Healthi Kids will present its second Playful Learning Summit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at the Memorial Art Gallery. This sold-out, day-long conference emphasizes the power of play and creativity inside and outside the classroom to spur physical activity, social-emotional growth, mental wellness, academic achievement and more.
The summit features youth, educators, parents, community partners, and individuals passionate about the future of education to explore ways to foster a joyful learning environment. Participants will consider the many benefits of playful learning, with a special focus on how it positively affects the holistic development of Black and Latino children and students with disabilities.
“Play is the best way for kids to learn because it fully engages them,” said Dina Faticone, chief program officer of Common Ground Health. “Play is also key to social-emotional development. We know that kids need supportive opportunities to build relationships, including peer relationships and relationships with trusted adults. Play provides them with those opportunities.”
The summit audience hails from the Rochester City School District, Greece Central School District, Wayne County schools, charter schools in Rochester and childcare and out-of-school-time providers. Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health, will offer opening remarks at the event.
“Parents and students have told us they want play incorporated into learning in their schools,” Norwood said, “While we continue our work to build more safe play spaces in neighborhoods, play at school helps kids explore the world safely.”
Keynotes will be offered by Dr. Nathaniel Bryan, who will talk about “Engaging Children in Critical Playful Learning,” and Dr. Kareem Edouard who will talk about “Afterschool Opportunities for Playful Learning Through STEAM.”
Other sessions include making room for Black girls to play, the sound of play in a school community, playing with sticks: helping all children find nature, playful learning with PBS Kids!, child-centered play time in your weekly schedule, and play everyday: ways to foster joy, choice and active learning in classrooms and outdoors.
Sponsors of the event include New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities*, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Education Success Foundation, Children’s Institute, the William and Sheila Konar Foundation, WXXI Kids, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities and Greater Rochester After School Alliance and Rochester’s Child of the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
This event is sold out. For details on the event, visit healthikids.org/summit.
About Healthi Kids
The Healthi Kids Coalition, an initiative of Common Ground Health, advocates for the creation of policies, systems, environments, and resources that advance the health and well-being of all children birth to age 8 in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. We advance policies to ensure all kids have the supports they need for the healthiest start in life. Learn more at healthikids.org.
*Funding for the event was made possible in part by the State of New York. The views expressed in written event materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the State.
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