US Play Coalition Conference
The US Play Coalition’s annual conference, The Value of Play, was held in February at Clemson University. More than 250 people from all over the world attended the four-day conference. We were busy from 8 AM to 8 PM hearing from play experts, educators, pediatricians, sports enthusiasts, park and recreation professionals, children’s museum managers and nonprofit directors.
Highlights of the conference include:
– Fraser Brown – Dr. Brown is a playwork professor at Leeds University in England. He also led a team of play workers to Romania to work with orphans between the ages of 2 and 8 who had been tied to their cribs their entire lives. Incredibly sad circumstances, incredibly important work, and incredibly positive results. Fraser’s team used play to help the children gain physical and communication skills and an increased sense of trust and belonging.
– The Chinese Delegation – History was made when the US Coalition and the Minister of Health from Shanghai signed an MOU to declare their cooperation in promoting play. It’s an international movement! 
– Dr. Bernard Griesemer, Pediatrician – The American Association of Pediatrics recently declared “active play is so central to child development it should be included in the very definition of childhood.” Dr. Griesemer supported their proclamation with staggering statistics. Children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents – a historical first. He believes one of the reasons for the current epidemics childhood obesity and diabetes is lack of active play. He emphasized that playworkers are allied health professionals as they advocate for children to get the kind of play they need. That’s right, play is a public health benefit!
– Mapping of Play Deserts by KaBoom! – The industrious playground installer, KaBoom!, has a new initiative – to map out the play deserts in the U.S. Play deserts are areas that have no playground or play resources within easy walking distance. It will be fascinating to see where the deserts in Sacramento are. 
Everything else about the conference was great too, from the people planning it to those who presented and attended. We all left excited to be part of a movement to promote play, and reassured that play is, indeed, essential to human development.
Adventure Play in Berkeley
- Glamis Adventure Playground in London
I was so inspired by the Adventure Playgrounds I saw in London that I continue to learn as much about them as I can.
There are about 1,000 Adventure Playgrounds in the world. Most of them are in Europe. Germany has the most with 400.
There are two in the United States: one in Berkeley near the Marina, and one in Huntington Beach.
One weekend I took a jaunt to the Berkeley Adventure Playground for a look-see. As usual, I heard it before I saw it. Children laughing, hammers pounding, music wafting. And when I got there it looked just like… an Adventure Playground! There were piles of lumber and higgledy-piggledy structures that children were hammering and painting on. There was a zip line that let children fly through the air (just a couple of feet off the ground) before landing (crashing) into a pile of sand. There were some broken down pianos that kids were banging on and strumming (yes they were that broken down). There was a hill bordered with old tires than kids rolled down in hand-me-down mini-jeeps. There was a garden area, a painting area, a shop to get hammers and nails (you had to turn in three old nails to get one), and a quiet area. Kids and parents alike were having a blast playing.
And that’s what the difference was. There were parents! In the UK, Adventure Playgrounds are free and pretty much for kids alone – with a few adults as facilitators (or playworkers as they are called there). At Berkeley, use of the playground was free for children as long as an adult was with them. If a child was dropped off alone, there was a per-hour charge.
No matter, it was wonderful to see an Adventure Playground on US soil – parents or not! Now all we need to do is build a few in Sacramento! Where would you build an Adventure Playground?
Re-Entry
I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live abroad – an opportunity I enjoyed, appreciated immensely, and will remember the rest of my life. After four very full months, and one very long day – an hour drive to the airport, a two hour check-in before departure, a 12 hour flight to SFO, and a two-hour drive to Sacramento – we came home. It was a joy to see our children – especially since they are so grown up they could pick us up at the airport and drive us home.
We got home just before Christmas so we were able to do all the family traditions and activities. Lights on the house, tree trimming, food extravaganzas… the usual. I had a week to recover from the holidays before I returned to work on January 3.
As I walked into Fairytale Town, its magical charm took over as usual. The Castle, Shoe Slide, Crooked Mile, Sherwood Forest, Stages, and Gardens looked the same as they did before I left – minus the tree leaves. The animal menagerie was the same as well, only a bit fuller with their winter coats. 
