Bring Back Childhood Conference on Importance of Play

Posted by on September 02, 2013

Logic will get you from A to Z. Imagination will get you everywhere. – Albert Einstein

Play is the way all new things come about. – Jean Piaget

PHILADELPHIA DECLARATION OF PLAY

proudly presents

BRINGING BACK CHILDHOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY

A 3-day multi-disciplinary educational and advocacy conference for parents, teachers, health professionals, social workers and everyone concerned about children’s health and well-being.

Featuring 4 internationally recognized authorities on the importance of free play in the lives of our children!

Friday, September 20, 5:30 — 8:30 pm
(opening reception, networking opportunity & time to play)
Smith Playground, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
$50.00

Saturday, September 21, 8:30 am — 4:00 pm (including lunch & snacks)
M. Carey Thomas Library, Thomas Great Hall, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
$25 — $75

Sunday, September 22, 1:00 — 4:00 pm
(hands-on workshop:  learn what you can do, at work or at home, to promote free play)
Smith Playground, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
$75

3 Continuing Education Credits*
Be part of the movement to bring back the child in childhood. Help be the solution that supports greater physical and psychological well-being for children, all the while increasing their academic achievement, creativity, emotional regulation and self-esteem through the reinstitution of FREE PLAY, at home and school. The New York Times takes play as seriously as we do.

Over 20 break-out sessions from which to choose 2 on Saturday, led by national experts on children, art, poetry, nature, spirituality, mental health, play in the curriculum, social change and more.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US!
http://www.declarationofplay.org/

REGISTER HERE!
http://smithplayground.ticketleap.com/declarationofplay/

FOUR INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Susan Linn, PhD is an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.   Through her three and a half person nonprofit, Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, Dr. Linn got the Disney Corporation to retract their claims about the intellectual benefits of their product, Baby Einstein, on the first page of The New York Times. Psychologist, professional ventriloquist, film creator for Fred Rogers, and child advocate, Linn has spoken to and up for children for over 30 years.

http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/

Joan Almon, as a mover and shaker for children internationally, co-created The Alliance for Childhood and co-created Crisis in the Kindergarden. Almon writes about “The Politics of Play”  http://ijoanjaeckel.blogspot.com/2009/01/1-politics-of-play-by-joan-almon.html

Penny Wilson is a leader and innovator in the Play Worker profession in London. With her Adventure Playgrounds in crowded urban settings, she is a leader in making communities “playable.”

Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, PhD is a distinguished psychology professor at Temple University whose teaching and research has led to numerous publications on the developmental necessity of play to children’s learning.