Playing to Learn, Learning to Play

There's an organization called "Playing for Keeps." They'll be having their 2004 International Conference this very weekend in D.C. Topics include:

• The latest research about play
• How the children's toy and entertainment market is changing
• The role of television and technology in play
• How to communicate the benefits of play to parents and administrators
• Making play accessible
• What we can do about the "push-down" of early childhood curriculum
• What’s happening to recess
• Play in children's museums, after-school programs and hospitals

I find myself nodding a lot as I read their definition of "Constructive Play"

"With our schoolwork and household chores completed, we were free to explore the world outdoors with our friends go on an imaginary mountain climbing expedition over a terrain of old tables and chairs in the basement or serve pretend tea and cookies to our favorite dolls and stuffed animals. In other words, those of us over 30 years old were raised in an era when play was fairly wholesome and accessible. While some of us may have played 'cops and robbers' or shot at tin cans with BB guns, the majority of our playtime could probably have been characterized as 'constructive' -- creative, imaginative and non-violent."

And their goals:

1. Speak up about the need for constructive play opportunities for all children.
2. Provide parent education on the importance of play.
3. Train toy industry professionals on aspects of play and child development that can improve products and service.
4. Maintain a central base of information about play;
5. Increase access for children who face barriers to constructive play.
6. Bring toy industry leaders, scholars, parents, educators, pediatricians, non-for-profit leaders, and cultural leaders together to learn more about and promote play.