Play Labs bring joyful, play-based early learning to young children ages 3-5. We know that when children play, they also learn, heal, and thrive. Play Labs combine vibrant, fun play spaces, engaging facilitators, and a love for local culture with an evidence-based curriculum to give all children the early start they deserve.
Play Labs bring together beautiful play spaces, locally made play materials, engaging Play Leaders, a world class curriculum, and caregivers and communities to create welcoming, joyful environments where children can learn and develop. Explore these building blocks below.
Play Leaders
Play Leaders are at the heart of the Play Lab. We focus less on formal credentials and more on identifying passionate, engaging facilitators from local communities. We then equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to promote child development and lead child-centered, playful activities.
Play Materials
Materials in the Play Labs are made by local communities and for local communities. Caregivers and communities create play materials from low-cost or no-cost materials, often recycled, that reflect local culture. With a team of architects, we have created templates for fun and safe outdoor play structures that use affordable local materials like bamboo and used tires.
Play Spaces
Play Labs can take place in many different playful spaces, from locally rented or donated buildings to available classrooms in primary schools. We update the spaces to reflect local architecture and design, and introduce innovative features to create a more climate-conscious and accessible physical environment.
Caregivers and Communities
Caregivers and communities are a critical part of every child’s life. Play Labs engage caregivers and community members on a regular basis. From sessions on developmental milestones to play-based learning and toy development, we help empower every family and community to bring joy and learning to the young children in their lives.
Play Curriculum
Our Play Curriculum was designed by international experts in child development, education, and mental health. The curriculum takes a child-friendly, playful approach to encourage creativity, innovation, and child-led activities that reflect local traditions and heritage. Activities help children develop physically, socially and emotionally, and cognitively, while also giving children who have experienced trauma a space to heal.
The PlayBook is a toolkit designed to share the Play Lab approach and learning with governments, professionals, and advocates involved in promoting early childhood development locally, nationally, or globally. Our goal is to equip others with the tools to learn from, adopt, and contextualize Play Labs in their own countries and communities.
Early childhood is a critical time in a child’s life. When play is integrated into how we care for and teach young children, it promotes their development and helps them grow into adaptable, resilient, socially and emotionally literate adults who can navigate the adversities of poverty and conflict later in life.
Play Labs bring joyful, play-based early learning to young children ages 3-5. We know that when children play, they also learn, heal, and thrive. Play Labs combine vibrant, fun play spaces, engaging facilitators, and a love for local culture with an evidence-based curriculum to give all children the early start they deserve.
Play Leaders
Play Leaders are at the heart of the Play Lab. We focus less on formal credentials and more on identifying passionate, engaging facilitators from local communities. We then equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to promote child development and lead child-centered, playful activities.
Play Materials
Materials in the Play Labs are made by local communities and for local communities. Caregivers and communities create play materials from low-cost or no-cost materials, often recycled, that reflect local culture. With a team of architects, we have created templates for fun and safe outdoor play structures that use affordable local materials like bamboo and used tires.
Play Spaces
Play Labs can take place in many different playful spaces, from locally rented or donated buildings to available classrooms in primary schools. We update the spaces to reflect local architecture and design, and introduce innovative features to create a more climate-conscious and accessible physical environment.
Caregivers and Communities
Caregivers and communities are a critical part of every child’s life. Play Labs engage caregivers and community members on a regular basis. From sessions on developmental milestones to play-based learning and toy development, we help empower every family and community to bring joy and learning to the young children in their lives.
Play Curriculum
Our Play Curriculum was designed by international experts in child development, education, and mental health. The curriculum takes a child-friendly, playful approach to encourage creativity, innovation, and child-led activities that reflect local traditions and heritage. Activities help children develop physically, socially and emotionally, and cognitively, while also giving children who have experienced trauma a space to heal.
The PlayBook is a toolkit designed to share the Play Lab approach and learning with governments, professionals, and advocates involved in promoting early childhood development locally, nationally, or globally. Our goal is to equip others with the tools to learn from, adopt, and contextualize Play Labs in their own countries and communities.
WHY EARLY
CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT?
Early childhood is a critical time in a child’s life. When play is integrated into how we care for and teach young children, it promotes their development and helps them grow into adaptable, resilient, socially and emotionally literate adults who can navigate the adversities of poverty and conflict later in life.
