The Play Today Training Project was held virtually on October 4, 2025, for eight early childhood educators. The goal was to provide practical strategies for supporting play in early learning environments and fostering community partnerships that promote play opportunities for children. The training was led by two experienced trainers, including one published author, bringing expertise in play-based learning and early childhood development.
The workshop covered four main areas: Stages of Play – recognizing developmental progressions from solitary to cooperative play Types of Play – exploring sensory, dramatic, constructive, and physical play Personalities of Play – identifying eight distinct play personalities The Lizard/Wizard Brain and Play – introducing a simple brain-based model connecting emotional and logical thinking Participants also received play-based teaching strategies and community resource guides drawn from DEY and NAEYC, including rural-specific resources customized for those who registered.
Timeline:
Weeks 1–6: Weekly one-hour preparation meetings to develop and refine training content and materials
Weeks 2 & 4: Conduct research, gather general and rural-specific resources
Weeks 4–5: Promote the training to early childhood educators
Week 5: Live practice session on September 27 to refine content and presentation
Week 6: Deliver the live virtual training on October 4, 2025
The project also laid groundwork to transition toward in-person trainings, including a play-focused game board protocol, designed to help educators continue accessing and facilitating play opportunities in their communities.
The training advanced DEY’s mission by: Educators learned how to integrate play to support cognitive, social-emotional, and creative development. By emphasizing play types, personalities, and stages, educators were encouraged to foster individualized and child-led play experiences. Gathering rural resources and providing strategies for community partnerships helped expand access to play in under-served areas.
The training impacted eight early childhood educators, who serve programs reaching an estimated 250 children and families. Participants gained knowledge and practical strategies to: Recognize stages, types, and personalities of play Apply the “lizard and wizard brain” model to support emotional regulation Build local community partnerships to promote play-based learning Hurdles: Minor technical issues with online connectivity Limited time for interactive discussion due to the virtual format Despite these challenges, the training successfully strengthened educator capacity to incorporate play-based learning in their classrooms and communities. The session also established a foundation for future in-person trainings using the game board protocol to support ongoing play initiatives.
DEY Funds Received: $500 Funds Spent: $500 Trainer Fee: $300 – Covered preparation, facilitation by two trainers (including one published author), weekly preparation meetings, and the live practice session. Creation Tools & Materials: $65 – Customized resource packets for participants, including costs for Google Meet, Canva Pro, and a printing service fee. Advertising: $135 – Promotion to reach participating educators, including delivering handouts to 50+ local community centers and childcare sites. *We do not have photos but we do have a video of the training to share if you are interested in viewing the training for yourself!* We would love to share! Contact: sam@yogismart.org