Voice of Play

As you enjoy the holiday season, take time to step outside, breathe in the fresh winter air, and play. Outdoor play creates meaningful moments, supports healthy development, and brings families together, no matter the season!

Halloween is more than costumes and candy, it’s about play, creativity, and community!👻🎃

Click here to read "4 Creative Ideas for Halloween Fun" on our blog: https://voiceofplay.org/blog/2023/10/10/dont-get-spooked-4-creative-ideas-for-halloween-fun/

From the ability to regulate emotions to the development of higher self-confidence and self-esteem, play is far too important to be seen only as an “extracurricular” activity. Research shows, though, that children are growing up with more on their plate than ever before, which can lead to stress, anxiety—and less time to connect with themselves and others through free play.

Read more on IPEMA's blog post, "Brain and Body: The Physical and Cognitive Benefits of Play," by clicking here: https://voiceofplay.org/blog/2024/01/17/brain-and-body-the-physical-and-cognitive-benefits-of-play/

Good for You, an undertaking sponsored by the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, is helping families of children with disabilities find parks and playgrounds that meet their child's needs with a search based on accessibility and location.

Click here to check out their Park Finder:

Park Finder: Find Local and State Parks in PA | Good For PA Discover your next outdoor adventure with Good for PA's Park Finder!

Creating an inclusive playground fosters an environment where children and people of all abilities and ages can play and grow together. Read our blog post about 5 ways to design accessible spaces for all abilities: https://voiceofplay.org/blog/2025/03/07/inclusive-playgrounds/

At Voice of Play and IPEMA, playground safety is of upmost importance. Here are some safety questions to keep in mind when exploring a new play space in your community:

Is the playground surface safe?
Is there enough room underneath and around playground equipment?
Is the playground appropriate for the child?
Is there anything that might cause a child to trip?
Is the playground well maintained?

Why is really so important? If you've ever asked yourself that question before, no need to search for an answer any longer.

The benefits of play include physical, emotional, social, cognitive and so much more. Visit our website to learn more about why play shouldn't be seen as an extracurricular, but rather an essential tool in a child's development. https://bit.ly/bofpvop

While the vast benefits to are well-documented, play can also be an important therapeutic tool.

For children and adults who are struggling to deal with traumatic experiences and discussing emotions, play therapy can be used to help express those emotions, improve mental health, and decrease anxiety and stress levels.

In this blog post and in honor of month, we share three benefits to play therapy and how to tell if it could be an option for you and your family.

3 Benefits of Play Therapy - IPEMA - Voice of Play Screen-Time Obsession: 3 Tips to Support Social Media BoundariesApril 11, 20235 Tips for Safer Play Outside This SummerJuly 25, 2023 May 25, 2023 Categories Blog Tags The benefits of play for children and adults alike are well-documented. Play is an essential tool in the toolbox for children’s gro...

Kids and parents both work extremely hard each and every day, but for today, parents, it's your turn to have a day of and see how your children work.

In honor of , we encourage any and all parents, grandparents and parental guardians, to take a trip with your children to the local and enjoy a day at their office!

Kids crave the great outdoors, and parents totally agree! 🌳☀️🛝 What's your favorite way to outside during the spring?

Wishing a very happy Mother's Day to all of the incredible moms in our Voice of Play community! 💙💚

Thank you for all that you do and your endless support for your children's growth, development, happiness and the meaningful moments of .

With summer right around the corner, it's almost time for family vacations, camping trips, county fairs and trips to your local . But with the summer season, comes potential risks for too much sun or heat exposure and events that require special cautions – like campfires and swimming.

In this blog post, we share some useful tips and reminders to enjoy more moments of safer, outdoor this summer with your family.

How to Keep Children Safer in the Sun This Summer - IPEMA - Voice of Play IPEMA’s Recommendations on Making Playgrounds SaferMay 4, 2022The Perfect Picnic at the Playground: Easy Hacks for Swinging into SummerJune 2, 2022 May 6, 2022 Categories Blog Tags Many adults today grew up without the regular (or any) use of sun protection as children. Through the 1970s and 1980s...