May Play Events

Play & Risk: How Safe is Too Safe?

Tuesday, May 7 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM

 at the Providence Athenaeum

The Museum, the Providence Athenaeum and Kidoinfo present the final conversation in Speaking of Play, a series about the importance of play for children's healthy development. Acceptable risk is beneficial to kids’ physical and emotional development, so when did it become a 4-letter word?  Taking risks helps children learn about their own capabilities and limits while increasing their comfort with making mistakes and taking on challenges.  Discuss ways to foster healthy risk-taking in kids’ play with panelists Dr. William Hollinshead, pediatrician; Wendy Nilsson, director, Partnership for Providence Parks; and Sarah O'Brien, LICSW, play therapist. Conversation moderated by Museum director Janice O’Donnell.

RSVPs are welcome to Lindsay Shaw or (401) 421-6970 ext. 17. Click here to download a flyer for the series.

Pop-Up PLAY Day!

Saturday, May 11 | 12:00 - 5:00 PM

at India Point Park in Providence

Credit Pop-Up Adventure Play

Join a Pop-Up PLAY Day to kick off Playful Providence 2013 – a citywide celebration of play! Explore a Pop-Up Adventure Playground, a free public celebration of open-ended, child-directed play featuring an abundance of "loose parts" like sticks and branches, cardboard boxes, fabric and other interesting materials.  Build forts, design structures, invent imaginative playthings and more!

Pop-Up PLAY Day is planned by the Partnership for Providence Parks in collaboration with Pop-Up Adventure Play, Providence Children’s Museum, the City of Providence (Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, Healthy Communities Office and Office of Sustainability) Mental Health Association of Rhode Island, Friends of India Point Park and other partners.

The second annual Playful Providence is a 5-month citywide celebration of play commemorating Providence's status as a Playful City, a recognition that honors cities and towns that make play a priority.