Community event brings healing power of play to families
Photo courtesy of THE PLAYGROUNDgr
THE PLAYGROUNDgr will host its largest community event, GR Plays, from 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Congress Elementary, 940 Baldwin St. SE in Grand Rapids. The free event will offer play therapy-based activities designed to support emotional regulation, creativity, and family connection for community members who may otherwise face barriers to accessing these resources.
Many families face barriers, including transportation, insurance coverage, and cost, that can prevent them from accessing play therapy resources. GR Plays was created to remove those barriers and provide families with a joyful, shared experience centered on the benefits of play.
“Research continues to show that play is endangered and that not playing as a person, family, or community impacts our well-being,” said Jacqueline Scherer, Director of THE PLAYGROUNDgr. “Choosing to play together for just two hours can spark joy, strengthen family connections, and support long-term emotional wellness.”
GR Plays will feature a variety of activities designed to encourage children and families to play, create, and connect. Activities include yoga with Full Bloom Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness; self-portraits and skin matching; pet rock creation; break dancing with Teknique Street Dance Academy; circus arts with Grand Rapids Circus Project; drumming and a drum giveaway with Josh Dunigan; nature play with TreeSchool; music from DJ Tron; and a bounce house from Grand Rapids Event Rentals. Participants can also enjoy complimentary ice cream during the event.
Attendance has grown in previous years to more than 300 people, with families reporting lasting positive impacts on their children’s behavior and well-being as well as their family relationships. Families interested in continuing to participate in programming after GR Plays will be able to apply for scholarships from THE PLAYGROUNDgr.
GR Plays is free and open to the public thanks to the generosity of sponsors including Experience Grand Rapids, Uptown Grand Rapids, LMCU, Wholehearted Marketing and Congress Elementary.
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