Playful Providence!

A Citywide Celebration of Play • September 7 - 9, 2012

The city of Providence was recently honored as a Playful City USA by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America’s children.  The recognition, which honors cities and towns that make play a priority, was due in part to the Museum’s growing advocacy for children’s free play over the past four years. 

To celebrate this honor and the power of play, the Museum collaborated with the new Partnership for Providence Parks and other partners to plan the first Playful Providence weekend.  It begins on Friday, September 7 with a Playful Providence Kickoff Celebration downtown in Burnside Park from 4:30 - 6:30 PM.  The celebration will feature a host of playful activities – including the Museum’s Imagination Playground – plus lively music and a short presentation by Mayor Angel Taveras, Superintendent of Parks Robert F. McMahon, Museum Executive Director Janice O’Donnell and other speakers.

Playful Providence activities will continue throughout the weekend and will help families discover great places to play across the city.  Events will be held at 21 neighborhood parks and 6 other play and recreation venues and include collaborative art, crafts and games, bubble blowing, music, dance classes and other playful fun. Visit www.providenceparks.org for a full listing of events, including activity details and locations.

Credit: Brown Street Park

In honor of Playful Providence, the Museum's play specialists compiled a toolkit of playful activities, games and resources to share. The toolkit includes some of our favorite fun activities; great games to lead with groups; excellent loose parts for play, including natural and repurposed materials; tips for supporting and encouraging play; and lists of books and websites for more playful ideas. It’s great for parents, teachers, childcare and after-school program staff, and more!  Click here to download the Play Toolkit.