The board of directors and staff were a bit leaner than when I left. Two Board Members completed their maximum nine years of service, and our Staff is typically smaller during the slower winter months. Other than that, they too were the same as when I left. A little tired after a long and busy year (our highest attended year in recent history!), but still dedicated to our mission of promoting the imagination, creativity and education of children – and working hard to make sure we provide meaningful experiences for our community.
And that, I realized, is the magic of Fairytale Town. Brilliant, dedicated people working hard for a common goal: to provide children and families with opportunities to spend time together in imaginative play.
It is good to be back at a place I love and with people I admire and enjoy working with. I am grateful to be part of the magic of Fairytale Town!
The Wisdom of Flight Attendants
Flight attendants are onto something. You definitely need to take care of yourself before you can take care of anything or anyone else. Here’s to them!
Access to Culture – Part 2
- Train Station Sign
Public transportation makes it possible to get to all of the cultural activities London offers. It runs pretty much 24/7 – with the occasional strike and shut down of course.
I was able to get everywhere I needed to go on public transportation. Museums, playgrounds, markets, movies, theatres, restaurants, lectures, concerts, cathedrals… you name it, I could get there by bus or tube (the London underground).
Public transportation is good for other reasons.
It’s great for physical activity. Yes, even though you’re riding somewhere, you have to walk to get to the bus stop or tube station, perhaps not far, but farther than the driveway or parking lot. (I am happy to say I lost 10 pounds from this alone. I am sad to say my sedentary ways are now taking their toll.)
- Buggy Parking
In my humble opinion, in addition to creating a more mobile environment, it also creates a more literate community. When you have to sit (or stand) for at least an hour a day people use that time to read. In fact, newspapers are handed out to people during the morning and evening rush hours. It is amazing to see people holding a book, magazine or newspaper in one hand – and turning the pages – as they hold on to handrails with the other.
Finally, public transportation is good for families. It allows older children to get places without having to be carted about by their parents. This gives much more freedom to both the child and the parent. And, of course, you don’t have to worry so much about drivers under the influence…
- Taxi at Discovery Children’s Story Centre
It cost me about $40 a week for a public transportation pass to get pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. I spend at least that much a week on my car if I include gas, maintenance and insurance.
In addition to getting around in the city, I could take public transportation to other cities and countries pretty easily and cheaply also. I was able to get to Halifax, Leeds, Oxford, Staffordshire, Great Missendon, Portsmouth and South Hampton in England, as well as Ireland, Scotland, Slovenia and France.
- Train Station
The ability for people from all walks of life to get pretty much anywhere they want to go with out driving is an amazing thing. In my mind, public transportation is what makes a world class city.
Access to Culture – Part 1
Like its playgrounds, museums in London are busy places buzzing with visitors and activities. In my opinion, there are at least two reasons that they are so central to every day life: free admission and public transportation.
- British Museum
Being trained to get the maximum value for the dollar, I was excited about free admission to museums because of the “savings” I was getting. I soon realized there were other benefits as well. When I did go a museum, I could spend time looking at one gallery or even one piece of art because I knew I could go back again and again to see the other galleries and art. One afternoon I popped into the British Museum just to see the netsuke (Japanese carvings) they had on display. A few days later I went back and spent a few hours with the Elgin Marbles. And one afternoon when it was unusually slow, I was able get close to the exhibit of the Rosetta Stone which is usually mobbed with crowds.
Because I had no financial ‘risk,’ I also found that I went to museums I would normally not visit, which opened my horizons. I am not a big fan of interior design, but because it was free, I visited the Geffrey Museum and enjoyed looking at ‘family rooms’ from different eras. It gave me sense of history from a different perspective, and made me appreciate the comforts of home. 
Obviously, on a personal level I greatly appreciated and took advantage of the free admission to museums and cultural attractions. However, the most important aspect of the free admission is the public benefit.
