IPA USA Porch Play Chats with Lisa Latimer on Engaging Parents in Play-Based Learning

Summary

In this Porch Play Chat sponsored by IPA USA, Lisa Latimer, director of iLEAD Agua Dulce, shares how her play-based charter school fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and meaningful learning through child-led play. She discusses strategies for engaging parents, including detailed documentation, parent meetings, and hands-on experiences, to help them understand the value of play. The school emphasizes outdoor learning, including play in all weather, and balances structure with freedom to nurture creativity and independence. By building trust and demonstrating tangible learning outcomes, Lisa shows how play-based education cultivates joy, resilience, and academic growth in children from TK through eighth grade.

Takeaways

• 😀 Play is essential for children's development and learning, combining critical thinking, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth.
• 😀 Parents often have misconceptions about academic readiness; intentional communication helps them understand the value of play-based learning.
• 😀 I Lead Aqua Dulce uses both play-based and project-based learning to create engaging, meaningful, and hands-on educational experiences.
• 😀 Early and consistent parent engagement includes informational meetings, weekly updates, documentation, and guided 'table talks.'
• 😀 Outdoor classrooms and child-led play are central, with intentional provocations to stimulate curiosity and learning.
• 😀 Older children transferring into the program may experience culture shock and need guidance in re-learning how to play.
• 😀 Play is structured and purposeful; it is not unregulated chaos but intentionally designed to meet developmental and academic goals.
• 😀 Allowing children to play in rain, mud, and outdoor environments helps them expend energy, build resilience, and improve focus.
• 😀 Trust and relationships with both children and parents are foundational for successful play-based learning programs.
• 😀 Demonstrating measurable learning outcomes through observation, documentation, and workshops helps parents appreciate the effectiveness of play.
• 😀 Play-based learning fosters joy, engagement, and self-directed growth, showing that children can thrive academically while exploring freely.
• 😀 Teacher roles involve observation, stepping back, and supporting child-led exploration while maintaining clear expectations for behavior and learning.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the Porch Play Chat hosted by IPA USA?

The Porch Play Chat aims to promote children's right to play by having conversations with experts in the field, sharing insights on play-based learning and advocacy.

Who is Lisa Latimer and what are her roles related to play-based learning?

Lisa Latimer is the director of I Lead Aqua Dulce, a charter school in Southern California that focuses on play-based and project-based learning. She is also the chair of the State Play Advocacy Committee, organizing play initiatives and events in her community.

What is the educational philosophy at I Lead Aqua Dulce?

The school combines play-based and project-based learning to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, risk-taking, and child-led learning while ensuring academic and social growth.

How does the school engage and educate parents about the value of play?

The school engages parents through pre-enrollment informational meetings, weekly updates, daily documentation with pictures, 'Table Talk' questions to discuss play with children, and Play Institutes where parents experience child-led learning firsthand.

What is 'Table Talk' and why is it used?

'Table Talk' is a set of specific questions sent home for parents to ask their children about their school day. It encourages meaningful conversations and helps parents understand the learning happening through play.

How does I Lead Aqua Dulce handle outdoor and messy play?

The school provides outdoor classrooms where children can engage in child-led play, including mud play and rain play. This helps children expend energy, build physical skills, enhance focus, and develop resilience, while parents are informed about expectations and benefits.

What challenges arise when older children join the school, and how are they addressed?

Older children may experience 'culture shock' due to prior structured schooling and limited play experience. The school supports them by gradually introducing play, providing guidance, and sometimes involving them in creating outdoor learning spaces to encourage engagement.

How does trust between parents and the school contribute to the program's success?

Trust is essential; clear communication, proactive addressing of concerns, and demonstration of child growth and joy build confidence in parents, allowing them to embrace the play-based approach.

What evidence does the school provide to show that play-based learning is effective?

The school documents learning through daily photos, weekly updates, learning targets, and assessments. Parents can see children's academic, social, and emotional growth, demonstrating that play is both structured and meaningful learning.

How do teachers balance child-led play with learning objectives?

Teachers set clear expectations and learning targets, provide intentional provocations, and step back to allow children to lead. This ensures learning occurs while giving children autonomy and opportunity for safe risk-taking.

Why is play considered a critical part of child development according to the chat?

Play supports cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, and engagement, all while allowing children to experience joy in learning.

What resources can parents access to learn more about play-based learning?

Parents can visit IPA USA’s website (ipausa.org), the I Lead through Play Facebook page, and the Porch Play Chats YouTube channel to view discussions, videos of outdoor classrooms, and examples of play-based learning in practice.