Ever worry that modern childhood has become simply a series of scheduled activities or hours spent in front of a screen? Ever find your neighborhood eerily quiet, despite knowing that dozens of kids live there? If you have asked these questions with concern, you should check out the Playborhood created by Mike Lanza in California.
Ever worry that modern childhood has become simply a series of scheduled activities or hours spent in front of a screen? Ever find your neighborhood eerily quiet, despite knowing that dozens of kids live there? If you have asked these questions with concern, you should check out the Playborhood created by Mike Lanza in California. The writer, father, and advocate for vibrant neighborhood play cultures has made it his mission to transform his yard into a neighborhood hangout and to make play a visible priority on his block, with incredible results. From a whiteboard that extends along the border of his yard to a ladder propped against his back fence, inviting kids to climb over and play, Mike has taken concrete steps to integrate community play into his family’s life. His suggestions range from simple (knock on doors every once in a while to invite people out) to more complex (he tore out the pavers of his driveway in order to lay smooth concrete—ideal for skateboards, scooters, basketball, and sidewalk chalk— in its place), but his ideas all work toward the goal of making childhood a time for unstructured, joyful play!
This Thursday, October 28, from 2-3PM ET, join the conversation! Sign into a free webinar with Mike Lanza, and hosted by KaBOOM!. “Neighborhood Play, Everyday” is designed for parents, playgroups, and anyone concerned about vanishing play time in children’s lives. Mike will share easy ways to make neighborhood play a priority on any block. Register now!
