Games for the Classroom - Child's Play In Action

Theater for Children as a Tool for Empathy

Jocelyn Greene shares about how her new play can helps families meet this moment: building empathy, community and emotional awareness.

The Birthday Party Planning Guide

Throwing a “simple” birthday party can be daunting. Here, Jocelyn Greene shares tips on creative ways to re-think parties to make them as unique as the birthday kid. With ideas for inventive mash-ups and a fun questionnaire, you’ll get to the heart of what your child loves most.

Boy molds girl playing theater game and creating sculpture

Sculpture Will Make Your Kids’ Imaginations Soar

Sculpture is the best theater game to spark imagination and literacy. Kids love molding each other (and you!) into creative tableaus. Get creative with the titles to boost literacy. Expand EQ by riffing on themes that matter to their development. Above all, have fun in a screen-free, physical and bonding way!

18 Brain Breaks That Will Make Your Kids’ Minds Happy

Brain Breaks are brilliant ways to energize your kids in the classroom or at home. These short movement activities invigorate kids so that they can learn with calm bodies and focused minds. They tap into imagination and word play too!

5 Ways to Play School (to Boost Joy) While Our Kids Can’t Go

Fun ways to “play school” for kids stuck at home! Empathy and cognition boosting games.

20 Questions Will Boost Your Kid’s Mental Stamina and Focus

20 Questions can help your kid with impulse control (hello, spring break car trips!), flexible thinking and growth mindset. Kids love it because they can get their “sleuth” on! Parents love it because it is a fun way to get kids focusing in tight spaces!

Teacher playing with kids dressed in costume, expressive movements with arms

Boom Chica Boom is that screen free game you need to play now

This simple chant helps kids regulate their emotions and boosts their social intelligence. You can play it as a car game, while walking to school, or even at bedtime. Kids will have fun exploring “characters” and you’ll like this easy format for fostering new words to develop feelings.

older kids singing and playing with arms stretched up

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!

Jocelyn and group of kids playing Pass the Emotion

Kids Get In Touch With Emotions – Here’s How

Tongue twisters warm up the voice…Yoga can stretch the body…But what about our character’s feelings? I use ‘Pass the Emotions’ to prime my students for

Group of kids acting on stage, wearing hats, showing empathy

Getting Into Character: 4 Games For More Compassionate Kids

Getting into another character’s shoes is the best way (that I know) to build empathy. These simple exercises will get kids out of their own heads and into the hearts of their character. The theater gives us these essential tools to boost empathy and emotional intelligence in our young students.