Whenever I went to a museum it was busy – full of tourists, yes, but also locals and students. The tourists crowded in during regular operating hours. The locals took advantage of the late nights and special programs offered. Classes of young students sat on the floor in front of paintings to learn about subject matter, art genres, and history from museum educators. Older students – from teenagers to senior citizens – could be found sketching copies of the great masters or taking notes on design trends, science discoveries or archeological finds.
- London Museum
Visiting museums is much like playing together in a playground. When people play together ‘common experiences’ are created. When we play together – whether on a playground or in a museum – we learn how to work together. And when people work together amazing things can be accomplished. Public transportation being one of them. But more on that later.
Full of the Dickens!
It is hard to imagine the holidays without the great English writer Charles Dickens. ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a seasonal standard and Dickens Fairs are popular winter attractions. Some historians claim that Dickens’ portrayal of Christmas as a secular, family-centered festival of generosity and merriment redefined the spirit of the season and influenced the way we observe the holiday in Western nations to this day. (Certainly the terms ‘Scrooge’ and ‘Bah! Humbug!’ have become part of our seasonal vernacular.)
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Dickens birth, a special exhibit on his life, work and relationship with the city is on display at the Museum of London, and his home on Doughy Street was recently renovated and re-opened to the public. Both reveal the life behind the legend – and a remarkable rags-to-riches life it was. From debtor’s prison to child laborer to successful writer, Dickens used his experiences to create iconic characters and bring much-needed awareness to the plight of the poor and working classes. Dickens continued to be a champion for the poor throughout his life with his philanthropy and campaigns for social justice and reforms.
I have seen many ‘Dickensian’ traditions this season. Generous gifts of food, clothing and money make a great impact to many people and charitable organizations. The time families and friends spend together while baking, shopping, decorating, and playing games is time that is treasured. The family-centered festival of generosity that Dickens allegedly created is certainly cause for celebration.
May your holiday celebrations be full of the Dickens – with family, friends, generosity, fun, games, and merriment!
Holiday Cheer
- Carols
I felt like I was in ‘Who-ville’ earlier this evening.
I walked up the hill with some neighbors to Highgate Village for the annual Carols night. Just as in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, all the villagers (and other neighbors close enough to walk) gathered at the town square and sang together. The local school band and choir accompanied and led the crowd of several hundred in the songs. And everyone sang! Buckets were passed along for donations to the local hospital. Everyone gave! There was no Christmas tree, no presents and no roast beast — just family, friends and neighbors singing together on a cold winter’s night. It was a great way to get into the spirit of the season.
People have been asking me about the holiday traditions I have seen here, and so far this is my favorite one. I understand that gatherings like this occur in many towns across England, and in other neighborhoods in London.
Of course there are a few other traditions I’ve noticed…
- German Market in Rochester
German Markets are common sites during the holidays. The markets have rows of booths with all kinds of goods to sell – from gloves and scarves to preserves and perfumes. Food booths offer hearty German fare to eat while wandering the stalls. You can also buy cheeses, nuts, breads, wines and savories to take home. The Markets have nice lighting display — simple but magical. It is amazing to a weather-wimpy Californian, but they stay open in the cold and rain.
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park appears to offer the largest Christmas Market in town. In addition to the usual fare and lighting displays, it has a bunch of carnival rides and an ice skating rink. They too are open rain or shine. Outdoor ice skating rinks are another winter tradition. There are rinks all over town. Many are next to museums and palaces which adds to their magic.
- View from the Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum
Holiday lights here are different than at home. Like home, all the big shopping streets have large and lovely light displays and store fronts, and many squares and small shopping areas are lit as well. Unlike home, very few homes have outdoor lights. You will see decorations and Christmas trees in homes, offices and restaurants but, except for the shopping streets, decorations are more simple and subdued in general.
- Oxford Street Lights
I guess it’s no big surprise that the holidays seem a little less commercial over here than at home. Perhaps the surprise is that so many of the traditions and activities take place outdoors. It is a nice way to welcome and celebrate the winter season. And it’s a nice way to learn what it’s like to be a ‘Who’.
