The Playful Story

Bethany Simmons created Playful Neighborhood as a way to combine her growing interest in Playwork and her experience as a Nature Educator. Bethany has a Masters degree in Environmental Education and experience creating and managing youth programs for nature focused non-profits, including the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Evanston Ecology Center.

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In 2016, Bethany became involved with creating a nature play space in Chicago. While volunteering her time with this project, she found herself more and more interested in the benefits of free play for the health and well-being of children.

Playful Neighborhood programs began in 2019 and have since expanded beyond after school programs, to include weekend workshops, summer clubs and adventurous Days Off School.

Days Off School

On days off school, it is great to see our neighborhood kids playing, experimenting, creating and testing their limits outside. Playful Neighborhood recognizes the developmental benefits of providing regular opportunities for different types of child-directed play, especially the sensory experiences that can be promoted through outside play. Playful Neighborhood Days Off School programs encourage children to engage in multiple types of play, especially nature play and loose parts play.

 

Play

Play is defined as a set of behaviors that are freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. For a child to truly play, they need to have the freedom to choose what they want to do by themselves or with others, and create the rules by which they play. Therefore, a board game or organized sports, where an adult has explained or created the rules, it not considered "play".  There are so many benefits to allowing our children to spend more time playing. Opportunities to play freely with others and for longer periods of time can help develop children's cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills

The benefits of playing outside are numerous and include

  • lower levels of stress and anxiety,

  • improved attention and concentration,

  • increased levels of vitamin D,

  • improved vision,

  • improved immunity,

  • superior gross and fine motor skills,

  • improved upper body strength, 

  • endurance,

  • postural control

  • enhanced sensory integration.

Playing freely and actively outside can improve children’s social and emotional health in many ways as well.

Free play can improve children's

  • collaboration,

  • negotiation,

  • decision making,

  • creativity,

  • leadership,

  • conflict resolution,

  • confidence,

  • patience,

  • perseverance,

  • empathy,

  • ability to read social cues

  • ability to cope with challenges.

Books About Play

  • Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela Hanscom

  • Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood into a Place for Play by Mike Lanza

  • Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

  • Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children with the Natural World by Nancy Striniste

  • Backyard Adventure: Get Messy, Get Wet, Build Cool Things, and Have Tones of Wild Fun by Amanda Thomsen