Southwest Key Programs’ Post

As we head into the school Summer holidays, Play England has published an open letter to government regarding on the importance of play and some first steps for change. https://lnkd.in/emUsjgzT Play England are calling for meaningful change as part of the government’s legislative programme set out in the King's Speech, through the introduction of play sufficiency legislation and a new national play strategy. Delivering these first steps will depend on bringing together governmental departments (MHCLG, DfE, DCMS, DHSC, and DfT) with national agencies, stakeholders, and children (as we did in 2008) to ensure that the importance of play is recognised, valued, and protected across government and wider society. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Legacy Department for Education Department for Culture, Media and Sport Department of Health and Social Care Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom 10 Downing Street Together, we can deliver transformational change and secure a legacy for our future generations by giving children their childhood back! #PlaySufficiency #NationalPlayStrategy

Understand the risks of substance use in college. 🚫 College environments can pose unique challenges, making young adults more susceptible to substance use. From peer pressure to academic stress, these factors contribute to increased vulnerability. Parents, staying informed and having open conversations with your college-bound kids can make all the difference. 🎓 Let's empower our youth with knowledge and support to navigate these risks safely ➡️ . . . #opisafevending #safetyfirst #harmreduction #festivalsafety #narcanaccess #safercommunities #festivals #opisafe #festivalinnovation #publichealthinnovation #musicfestivals #safercommunities #drugsafety #festivalmarketing #opisafejourney #innovateforsafety #narcanawareness #communitysupport #harmreductionstrategies #opisafeimpact 

What’s the most boring thing that kids hate learning about? The answer is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. What do kids love the most? Birthday presents! The Uncle Sam’s Comedy Jam school assembly program uses birthday presents to teach all 10 amendments related to the Bill of Rights. In front of the entire assembly, student volunteers come up on stage and look inside the presents for symbols of each bill. Uncle Sam’s Comedy Jam is a popular assembly during September because it meets the federal mandate for Constitution education to occur in celebration of Constitution Day. It’s also very popular around President’s Day, Memorial Day, Election Day, Veteran’s Day, and other patriotic holidays. If you’re looking to schedule educational assembly programs about American History, check out Uncle Sam’s Comedy Jam! 800-883-9883 info@academicentertainment.com https://lnkd.in/g9jtixxi #UncleSam #UncleSamsComedyJam #AssemblyPrograms #SchoolShows #AssemblyIdeas #History #AmericanHistory #GuestSpeakers #EntertainmentinSchools #EducationalEntertainment #Edutainment #ElementaryAssemblyIdeas

Let's Celebrate! It's the first International Day of Play! June 11th, 2024 marks the very first International Day of Play, a day dedicated to celebrating the power of play in all our lives, but especially for children. Play isn't just about having a good time. It's fundamental to a child's development. Play heals through learning, life skills and psychosocial well-being. That’s why there must be investment into diverse, inclusive and safe play spaces, extending access to all, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised children. Through play, children: · Learn and grow intellectually · Build social skills and make friends · Develop resilience and emotional well-being · Explore their creativity and imagination · Stay healthy and active What can we do: ü Organize a game day in your neighborhood park or backyard. ü Talk to friends, family, and educators about the importance of play in children's lives. ü Use social media to create awareness towards the benefit of play for children. #We want a world where every child’s right to play is respected, protected and fulfilled.

The Genius of Play's Step by Step Sculpture play activity develops fundamental skills in following verbal directions, essential for everyday life and academic success! #geniusofplay #allabilities #disabilities #toys #play #toyindustry

What Do You Think About Homeschool? I know this is from a movie, a really good movie at that, Captain Fantastic if you're wondering, but I know multiple families that homes school their children and they all seem to be so much ahead of the public school kids. What do you think? #homeschool #homeschoolingmom #HomeschoolingLife #publicschools #truthseeker #conservative #questionoftheday #kidslearning #kidslearn

For day 3 of celebrating families week, Nicola and Debs chat about the experience of your loved one going into further education. From this video, you can take away key advice on how to support your loved one during this time. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eCnyZZ5a #FamilyAdvice #HigherEducation #FamilySupport

Calling all kids, families, and adults! It's time to use your superpower of Play to unleash your inner builder and join the Play revolution! On June 11th, grab your LEGO® bricks and get ready to create something amazing together. A DAY FOR PLAY: The United Nations recently recognized the importance of Play by establishing an official International Day of Play. The International Day of Play will be June 11th, with the inaugural celebration in 2024, and it will champion and protect children’s right to play. Play is never just play: UNICEF estimates that 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning. Play can help children to find their way back to hope, health and happiness. Because play is never just play. Play is powerful. The power of play unlocks potential, instils confidence, saves lives, heals, and creates a world of possibilities. Let's take children's right to play a step further by joining a global movement that elevates the importance of play as central to children's learning and well-being. More about International Day of Play: https://lnkd.in/dhUkD9mG https://lnkd.in/dQk4gcEX

"Have you been robbed yet? Well, you're going to be" This was a response from an affluent business leader when I told him that I live in the city of Chicago. I was a little taken aback, because I've lived in Chicago for nearly 20 years. I run 3 miles into my office nearly every day. My family rarely uses are car, and walks nearly 10 miles a day, in the city. And yet, we've never seen a crime. Does he know something I don't know? Because every day, we see something very different. This month, we sat in our neighborhood park with 100 of our neighbors listening to live classical music. We host an Octoberfest event, where the streets close down and the scene resembled a European piazza. We had a block party, where we sat on the front stoop of one of my best friends homes, and we talked to the endless parade of neighbors. It's the opposite of what Seth Kaplan calls "Fragile Neighborhoods"; it's an anti-fragile community. We have a bi-weekly dad's bowling league, our kids knock on each other's door, we never eat pizza at our home, we bring it to the park, and eat with our friends. This is in the heart of city of Chicago. Our biggest neighborhood issue: too much pickleball at the park. This past week, I read a study by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman and the threat of robberies made sense to me. It's called the Availability heuristic: People estimate the probability of an event by the ease of instances come to mind. So, for example, if the news you consume is constantly talking about crime, you can longer imagine a family living in Chicago without being robbed. In other words, you become miscalibrated. Am I concerned about getting robbed? I think it's more likely that I'm going to run to work, play in the park with my kids, and listen to some classical music in the neighborhood.

As an early childhood mental health therapist, I've witnessed the profound impact of play in fostering healing and growth in young minds. International Play Therapy Week serves as a timely reminder of the transformative potential embedded in the simplicity of play. In my hands-on experience, I've seen children express their deepest emotions, fears, and aspirations through the language of play. The therapeutic process of play enables them to navigate complex feelings, build resilience, and develop crucial coping mechanisms.Play therapy offers a unique avenue for children to communicate in a way that feels natural to them. Whether it's through imaginative scenarios, role-playing, or creative expression, the therapeutic benefits are undeniable. Play becomes a medium for processing experiences and making sense of the world around them. During this special week, it's crucial to acknowledge and celebrate the dedicated practitioners who harness the power of play to promote emotional well-being. As a community, we recognize that play is not merely a pastime for children but a vital tool for mental health professionals to connect with and support their young clients. #kidsthrivebh #playtherapy