Explore Playwork with
Penny Wilson & Joan Almon
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | Providence Children's Museum

All kids can play and all kids need to play.  Learn from acclaimed London playworker Penny Wilson and Alliance for Childhood co-founder Joan Almon how playwork can ensure empowering free play opportunities for children of all abilities and all socio-economic backgrounds.

Register for just a morning presentation ($15) or for a full day workshop ($65).

The What, Why and How of Playwork | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Presentation and discussion with Penny Wilson and Joan Almon

Playwork – the art of supporting children’s play without directing it – is a profession in the United Kingdom where playworkers practice in adventure playgrounds, housing projects and childcare programs.  Playworkers create play-rich environments, in which their presence is nearly invisible and where children freely pursue their own play, experiment with loose parts, take as much risk as they can handle, solve their own conflicts, and play the way they want to for their own reasons.  Learn what playworkers do – and don’t do – and explore ways we can bring playwork practices to our work with children in the US.

Play – Anywhere! Everyone! | 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Playwork workshop with Penny Wilson (limited to 50 participants)

Penny Wilson leads a smaller group in exploring ways to apply playwork practices to create spaces for children’s self-directed play anywhere, considering the many different types of play, and discovering how and why to ensure play is inclusive and welcoming for children with disabilities and other challenges.

About the Presenters

Penny Wilson, playworker, Play Association Tower Hamlets (London)
A playworker and playwork teacher, ambassador and advocate, Penny Wilson is experienced in and committed to ensuring free play opportunities for children with disabilities as well as economically disadvantaged children. 

Joan Almon, director of programs, Alliance for Childhood
Co-founder of the Alliance for Childhood and an international consultant on early childhood education, Joan Almon is the former co-chair of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America.

Register Now!

If you have any difficulty registering, please contact Megan Fischer.