Megan B.’s Post

PLAY EVERY DAY & EVERY DAY IS A PLAY DAY! ======================== We draw inspiration from the ancient Hindu philosophy that perceives the universe as God’s cosmic play or ‘Lila’. Just as divine play is believed to be the foundation of all creation, we propose that play can be the foundation of holistic child development. Like the divine Lila, play is spontaneous, free, and filled with joy. Through this joyful exploration, children, like little creators, begin to understand their universe - their bodies, emotions, interactions, and environment. In the cosmic dance of play, children are passive participants and active creators. They create their games, their rules, their victories, and their lessons. This active creation fosters a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, forming the cornerstone of holistic development. So, let’s reimagine our approach to education and child development. Let’s move away from rote learning and structured activities to a more playful, exploratory, and child-centric approach. Let’s create environments where children are free to play, explore, create, and learn at their own pace. Let’s pledge to make play an integral part of our children’s lives. Let’s celebrate play not as a break from learning but as the path to learning. Because in the grand cosmic play of life, it’s through play that children prepare themselves for the world. #legofoundation #Centralsquarefoundation #Keyfoundation #LanguageLearning

Imagination, fun, ideas, and hope for the future--all things we love. 9 in 10 children say that they care about climate change. And when they were given #LEGO to express their ideas in 3D, tangible forms, their imaginations were able to connect, explore, and grow together. Expressing our abstract ideas in concrete ways that others can see, understand, and build upon grows collaborative strength. What would your 3D model look like for a sustainable future? What ideas do you have floating around right now for yourself or your company that could benefit from exploring through 3D brick building? #legoseriousplay #sustainability #buildthechange

Imagination becomes real through 3D modeling. This is the power of creative methods like #LEGOseriousplay. Abstract ideas-->concrete solutions! This is what we call transformation through #aestheticengagement at Jolyean Creative. #buildthechange

Today, we mark the first International Day of Play. Creativity is exciting. It’s phenomenal what education and technology can produce. For kids, the possibilities are truly significant: fun, learning, curiosity, independence, confidence, social skills, creativity, etc., which are essential for your child’s development. Research from UNICEF Innocenti, co-founded with the LEGO Group in partnership with The University of Sheffield, New York University, The City University of New York and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) found something remarkable: digital games can help children make original ideas, explore, and imagine different possibilities. Insights from my experience facilitating children's play: - Digital play helps children respond to their deep interests. - Children become creative and suggest insightful solutions. - Children build a solid foundation of a sense of belonging and collaboration.  - Children are encouraged to build, invent, and experiment.  - Children feel safe and happy while engaging. Ready to play? This summer, we are thrilled to share the power of play. Join us at Steamoji Calgary West as we press play every day to support children’s well-being and learning, enabling them to create and build worlds. Learn more and book a free session here: https://lnkd.in/gJ34vt8Q Reference: https://lnkd.in/g_Gni7f2

A DAY FOR PLAY Play opens up a whole world of possibilities. That’s why the LEGO Foundation got together and successfully called on the United Nations General Assembly to adopt an annual International Day of Play, on this day 11th of June. They did this because they believe every child can reach their full potential, with the time, space and access to play. It’s time to put play back on the agenda. On this day, and every day. Play is a fundamental right; it builds resilience, instils confidence and helps children develop. But children need time to play. That’s where we need policies, training and funding to get play integrated into education and community settings. Play heals through learning, life skills and psychosocial well-being. That’s why there must be investment into diverse, inclusive and safe play spaces, extending access to all, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised children. INVEST in children’s well-being by protecting our right to play. PROVIDE children with more time and opportunities to play, including in school. PROTECT our right to play by creating safe and accessible places to play, including for those of us with special needs. RESPECT our rights to be heard in decisions impacting our right to play. SUPPORT us in developing social skills through play. There are so many reasons we should all be celebrating the power of play.

