Center for Creative Play | Play. Learn. Grow Together.

Importance of Play
Role of Parents in Play
Inclusive Play

Importance of Play

The importance of play is well documented in the literature on child development. It is through play that children...

learn,
master and
adapt developmental skills (Malone, 1999; Roger & Ziviani, 1999).

It is through play that children learn to...

interact,
relate to peers, and
establish friendships that are major developmental tasks of the early years and can be predictive of later outcomes (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000 in Buysee et al., 2002).

At Center for Creative Play we believe that...

Communities are places where people participate together, where individuals both provide for and benefit from one another. Communities welcome and support each member, allowing for individual strengths to shine and their challenges to be compensated. Through community, families of young children develop skills and options in supporting and directing their child's development.
Children need to have the freedom to play in their own way and at their own pace. Adults allow themselves to be guided by the child into play experiences, entering wholeheartedly into their child's world of wonder. In this way parents are able to witness and participate in their child's emerging skills and creativity.
All children benefit from playing in an inclusive environment. Children with disabilities have the opportunity to truly engage in self-directed play and develop social skills through interactions with their peers.
It is the responsibility of parents and adults to create an environment that provides a structure of stability and security filled with a variety of materials that allow for exploration and creativity.

Center for Creative Play supports play by:

Creating a special place where children enjoy coming
Supplying materials and equipment.
Creating a safe environment
Supplying experiences to enrich play
Planning for variety

Supply materials and equipment
Supply experiences to enrich play
Provide time and freedom to explore, play and think
Provide guidance and structure
Play with the child, allowing the child to take the lead
Don't expect your child to be adult-like
Play in the child's world
Keep play fun, not work or therapy.
Accept the child for where he/she is
Create a safe environment
Give positive feedback
Ask good questions
Create a special place
Plan for variety
Encourage cooperation
Foster problem solving

To read more click here.

Back to Top

Inclusive Play

Each element of CFCP is specifically designed to engage children in play, while assuring that there are no restrictions that segregate children based upon their level of ability.

Our warm, welcoming, accessible environment allows every child to play, learn, and grow together at their own pace. It is through these inclusive play opportunities that each child has the chance to develop their understanding of how we are similar and different from each other.

For children with disabilities, opportunities for community play experiences are often limited by design or attitudinal barriers. At CFCP children with disabilities have the opportunity to truly engage in self-directed play while developing social skills through interactions with their peers.

Several months ago, a little girl by the name of Hannah was playing at Center for Creative Play. Hannah has spina bifida and usually wheels around CFCP in her little pink wheelchair. On this particular visit, her physical therapist, who came along to play, wanted to see how far Hannah could walk using her braces and walker while she played with other children. So, she helped Hannah into her braces while the children Hannah had been playing with watched and asked questions. Once she was all set to play, the other children decided that Hannah should be the leader of their next game . . . "Follow the Leader". The game began slowly at first, but as Hannah's momentum increased they all began to laugh and giggle as they followed her throughout the playspace. By the time the game ended, Hannah had walked further than she ever had and everyone had found new friends.

Hannah's story illustrates that children who are typically developing also have much to gain by playing in an inclusive environment. In this experience children were able to express their curiosity and ask questions. They were able to more fully engage with Hannah during the game because they were sensitive to her, adjusting their activity level to match her pace. Our hope is that each child will grow to value others for the unique persons that they are while they share play experiences like these at the Center. By the end of the day, a child who is typically developing will have ridden in a wheelchair, enjoyed the sensory room, or sat at an accessible table; while his peer using a wheelchair has climbed a tree, played house, and shopped on the Street of Pretend Play™.

Back to Top