. She resides in Farmington, Missouri and enjoys traveling, horseback riding and spending time with her family.
play4allcampaign.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 17
Play Partners & Funders Why They Are Both So Important
by Pat Rumbaugh LET’S START AT THE VERY BEGINNING, a very good place to start. Play is essential for all of us. It doesn’t matter your age, where you live, or your background. None of that matters. Play brings joy to people of any age, neighborhood, or socio-economic background. Community activists, executive directors of nonprofits, playground architects, playground companies, recreation departments and schools, all of us, care about play. You are reading this column, in the Play and Playground magazine because you love to play. My guess is you are looking for play partners yourself or you may be looking for funding for your own play project. When I first started recognizing that everyone deserved and needed to play, I was teaching and coaching at the Washington International School. Many of my students were my partners in play crime. At the first Takoma Park (MD) Play Day I organized with others back in 2009 a couple of students came to volunteer, helping with blowing bubbles, face painting, juggling and joining in on all the fun activities offered that day. I had gotten the idea to hold a Play Day from the national nonprofit KaBOOM.org. KaBOOM has been building playgrounds for communities all over the United States focused on low-income areas. I have also partnered with KaBOOM in a couple of their building projects. Their co-founder Darell Hammond wrote the foreword for my first children’s book, “Let’s Play at the Playground.” Dr. Stuart Brown President and Founder of the National Institute for Play (www.nifplay.org) has been and continues to be an outstanding partner/ resource for me and Let’s Play America (LPA). Dr. Brown told me about the US Play Coalition and their annual conference held in Clemson, South Carolina. When I first attended the conference in
2011 I felt like I had found my play partners for life. Once a year people come from all over to attend the US Play Coalition Conference (www.usplaycoalition.org ). I have met so many dedicated individuals who live their professional lives advocating for play. One of the first people I met was Tom Norquist. Tom is a designer of play equipment for Play Core (www.playcore. org), an outstanding playground company that provides people around the world with top quality playgrounds. Visit Play Core’s website to see the magnitude of play options they offer. This will be the tenth year in a row that I will be attending the Play Conference. The chair of LPA’s Board of Directors, Dr. Patty Hohlbein, and I met at the conference years ago. We look forward to hanging out together, listening to the presentations, meeting new play advocates and reuniting with friends we have met from past conferences.
"Play is essential for all
I was asked to write for the magazine. I hope everyone reading this article will subscribe (it is free) to receive the quarterly online magazine https://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/subscribe Sara Bowersox (Editor) and Jake Amen (Publisher/Webmaster) are responsible for putting together the Play and Playground Magazine. They make a great team. They share emails on a weekly basis that go all over the world about current play information. My column, “Ask The Play Lady,” appears on a quarterly basis with other articles on a variety of play subjects. If you are looking for a funding partner, the Play and Playground Magazine may be a source of possible contacts and your product or service could be shared regularly and seen by many. Let’s Play America (LPA) is extremely grateful to the City of Takoma Park who helps us fund our play days. Also, we appreciate several local businesses and individuals who donate to our programs, because without funding a nonprofit cannot last. On our website www.letsplay-
of us. It doesn’t matter your age, where you live, or your background." Sadly in July 2019 the play world lost Joan Almon who was the co-founder for Alliance for Childhood (www.allianceforchildhood.com). Joan was a regular speaker at the conference, one of its founders and did so much for children by writing about the importance of risky play and other topics. A couple of years ago I had a conversation with the former editor for the Play and Playground magazine at the play conference. The next thing I knew
18 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
Judy our Dress-up Lady and fabulous play partner. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
america.org you can find information on our sponsors under upcoming events. In past columns, articles, and videos on our website you can see partners we have been so fortunate to work and play with over the years. Our dress-up lady Judy Jaffie has been leading the dress-up activity since our first play day. The Takoma Park Co-op provides healthy snacks at play days and our Takoma Park Community Band kicks off our Annual Play Day in September. So many individuals and businesses have partnered with us. I dream of partners and funders that will help take Let’s Play America to the next level where we can plan more events both regionally and nationally. Any car, clothing, sporting goods, toy companies or any business that cares about community building and wishes to provide play opportunities to residents in their community can reach out to me. I recently read this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” This quote speaks volumes to me. I believe 100% in the importance for all of us to give ourselves breaks and playtime every day. I know how good it feels when I play, and that is why I am trying so hard to encourage others to play. Partnering with people in your community to bring play opportunities to your residents is a great gift to give others. Readers, you may have suggestions for partners and fundraisers for other nonprofit community play advocates like Let’s Play America. Feel free to reach out to me and I will share your suggestions in future columns. In the meantime springtime is the perfect time to go outside and play. Invite a family member, friend, or neighbor to join you. You deserve to play! Saturday, June 6, 2020, Let’s Play America will host our 7th Annual Adult Play Day with the support of the Village of Takoma Park www.takomavillage.org.
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Hurray for play! - Pat, The Play Lady
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SPRING 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 19
Living Our Mission The world needs more. More Connection. More Movement. More Community. More brings people together and helps communities thrive. It is our passion and our mission to bring Play That Moves You to the communities we serve. We’ve been doing it for 100 years and we’re just getting started.
It’s time to Join Our Movement.
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