Websites: For Parents & Caregivers

 
Ten Things Every Parent Should Know About Play by Laurel Bongiorno and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):
Dr. Bongiomo provides a list of the pros of play. The page also contains other links of interest for parents on play—like Explore the Great Outdoors with Your Child and ”I Helped Mama Too!” Cooking With a Tiny Helper.

The Power of Play by the Boston Children's Museum:
"The science of brain development is providing concrete evidence that there is real power in play. While often dismissed as “just fun,” play is the vital activity that children use to learn about and interact with their world, and gain the mental, physical and social skills necessary to succeed in their adult lives."

Playing with Your Child by the Child Development Institute:
"While children do need time to play alone and with other children without adult intervention, research shows that playtime with parents is also important."

The Importance of Play by Karen Bilich and Parents Magazine:
"Play is so important in child development that it's been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. But the amount of time that children spend playing each day has gone down considerably over the last two decades."

Creativity and Play: Fostering Creativity by PBS:
"Creativity is the freest form of self-expression and, for children, the creative process is more important than the finished product."

How Can I Make My Yard Fun for Kids? by Patio Furniture:
"Wondering how to make a backyard kid-friendly while maintaining a chic and practical atmosphere? Check out this article for handy tips you can apply to your setup."

Play with Children by Parent and Child Health Website:
Describes the importance of play through the developmental stages and provides a variety of activities that can be done with children.

Play by Penfield Children's Center:
Includes multiple articles and short video clips on the topic of play. Some examples are "A Recipe for Successful Play," "Appropriate Play Activities for a Baby," and "Outdoor Play Suggestions that Develop Gross Motor Skills."

Play & Learn Center by KidsHealth by Nemours:
This site provides information on top toys, toy safety, fun activities and games (by age), articles, and much more.

Playful Learning by a variety of experts and parents:
This site hosts self-paced workshops for fee as well as free playful, learning lessons from poetry to science (located at the bottom of the pages) easily done at home.

Activities to Try

For Teens:

36 DIY Projects For Teenagers | Cool Crafts for Teens

For Kids:

Inner Child Fun

For Multi-Age:

Instructables (requires free sign-up)

Pinterest (requires free sign-up)

30 Classic Games for Simple Outdoor Play

Rainy Day or Indoor Games

20 Fun Indoor Games

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