Just Play Afterschool

Pandemic Play after school

Just Play Project piloted an afterschool play program in Fall 2020, as a direct result of the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 and rising cases in Tompkins County near the end of summer 2020, JPP needed to shift summer play program funding, received by United Way of Tompkins County, to the fall. JPP anticipated there would be a need for afterschool programming. Once schools announced they would reopen for in-person instruction, JPP considered ways to offer time and space for safe, reliable, and joyful play, especially for children who had not played with other children in over 6 months. September and October 2020 were uncertain times, but JPP took a leap and offered an 8-week afterschool play program to a small cohort of 15 neighborhood children (ages 4.5-13), 4 days a week, for 3 hours a day (2:30pm-5:30pm), in Wood Street Park, at no cost to families. Those 8-weeks were pure magic. Intentionally located in a public park within the neighborhood, children could walk, bike, scoot (sometimes on their own) to the park. Two caring playworkers were there to greet them (and ensure COVID-19 safety protocols). Playworkers animated Wood St. Park with loose parts (e.g. pool noodles, pots & pans, balls, chalk, water for play, fabric, markers, etc.) and supported their play – ensuring it was freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated. Over those 2 months, JPP playworkers created strong connections with both children and families and heard directly from them how important the program was for their family and how they did not want it to end. One mom said her daughter “is learning virtually for school, so this is the only socialization she has… she loves it… and would 100% do this again.” A 9-year kid said “there’s not a lot of places like this… and I’ve been to a lot of places. It gives kids a chance to do what they want… without being told to do things.” After the first day of the program, a 9-year old said “Can we do this again next year?!” JPP is offering a 10-week spring 2021 afterschool program.

SUMMER JUST PLAY DAYS

Just Play Project creates time + space for children's right to play. Summer 2017, 1 lead playworker and 3 teen playworkers supported play for our 8-week FREE play ranging project summer program in Ithaca City parks. We provided free play opportunities for over 100 children, at no cost to children and families in need of summer care and leisure activities. Partnering with Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Youth Employment Services (YES!) - JPP hired and trained playworkers to work in public parks in Northside to support child-directed free play and create connections with neighborhood children. In Summer 2018, JPP expanded summer programming to Wood Street Park in Southside/Titus Flats to reach more children and families.

Summer 2021, Just Play Project and Unbroken Promise Initiative (UPI) are embarking on a new collaboration. UPI is a grassroots neighborhood revitalization and racial justice nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the West End community of Ithaca. JPP will be offering children in the West Village community a 6-week summer play program, in their neighborhood.

Come & Just Play!

REIMAGINING RECESS!

Fall Creek and Northeast Elementary Schools (Ithaca City School District) - in collaboration with Just Play Project and Pop-Up Adventure Play, are Reimagining Recess! and children’s time outdoors in the first east coast public elementary school loose parts play model. By improving play opportunities we believe students will increase the variety of play behaviors, interact in greater pro-social behaviors, and work creatively and collaboratively with peers - which all have been shown to positively affect academic learning.

Reimagining Recess! considers the people, places, and policies in creating supportive and innovative play environments for students during school recess to enhance student learning by 1) providing ongoing and embedded professional development training for school leaders, teachers, and Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) – rooted in the theories and practices of ‘playwork’; 2) providing engaging and creative loose-parts play materials during recess time to ensure ALL students have an opportunity for self-directed play. Evaluation of the project was conducted by Dr. Kim Wilkinson, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, at Ithaca College.

Playwork TRAINING

Deeply rooted in the Playwork Principles, defining play as “freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated”. That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas and interests, in their own way, for their own reasons. Reimagining Recess! is looking to shift the ‘culture of play and recess’ by providing an outdoor play model to ensure ALL students have an opportunity for learning + development through self-directed play.

Loose-parts play

Loose parts are any material or object that can be moved, carried, or manipulated by children (e.g. wood, leaves, tubes, cardboard, tires, boxes, cloth, spools, crates, etc.). Compared to conventional playgrounds, environments with loose parts foster greater variety of play behaviors, more positive social interactions, and greater participation among girls, contributing positively to daily physical activity in middle childhood. Research suggests playgrounds that children participate in building themselves may better meet their developmental needs + promote healthy development and learning.

YOUTH-LED PLANNING + DESIGN

Youth-LED planning + Design

Empowering youth voice in decisions affecting their lives is central to the Project. As 'animators' of youth's potential, JPP develops structures for youth organizing and supports youth to change their public places and improve the communities in which we all live.

'The Hangout' in progress | November 2017

JPP has created a model of youth-inclusive planning and design methods – maximizing youth’s potential to make change in their communities through design. JPP worked with Northside United and INHS to design and construct a youth-led outdoor playspace ‘The Hangout’.

Youth Planning + Designing for Play

‘The Hangout’

By Beth Myers

ABSTRACT

The 210 Hancock Project was the redevelopment of one block in Ithaca, New York. The project included the new construction of 63,000 square feet of affordable housing, 6,000 square feet of commercial space, and the creation of a new playground. In 2015, youth petitioned the City of Ithaca for an outdoor play space designed for older children and teens. From the youth’s perspective, there was no place for them in their neighborhood.

The youths’ petition activated the City of Ithaca to connect youth with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Authority, a non-profit organization leading the 210 Hancock Project. Considering Roger Hart’s Ladders of Participation to ensure youth were authentically participating in the design and shared decision making, youth played an active role in the planning process, working alongside designers, planners, and developers. This case study tells their story by showcasing their design plans, sharing photos of their constructed site, and lessons learned.