Make 2009 Your Family's Year to Play!

Looking for a New Year's resolution?
According to an article on Psycport.com, Temple University psychologist and past DCM Just for Grown Ups speaker, Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek recently met with parents and psychology and early education experts to discuss the importance of play to innovation and creative thinking. Pasek and others believe that American children will be at a disadvantage in the global economy because of lack of opportunity to play. "Lack of play in early childhood education could be the next global warming...Play equals learning," Pasek stated. "For too long we have divorced the two."


Make a Promise to Play!
One New Year's resolution that will benefit everyone in your family is making a promise to play. Play can happen most anywhere! "Families that play together, build brains together," stated past Just for Grown Ups speaker Jane Healy, Ph.D.


At DCM, we witness children learning through play each and everyday--whether by observing, exploring, creating or wondering. Start your year with a visit to DCM and enjoy a day of play with your family. Looking for at-home play ideas? Check out these past DCM blog posts: Nurturing Children's Curiosity and Wonder in Creativity Connections and Playing IS Learning: WaterWays - Bubbles. DCM also offers free parent resources available in our Family Resource Center and throughout the museum filled with ideas for Play at Home!


Looking for more reasons to play?
Check out our new (and free) Just for Grown Ups resource, Ten Reasons to Make Time for Play. This resource is based on information from experts (including the American Academy of Pediatrics) and recent research supporting the importance of play to a child's overall development and achievement. Additionally, a previous post stated that Jane Healy, Ph.D (DCM's November Just for Grown Ups speaker) also stressed the improtance of "brain building play" and how open-ended, 3-dimensional play experiences promote brain growth.



More Time to Play at DCM
DCM is excited to provide families with more time to play at the museum! Starting January 9th, 2009 join us for Family Fun Friday Nights and enjoy playing together until 8 p.m.

Don't forget!
Register now for our January Just for Grown Ups event with Lilian Katz, Ph.D on January 22, 2009. More information is available on the DCM website or in the following post: January JFGU Event with Lilian Katz, Ph.D