January 28 (7 to 9 PM)
$40

War, weapon, and super-hero play – Do we do that here?

This session is for early childhood educators inpreschool settings who are uncomfortable with war, weapon, and super-hero playbut know that forbidding it isn’t working.

Does your centrehave a policy that says No to war, weapons, and super-hero play? If not, isthere an unwritten rule about whether it’s allowed or not? If we are saying‘No’, what are we trying to prevent? Do all staff members agree and enforce thesame practice? Does it feel like “Whack-a-mole” trying to prevent this kind ofplay – no matter how many times you say ‘No’, it keeps happening? What harmmight we be causing with our unending ‘No’?

This workshop willsummarize some key research and provide examples to foster discussion on thischallenging topic. Bring examples of current play struggles and be prepared tochallenge your assumptions and practice.

Tanya Moxley is an ambassadorfor the importance of unstructured loose parts play for children’s successfulgrowth & development. In 2015, while working with the Halifax RegionalSchool Board’s Excel program for Before & After School Care, she wasinvited to introduce the ‘loose parts play’ concept to 18 Excel programs. The success of that venture has turned into a small business providing loos partsadventure play sessions for childcare centres, day camps and after-schoolprograms, as well as offering professional development for educators and recreationstaff, and support to parents in letting their children take on more risk.Tanya has completed the Playworker Development Course, through Pop-up AdventurePlay in the UK.