Play is oxygen during childhood. Play is quite literally the language children speak and breathe. Mr. Rogers deeply understood the core needs for children to play, explore, wonder, discover, tinker, investigate, create, connect to the world, and be curious.
I grew up watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and never would have imagined that I’d get a design degree, TWO design degrees, eventually live in Pittsburgh, have a child born in Pittsburgh, and then become a play based educator who supports playful learning with children. While I’m not using my design degree in architecture per se, I view the natural world around us as our studio and children as three dimensional beings who need sculpting and a foundation rooted in their language of play, discovery, wonder, and curiosity.
Well, now that I say this out loud…it actually does make sense. Perfect sense. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
In a world where play is reduced to fit within the nooks and crannies of over scheduled calendars and children are shuffled from place to place: PLAY is the answer. Free play. Child led play. Outdoor play. Play with open ended parts and real tools and natural materials. Play with shadows, light, gravity, water, ice, sand, and paint. Play with mechanisms, tools, and textiles. @pghkids GETS IT like no other children’s museum in the world. ✨
If you haven’t made a trip to the @pghkids or the @museumlabpgh yet, my hope is for you to go and PLAY. Big kids. Small kids. Adults.
“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.” Fred Rogers
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