Generation Two partners with The Strong to support children’s social and emotional health during pandemic
Please Play Campaign will help families address child development needs
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing children to miss valuable social and emotional learning opportunities that come from school, camps, and other activities. To address this growing concern, Generation Two (G2), is adapting the program they bring to local schools to support children and parents as they stay home and practice social distancing.
“During the pandemic, children, and parents had to adapt quickly to home learning. Everyone is doing the best they can, but it’s impossible to replicate the social bonds, and extra support young children are used to receiving from teachers, counselors, social workers, and G2 buddies,” explained G2 Executive Director Ashley Cross, EdD. “We developed the Please Play Campaign to help address a need many local families are feeling right now.”
The Please Play Campaign will connect children and families with resources to strengthen interpersonal connections and build social-emotional strength through child-directed play. The Strong National Museum of Play will have an integral role in the campaign, helping to create video, written content, and webinar events.
“Play is an investment in children’s social-emotional strength and resiliency, providing joy and personal connection,” explained Bruce Gilberg, Ph.D., founder of G2. “Children have lost the connection with so many adults they are used to seeing regularly. However, right now, we can work to strengthen the relationships children have at home, helping to restore feelings of control and emotional security.”
The child-directed play model is the foundation of the original program G2 has been bringing to local schools for 17 years. The original G2 model brings volunteers (called G2 buddies) to schools for one-on-one child-directed play. While that concept is not an option during the pandemic, the Please Play Campaign is an opportunity to help children and parents cope while feeling reassured and nurtured.
“Play calms children and results in less stress for them and their parents,” Gilberg continued. “That’s especially critical during this time of extraordinary anxiety. Play is a powerful coping strategy that helps both kids and adults.”
The Please Play Campaign’s online resources are now available to everyone at PleasePlay.org free of charge. On the site, parents will find:
•Access to videos and guidance to use child-directed play to nurture development and build social-emotional strength.
•Handouts that provide simple “tips” for child-directed play.
•More information about future events and resources through the Please Play Campaign.
Organizations interested in partnering with Generation Two or providing G2 Please Play Workshops at their agencies can contact Ashley Cross by email at Ashley.Cross@g2rochester.org.
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