At Little Dreamers we believe that play is one of the key ways we can unlock children's potential. When kids engage in play, they’re not just having fun — they’re learning how to learn. Research shows that play stimulates creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills — the very abilities that will shape their future success. It’s not about structure or rules — it’s about letting kids explore, experiment, and discover the world on their terms. They’re not just having fun. They’re learning skills that will last a lifetime. Let’s bring the joy of learning through play back into the conversation. P.S. What’s your favorite childhood game? Drop it below! The LEGO Foundation Issroff Family Foundation Someone Else's Child, Inc. Dovetail Impact Foundation Euan Wilmshurst

When designing new programming, my team doesn’t just ask, “What can visitors do?” We also brainstorm, “Who can our visitors learn from?" For decades, Children's Museum Houston has hosted artists, scientists, educators, and community leaders that embody the vibrancy of Houston. We are now building on this strong foundation with a new program, EastArts, underwritten by the Freeman Foundation. Throughout 2025 we will welcome local artists who will lead children in 96 workshops featuring traditional East Asian art techniques spanning 12 countries. Elementary school art teachers will co-facilitate the sessions, providing personalized support for children. In turn, these teachers will gain new knowledge about East Asian art techniques that they can bring back to their classrooms. To ensure accessibility, all of the EastArts workshops will be included with regular Museum admission, and 24 of the sessions will be held during Free Family Nights when we welcome all visitors at no charge. We will also post videos about each artist's design process to reach an audience beyond the Museum’s walls. I can't wait to see what children will create through our new EastArts program, and I am so thankful to the Freeman Foundation for their support that is deepening our community connections and our cultural learning opportunities at the Museum.

I am certainly not the best LinkedIn user for various reasons, but two days ago was the #InternationalDayofPlay, and I just felt I had to share a few thoughts about something that has become super important to me. At my previous job workplace with Stupid Studio, I spent two amazing years working together with the Playful Schools Network and helped organise the Playful Schools Conference 2023. During this time, I met some of the most innovative educators who are changing the way we think about traditional education by putting play at the center. Here just a few examples: - Western Quebec School (Canada) with David McFall: During COVID, they moved all their lessons outdoors, making it key part of their identity. - Metro Deaf School (Minnesota) with Susan Lane-Outlaw & AnnMarie Thomas: They have done incredible work using play to meet the different learning needs of each kid. - Agora School (Netherlands) with Rob Perrée & Rob Houben: A school with no schedules or classrooms, where the focus is on learning rather than teaching. The school we all wish we could have attended! - International School of Billund (Denmark) with Camilla Uhre Fog & Idah Khan O'Neill: This school is a fantastic example of integrating play into the curriculum, with kids excelling at asking questions and exploring the world around them. ...And these are just a few of the many schools dedicated to making play a vital part of education. This experience really opened my eyes to something crucial: Why are we sticking to old-school methods when we see the negative impact on young people's mental health? Why are we still not good at designing an education that fosters empathy, confidence, critical thinking, and community spirit? If you're curious about play-based education, reach out to these amazing folks—they truly know what they're doing! 😊 #PlayfulEducation #InternationalDayOfPlay #LearningThroughPlay

Story time: Parents and teachers know the power of a LEGO. Ever step on one? It takes just one LEGO lying haphazardly on the floor to make any grown-up cry. But there’s another reason why a LEGO might bring you to tears. Thanks to one of AdoptAClassroom.org’s sponsors, an elementary school was able to purchase STEM kits for their students. The majority of students who attend this school come from low-income families. An educator told us about seeing a child play with LEGOs for the first time in his life because of this gift. At first he struggled to build with them since it was all new, but once he learned how, his confidence soared. Teachers in the classroom had tears in their eyes at such a sight. You may think our nation’s schools are well-equipped with basic school supplies and learning materials. They are not. Even the most basic building blocks are out of reach for far, far too many children. Just like the small but mighty LEGO, small acts of generosity make a BIG difference.