1.0ALSC Bloghttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blogEarly Childhood Programs and Services committeehttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/author/early-childhood-programs-and-services-committee/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="typohxPkw8"><a href="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2024/11/creating-playful-opportunities-your-library/">Creating Playful Opportunities @your Library</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2024/11/creating-playful-opportunities-your-library/embed/#?secret=typohxPkw8" width="600" height="338" title="“Creating Playful Opportunities @your Library” — ALSC Blog" data-secret="typohxPkw8" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> As the manager of a library with an active and busy Early Literacy Center, I’m always looking for new ways to create playful learning opportunities. Research shows that children learn most from self-directed play: activities chosen by children, where they create the structure and rules. The more I learn about play, the more I try to facilitate open-ended, child-driven play, and to help my staff and families and caregivers understand the value of this type of play. I wrote about one particularly inspiring presentation at ALSC Institute 2022 on this blog: https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2022/09/rethinking-play/. So I wanted to share a summer program we started in 2023 that is easy to implement and easy to replicate, focused on play (guessing that some of you may be working on summer plans now or soon!) Play Lab, held weekly in June and July takes place outdoors. Going outdoors became more typical for many libraries during...https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/paint-summer24.jpg16721462