playspace activities

Parents: An invitation to sit back and relax

Do less, observe more, enjoy most. - Magda Gerber


Children's brains are truly fascinating. They are constructing knowledge about their world from day one, and when given the opportunity to explore, they learn even more. It may seem counterintuitive, but allowing a child (yes, even a very young infant!) the space and freedom to play autonomously, and narrowing our role as parents to one of "observer" is a powerful shift. 

As simple as it sounds, taking a step back, and truly letting your child be can feel surprisingly difficult. If you're anything like me, you probably have an impulse to assist babies, to teach them "how" to use a toy, and to lead them through ways they can (should?) play.

You might hear yourself taking the lead and informing your child, "this block goes on top of this one," "Look at how neat this is," etc.  But when we intentionally stop and let them do the discovering it's pretty incredible what starts to happen!  

Observation helps us to understand what they are communicating, it allows us to realize the difference between our babies’ needs and our projections, to figure out what they’re really up to and know whether to intervene or stay out of their way.  It's nuts how often staying out of their way is actually an option! 

If you are interested in learning more, check out two of our favorite resources. 

Creating a “Yes Space”

Learn more about how to create a "Yes space" in your home for a child to safely explore.

A YES space is a gift to both children and their parents. It offers children ownership of a safe place that encourages play, learning, creativity, agency, and a strong sense of self. Parents get to enjoy one the great pleasures of parenting – observing their infant or toddler as they explore and master the world around them. Janet describes YES spaces in form and function, dispelling some common misconceptions and sharing tips about how children and parents can benefit the most. Learn more

Respectful Parenting

Gain a beautiful context for supporting infants development from one of the pioneers in the field Magda Gerber.  

The basis of Magda's Gerber's RIE philosophy is respect for, and trust in the baby to be an initiator, an explorer, and a self learner.

I LOVE her thoughts on toys and play. Do check them out here if you have an infant in your life. 

 

"One of the greatest gifts Magda bestows on us is the knowledge that infants are self-learners. And this is how a parent or caregiver spells relief. Self-learning means we don’t need to provide any lessons for a baby, and we need not feel pressured by developmental timetables. Infants are internally motivated to learn the things they need to learn: motor skills, communication, problem solving. 

We provide the foundation of a secure relationship with a caring adult, a safe environment conducive to exploration and discovery, and let nature takes its course. We never have to worry that we are not doing ‘enough,’ or that the child isn’t doing ‘enough.’ Whatever a healthy infant or toddler chooses to do in his safe environment is the perfect curriculum for him on any particular day. We let go of ‘doing’, and are left with observing, learning, enjoying."

-Janet Landsbury  

 

March and Beyond

Lucky us! 🍀

We have a really nice variety of events coming up in the next couple of months that we're excited to share.  From fitness, to mindfulness, to sign language & lots of opportunities for music.  Check out the schedule below or click this link to get more detailed information.

MARCH:

SNEAK PEEK into APRIL:

* = free for members

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Live Cello is just one of our Playspace Activities.  
When you're a member of Recess, all of the following activities are included in your plan!

Mondays: Coming Soon - Infant Sensory Play 

Tuesdays: Music with Mega 1130 (playspace) 1215 (classroom)

Thursdays: Stories and Songs w/Regina 11am

Fridays: Sensory Play 4pm 

Select Saturdays:  Live Cello 10am & Sensory Play 11-12, New and Expecting Parent Circles

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THIS COULD ALL BE YOURS!
When you book a party at Recess, the entire playspace is yours.  Invite up to 45 of your closest friends, bring whatever food/drink/decor you'd like, and get ready to enjoy a stress free celebration.  

Hop over to the calendar and secure a date.

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BUILDING COMMUNITY.  New and Expecting Parent Groups - First Saturdays
Creating a network of support is important at every stage of life...but it's particularly crucial for new parents.  We invite you to build community through Parent Circles at Recess. You’ll organically meet like-minded parents and begin building your new family’s community, while gaining resources to help support your little one's growth.  More info here.

