Providence Children’s Museum: “What Happened to Recess?”

What Happened to Recess?

Providence Children’s Museum and Providence Athenaeum Present Second of Three Conversations about Children’s Play

Providence Children’s Museum, the Providence Athenaeum and Kidoinfo present “Speaking of Play,” a series of panel discussions about the critical importance of self-directed play for children’s healthy growth and development. The second conversation – What Happened to Recess? – takes place Tuesday, April 2 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at the Athenaeum (251 Benefit Street in Providence) and is free and open to the public.

Recess is crucial for kids, resulting in better attention span, improved classroom behavior, and important opportunities for free play, creativity and interaction with other children – yet it is increasingly limited or withheld. Join the great recess debate in a conversation moderated by Janice O’Donnell, Executive Director of Providence Children’s Museum. Panelists are Alicia Bell, Elementary art teacher and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School parent; Dr. Lauren Greve, Psychologist and Vartan Gregorian Elementary School parent; and Phyllis Penhallow, URI Lecturer and Chariho Elementary School parent.

Audience members will learn about important research in support of recess, hear about panelists’ recess efforts in their public schools, and receive tools and resources for advocating for recess in their schools and communities.

The final conversation in the Speaking of Play series – Play & Risk: How Safe is Too Safe? – will be held at the Athenaeum on Tuesday, May 7 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. RSVPs for both events are welcome to Lindsay Shaw, lshaw@provath.org or (401) 421-6970 ext. 17. Click here to download a flyer for the series.