Increasingly, communities around the globe embrace play as a component of healthy human development. Current research indicates how play supports cognitive, social, emotional and physical health and why not all play is equal. This presentation and community conversation will explore the complexities of play, various ways we can support playful communities and how play is linked to human health. We will discuss the difference between free play and directed play, the role of risk in healthy play, and options for new natural play environments. You will learn a bit about a new outdoor play environments being planned in Lexington and how you can be a play advocate in your community.

We invite parents, educators, designers and advocates interested in the importance of play in healthy child development and how play spaces can support healthier communities.

Claude Stephens, Director of the Bernheim Arboretum’s Children At Play Network will lead this 1-hour workshop and light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

We extend a special thanks to the University of Kentucky’s Sustainability Challenge Grant program for financial
support of this event, part of the Nature Playscape and Native Landscape grant for the Child
Development Center of the Bluegrass.

Questions? Please contact Jordan Phemister at jph235@uky.edu in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Department of Landscape Architecture.