Do you remember playing when you were little? I am not talking about playing a structured sport, I am talking about free, unstructured play. Can you remember where and how you played?

My childhood was filled with play, both indoor and outdoor. My neighbors and I ran outside to the grassy patch in the center of our court. We played freeze tag, jump rope, rode our bikes, and made mud pies and jewelry from whatever we found in our yards. We were free to think, create, wonder, discover, laugh and take risks. These opportunities lay the foundation for building the attributes necessary for success in life including independence, innovation, initiative, curiosity, courage, responsibility, respect, and self-efficacy.

Open-ended, unstructured play is essential for healthy, whole-child development. All research from child development experts such as Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori and the American Academy of Pediatrics support this statement. Unfortunately many of our children are missing out on this opportunity. Children begin attending school at a much earlier age, and the curriculum for early childhood (birth-3rd grade) has absorbed the national pressure to succeed on standardized tests. It seems we have left childhood behind.

In June, the St. Louis area will sponsor the 12th Annual Play Coaches Leadership Training and Networking Retreat entitled, “Show-Me How to Play Again” and “How to Create a Reusable Resource Center.” Through the use of open-ended, reusable materials once bound for a landfill, educators and parents experience the importance of play. Teachers reconnect to their passion to teach and parents discover how to engage in play with their children. All participants develop a new respect for the spirit of childhood and creative potential.

This experience is a 3-day rejuvenating retreat housed on the campus of Fontbonne University. Participants will have a unique experience visiting the St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center, funded by the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Information will be shared about the value and abundance of materials and how to create a reusable resource center in your community. The St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center is now located in the Crestwood ArtSpace, another example of creative reuse.

For information call Sue, 636 227-7095 or Patty, 314 889-4527 and visit
http://www.sltrc.com/RRAcurrent09.html