Welcome
to the home of
playful, positive kids.
Nothing lights up the brain like play.
-Stuart Brown MD
But another part of the evolutionary story is that play is a satisfying good in itself – a source of joy, laughter, and fun for parents as well as children. If it had no other rationale, the sheer pleasure of play would be justification enough.
-Dr. Alison Gopnick
Hi, I’m Jocelyn
I’m an educator, children’s theater director, and a parent.
There is so much noise out there about what you “should” be doing with your kid to help them succeed. But I’m starting to feel like it is all really simpler than we think: that in order to create thriving children and successful humans, we just need to be playing more.
As a mom, I use my acting training and classroom curriculum to work through parenting challenges, survive snow days and most of all have fun with my kid!
I love watching my son grow into his own person and have fun just keeping up with him.
I can’t wait to share my tools with you. Thank you for being a part of Child’s Play in Action!
You can read more about me here.
Play is not only our creative drive; it’s a fundamental way of learning.
-David Elkind
For The Latest
Creative Movement Games that Inspire Kids to be Brave and Kind
The thrilling ways that actors use creative movement can translate to your home or classroom for inspired indoor play. Help kids get “into character” through physical and robust playing that nurtures empathy along the way too! If you are a theater or classroom teacher these build up your ensemble and inspire brave choices. Build in some of these games as a way to release energy and recharge after the school day. Set these games in motion and then empower your kids to keep the playing going without you!
Eight Joyful Ways to Help Your Kids Love Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is easy with these librarian-approved tips. Plus, check out the coolest tools that boost literacy and make books bonding!
How To Have The Best Road Trip With Your Kids This Summer
Maximize the playing on your next road trip with these tried and true games for backseat fun! Enjoy some quality screen-free family time and help kids process emotion and tell stories. These theater games are road tested for your vacation pleasure!
3 Simple Tricks That Will Make Your Kids Eat Better
Kids eat healthier when mealtimes are fun! Here’s some inspiration for table games and ways to use improv to get great eaters.
How To Be Silly And Boost Mindfulness At The Same Time!
Here’s a game I love to enhance mindfulness, brain power and at the same time get some great laughs out of your kids! The good news it requires very little “stuff” to make this game fun. Like most of the dramatic play tools I can offer you, this game can spark your child’s creativity using things you already have on hand. I call it “Test Your Touch!”
How To Make Clean Up Fun
Using positivity and playfulness you can transform even the most annoying task of clean up, into a game! Watch this short video I made about the Clean-up Game! I use this tactic in my classrooms and in my living room. Learn about positive discipline techniques to...
For Teachers
Got grit? This is the exact pep talk that will make kids work hard
Motivate your kids and learn more about grit. In this week’s video we avoid the pitfall of “good job” and learn some other ways to praise kids. And read Jocelyn’s pre-show speech for her cast of Music Man!
Feelings and How to Help Kids Talk About Them
Give kids mastery over their emotions. Let them identify and communicate about their feelings by talking “to” them! If they give voice (literally) to parts of their brain, they gain mindfulness and perspective over their worry.
Make Reading A Game With These Simple Tools
Soup up your story time: turn your books into games when you do reading the Child's Play way! One of the perks of growing up with actor-parents is that story time was...awesome. My mom and dad picked great books, threw themselves into the dialogue, lifted up the...
For New Yorkers
Play touches and stimulates vitality, awakening the whole person – mind, body, intelligence and creativity.
-Viola Spolin
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