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
My family and I live just outside of Boston, and one of our annual traditions is cheering on the marathon runners at mile 24. This year, as usual, my husband and I took our daughters, Alex (7) and Eliza (3), to enjoy the excitement. We headed home around 2:00 p.m. for...
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
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. When they found out that I was part of the Pop-Up Adventure...
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
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, mini pop-ups are the...
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
What could be better than visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)? Imagine being able to do whatever you like with what you find. Plus, the security staff are completely supportive! On August 10, 2012, Pop-Up Adventure Play collaborated with some of the wonderful...
