Jun 5, 2013 | Anna, Children, loose parts, playgrounds, pretend play
My family’s favourite neighbourhood playground was recently completely redesigned. At one of the first community planning meetings, I mentioned that wood chips are some of the best “stuff” of play. Imagine the odd looks. Really? Who is this crazy person? Please...
May 29, 2013 | Children, Memories, Photos, Play, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds, school, Zan
The Co-operative Academy of Manchester welcomed us back for another two days of creative Pop-Up Play at Co-op. The event transformed everyday spaces into vibrant hubs of child-led play, sparking joy and imagination for children and their families. “Look what I...
Apr 30, 2013 | adults, Anna, Childhood, Children, comfort, family, mom, nature play, Play
By Anna My family and I live just outside of Boston and, as usual, my husband and I took our daughters Alex (7) and Eliza (3) to cheer for the marathon runners at mile 24. We went home at 2:00 p.m. for a much-needed nap and, lucky for all of us, both girls were...
Apr 25, 2013 | blog, Children, Community, London, Play, Playwork, playwork principles, playworkers, Pop-Up Play Shop, symposium, Zan
By Zan The blog for the Shop of Possibilities has been one of my favourite blogs ever since I found it about a year ago. The updates aren’t regular, but the photos are always fascinating, and gives a little glimpse into the life of a possible world. So imagine...
Apr 2, 2013 | adults, Anna, Children, conflict, mom, Play, playground
There is a monster in my house. She is 3 ½ years old and her name is Eliza. When she scrunches up her eyes, nose, and mouth into the center of her face and growls, all other ferocious beasts beware. She is the toughest of the tough, until she laughs out loud and falls...
Mar 21, 2013 | Anna, box, Cardboard, Children, photo, Play, potential
These days, when I see a cardboard box, no matter how flattened it is, squashed between fifteen other boxes in a garbage bin covered in dirty snow, I see potential. When we afford children the freedom to do whatever they choose with ordinary open-ended materials, one...
Mar 3, 2013 | Childhood, Children, fund raising, gamers, Play, play advocates, Pop-Up Adventure Play, video games
By Zan Yesterday, Pop-Up Adventure Play held a fundraising event! We teamed up with gaming store Manchester Fort Game and made it a whole evening of awesomeness. I have worked at Manchester Fort Game on and off for some time, and when they found out that I was part of...
Feb 19, 2013 | Cardboard, Children, Play, Playwork, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds, Zan
It’s been some time since I’ve lead on a project and worked directly with children. The last time I did, it was as part of the Queen’s Jubilee, and in video-game-years that was an age ago! Today I get to excitedly talk about my two-day Pop-Up...
Dec 11, 2012 | Belgium, Children, Morgan, Photos, Play, Playwork, playworker
By Morgan I went to Belgium! It was as part of a Youth In Action-funded international training program and followed on from a trip I made to Leuven last February. Time for some adventures in Belgium – through play, of course! The organizer, Joost Capiau...
Sep 5, 2012 | Children, loose parts, Mini Pop-Up, NYC, Play, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds
By Sharon Yesterday, I had the great honour of helping our friend – artist Laura Nova – with a mini pop-up celebration in her Lower East Side neighbourhood’s summer festival. For those of you unfamiliar with our pop-up adventure playground model,...
Sep 1, 2012 | Children, photo, Play, Pop-Up Adventure Play, Pop-Up Play Shop, video
By Morgan Another Pop-Up Play Shop flowered recently, in Paignton, Devon. Play Torbay had invited us down to be a part of Children’s Week – an annual celebration of and for children, that has been going for 60 years! Most of Children’s Week happens...
Sep 1, 2012 | Children, collaboration, family, fun, junk, loose parts, MoMA, Play, Pop-Up Adventure Play
By Sharon What could be better than visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)? Well, when you’re allowed to do whatever you like with what you find… and when the security staff are totally on your side! On August 10, 2012, Pop-Up Adventure Play collaborated with...