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INTRO TO MINDFULNESS FOR PARENTS. You may know Charity Kahn the children's musician and educator.  She's also an incredible parent educator and community builder.  Recess is teaming up with Charity to bring a five week class, Mindfulness for Parents, to the space on Monday evenings 4/13-5/11.  We hope you'll join us in this opportunity for self care, stress reduction and insanely useful skills to ground yourself so that you are able to support your children.  More info here


It's just a space without you.  What would your family like to see at Recess?  Many of you have completed our survey to help shape the future of Recess.  If you have not yet, and would like to share your thoughts/desires for our organization, please hop over to the survey

Would you like to help bring play to families who cannot afford it.  

$1, $5 or $10 a month can make a difference in the lives of local children.  Click here to donate.

December Events at Recess

Winter has arrived in San Francisco and we invite you and your family to come indoors to play!

Read on to learn what we have going on this month. Note that we will be closed 12/24-1/2 so that our staff can be with their families for the holidays.

If you’re looking for a last minute gift, consider a gift card to Recess. It’s valid for a membership, a day of play, workshops, and even items in our pop up shop.

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WORKSHOPS THIS MONTH

  • Saturday 12/7, Infant Sleep Solutions *WEBINAR*. Lay the foundation for good sleep with expert advice from Dr. Angelique Millette.

  • Sunday 12/8, Infant, Child & Adult CPR. Learn lifesaving skills that will be absolutely essential should you run into a situation where your child is choking, drowning or has stopped breathing.

  • Thursday 12/12, Baby Sign Language. Gain tools to communicate with your babe and develop their linguistic skills at the same time.

PLAY

  • Tuesday 12/3 In celebration of GivingTuesday, join us for an open house. We'll have treats and "after hours" play. Come on by 5:-6:30pm.

  • Monday, 12/9, Little Ladybugs Music - free for members

  • Thursdays, 12/12 & 12/19, Music Time with Carissa - free for members

  • Saturday, 12/21, Toddle and Me Playgroup for LGBTQ+ families, with Our family Coalition

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Here are some local events we thought you might like:

12/4: 10am-6pm Walt Disney Museum’s Annual Free Day | 2019 (Free)

12/7: 11:30am SantaCon SF Union Square (Free)

12/7: Shop local at The Collab

12/14: 12pm-4pm Community Day at the Park (Fillmore Mini Park) (Free)

12/15: All Day Illuminate 2019: SF’s Festival of Light (Free)

12/15: Makers Market at Sunset Coop

12/22: 3-6pm Pop-Up Glowing Hanukkah Party at Ghirardelli Square (Free) (Advanced reservations requested*)

What else would you like to see? If there are additional ways we can make the journey of raising children in SF more enjoyable, please let us know! We're open to collaborations, ideas, etc.


Wishing you peace and warmth during this holiday season.

Best,

Lisa

PLAY: Investing in your child's early development

A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from birth to three—producing more than a million neural connections each second.  Our goal at Recess is to provide space to support that incredibly active time in your baby's and toddler's early learning, while also supporting your core needs. 

We invite you to join in for play in the playspace, and check out our services specifically for parents and grown ups.  These include workshops, playgroups and our co-working space.  "Support" means different things to different parents and caregivers.  If there are ways we can assist your family's journey as you grow, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Learn more about the crucial role you play in building your baby’s brain, get your questions answered, and find some fun “brain-building” activities to share with your little one by checking out our upcoming workshops and visiting our space.

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The development of the brain is influenced by many factors, including a child’s relationships, experiences and environment.  Engaging in play with your little one is a great way to connect and support development simultaneously.  

10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play

1. Children learn through their play.
Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop:

  • cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store

  • physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground

  • new vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs

  • social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash

  • literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant

2. Play is healthy.
Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.

3. Play reduces stress.
Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.

4. Play is more than meets the eye.
Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-–to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.

5. Make time for play.
As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.

6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand.
They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab.

7. Play outside.
Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.

8. There’s a lot to learn about play.
There’s a lot written on children and play. Here are some NAEYC articles and books about play. David Elkind’s The Power of Play (Da Capo, 2007 reprint) is also a great resource.

9. Trust your own playful instincts.
Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.

10. Play is a child’s context for learning.
Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.
 

Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, is the director of Champlain College’s graduate program in early childhood education, with specializations in teaching and administration, in Burlington, Vermont. She has taught preschool, directed early childhood programs, and studied parents’ perceptions of preschoolers’ learning through play.

Copyright © 2016, National Association for the Education of Young Children. All rights reserved