Video Library

CAYL Catalyst Ep #47
Putting the Power Back in Play

Recorded on April 3, 2025

Play is essential for children’s development, but how do we truly facilitate it in today’s world? In the wake of the pandemic, many children are struggling to reconnect with the power of play.

In this insightful webinar, we’ll explore how to create meaningful spaces for play and harness its potential to support learning, emotional well-being, and overall development. From fostering creativity to building resilience, we’ll dive into practical strategies that empower kids and early childhood educators to rediscover the joy of play.

Featuring:

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
Professor of Psychology at Temple University, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Visiting Professor at Oxford University

Anthony (Ant) Toombs Sr.
Trauma Counselor and Founding Member, Growth & Expansion Strategist with The Life is Good Playmaker Project (LiGPP)

Robin Meisner, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Exhibits and Research, Boston Children’s Museum

Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington
CEO and President, The CAYL Institute

Featured Resources

From The CAYL Institute:
Changing the Game for Generation Alpha: Teaching and Raising Young Children in the 21st Century by Valora Washington, Ph.D. (Redleaf Press)

CAYL Catalyst Ep. #16 – Making Space for Play

Our Professional Guidelines:

NAEYC Position Statements

NAEYC Mission and Strategic Direction

NAEYC DAP: Defining Developmentally Appropriate Practice

NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment

Panelist Resources:

Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children

Making Schools Work – Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice

Einstein Never Used Flash Cards

Boston Children’s Museum’s Power of Play

Boston Children’s Museum’s Tools for Engaging Early Learners

Accessing the Inaccessible: Redefining Play as a Spectrum

Life Is Good Playmaker Project

Additional Play Resources:

The Child’s Right To Play – The IPA USA 50th Anniversary White Paper

Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting

STATE OF PLAY: An interim report from the Raising the Nation Play Commission

Raising the Nation Play Commission

School days: How the U.S. compares with other countries

Pedagogy of Play

Center for Playful Inquiry