Eureka! National Children’s Museum
I found it! As I debarked from the train I looked over the railings and saw… Eureka!
Eureka! is the National Children’s Museum in England. The only museum of its type in the UK, Eureka! has hundreds of hands-on exhibits designed to teach children about themselves and the world around them.
Based on the North American model of children’s museums, the 14+ acre site includes a two-story museum with six galleries and an outdoor area that features a sensory ‘Wonder Walk.’ The facility also houses a large nursery (what we would call a day care or preschool). 
The main exhibition galleries for children 3 to 11 are Me and My Body, Living and Working Together, Our Global Garden and Sound Space. There are also two galleries for children under 5.
Me and My Body allows children to learn about how the body and the five senses work. They can step inside a giant mouth to find a wobbly tooth and can learn how joints work by riding a skeleton bicycle.
Living and Working Together creates a town square atmosphere and children can learn about the jobs people do in daily life. Money can be printed, deposited and withdrawn at a bank. Letters can be mailed at the Post Office, and cars can be filled up and worked on at the garage.
The Global Garden features six themed gardens – Town, Country, Jungle, Ocean, Ice and Desert. Children learn what is precious and unique about each garden and how they are connected to each other and themselves.
Sound Space provides enables children to explore sound, music and performance through state-of-the-art technology. Visitors help Orby, a young alien from a faraway planet, understand and enjoy music. In doing so, they learn about the unique relationships between music and creativity, science, technology and the arts.
As I spoke with their chief executive, I learned that there are many similarities between FT and Eureka! Both are places where children play to learn and adults learn to play. Both have Yellow Brick Roads leading to our entries. Both are charitable organizations that serve about 250,000 visitors each year. We each have sensory gardens and interactive exhibits. We each offer special events and programs for children and families. We both have diverse sources of revenue and earn close to 80 percent of our budgets with fundraising filling the gap. We both are landlocked and look for unique ways to create new experiences for our communities. Both of us are major attractions in our areas.
There are some differences as well (besides the obvious that they have a large indoor space). Founded in 1992, Eureka! is technology heavy. Nearly all of their exhibits rely on technology of some sort, and lighting and sound are also key elements in the displays. They spend a lot of their staffing resources on technical support as well as on the day care/pre-school. They call their entry-level staff members ‘Enablers.’ They offer consultancy services on play to community organizations and colleges, and have an outreach vehicle they take places. They survey their audience religiously. They charge a high admission fee per person, but it can be used for a year of visits. (In other words, once you pay you can attend as often as you like for a year, much like our membership.)
As you can see, just like the children who visit them, I had a good learning experience during my visit to Eureka! and will come home with stories to tell and things to do.
City Farms
- Mud Chute Farm and Park
In the shadows of skyscrapers sheep are grazing. In the rubble of construction zones gardens flourish. London’s City Farms make it possible for urban children to see how food grows, and to connect with farm animals and nature. There are about a dozen City Farms throughout London. I visited a couple.
Mud Chute Park and Farm sits between the posh high-rises of Canary Wharf’s financial district and the transient neighborhood along the river Thames. This is not your well-manicured English park. It is natural and unruly. The 32 acre green has an equestrian center, chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, community gardens, a restaurant, open fields and football pitches (aka soccer fields). The park is open to all, and children and adults alike can wander in the fields – in fact, they can wander in the very same fields the sheep graze in! Who knew humans and farm animals could handle close contact like this?!
- Cow and Cranes
Across town, the Hackney City Farm also offers children the chance to grow food and interact with animals. Though smaller in size, the farm delivers very unique learning programs. Bicycle maintenance, beekeeping and, yes, basket weaving, are among their course offerings. How cool to be able to learn a trade before you’re 12! The Farm also offers school workshops on the chicken lifecycle, growing food, bike power and creative recycling. Brilliant!
London is famous for its cultural amenities and everyone has easy access to the arts and parks. Its City Farms aren’t as prominent, but they are just as important. Connecting urban children with agriculture and rural experiences makes them more aware of the world around them – and may even provide them with a lucrative trade when they grow up!