As a child, recess was built into my day, but there were seemingly random times when our teacher would tell the class, “It’s time to play ‘Seven Up’!” With that phrase, the room exploded, the clamoring commenced, and the energy uplifted. “Seven Up” became a favorite recess pastime in elementary school. The game was simple enough: seven people stood at the front of the room, and everyone else rested their head on their desk, closed their eyes, and waited in unnerving silence. In that quiet classroom space, the seven people standing began to tip-toe around the room, lightly touching the shoulder of an anticipating (although unsuspecting) classmate. When all seven people made their choice, they returned to the front of the room.
Next came the heat of the game. Those who were tapped on the shoulder stood next to their seat, and then declared who they thought nudged them. If you made the correct guess, you swapped places with the person standing in the front of the room who tapped your shoulder, and you got to be an active agent in the game. If you were wrong, you sat back down, as the people who might have selected you giggled, swayed in place, and maybe tapped their foot to no particular rhythm.
This was a perfect game to kick off the start of the school year. This time of the year was always exciting for me because it helped me connect with friends, play, and learn twists on common games from other classmates. As the school year kicks off, remember that play doesn’t have to stop.
We want to know, #HowDoYouPlay when leaves start to change and the school year returns? Did you play “Seven Up” in elementary school, or did you play another schoolyard favorite like “Red Rover,” “Red Light, Green Light,” or “Four Square”? Take a trip down memory lane and share with us ways you played when school kicked back into full swing!
- Adam James, Assistant Director, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
Adam James Zahren answered 21 questions about kindness and what kindness means to them as a part of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative #BeKind21 campaign.
We’re celebrating our successful #BeKind21campaign! You probably noticed our social media accounts promoting this hashtag throughout September. #BeKind21 is a campaign organized by Lady Gaga’s organization, Born This Way Foundation. During the first 21 days of September, participants were encouraged to practice kindness each day in order to make being kind a habit. Watch our video above to check out our 21 #BeKind21 questions with Adam!
You can also check out Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative’s #BeKind21 social media campaign recap.
Did you know that Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has a vast library of games, playboxes, and equipment to help you infuse play into your next event? Did you know that we recently updated our Google Form? That’s because we have a slew of NEW games and equipment that we can’t wait for you to borrow at no cost. If your organization has an event approaching, borrow some games or play equipment, and make the day one for the scrapbooks!
What Our Playful Members Are Up To! - Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was recently awarded a $235,000 grant from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust to plan, design and conduct community engagement for an outdoor sensory classroom at the Frick Environmental Center (FEC).
Become a Member of Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
Are you part of an organization that values play? Do you want to get involved with an initiative with like-minded folks dedicated to advancing the role of play in their own work, lives, and communities? Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is just the space for you!
We’re always looking for new members, and we’d love to have you in the conversation. If you’re interested in joining the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, please contact us at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org or fill out this form and our Assistant Director Adam James will contact you!
The University of Pittsburgh held four block parties with a totally of almost 600 long-term and student residents in South Oakland, North Oakland, Oakcliffe and Oakland Square.
Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge held a Community Day fundraiser to benefit the organization’s mommy concierge to continue to provide maternal health education.
Trying Together, in partnership with The Frick Pittsburgh, will host Unconference: Race Equity and Practice.
Keynote speaker Dr. Rose Marie Allen will be presenting “Aware is Only Halfway There: Concrete Strategies for Supporting Children’s Racial Identity Development. Are you Ready?” Dr. Allen will discuss how awareness of racial equity is important, but not enough.
ICYMI: "Play is Learning” Interview w/ Emily Neff of Trying Together
Trying Together was recently featured on an episode of the Voices for the Voiceless: The Student Experience podcast. In this episode titled “Play is Learning,” Emily Neff, Director of Public Policy for Trying Together, discusses the achievement gap in early childhood education, resources for teachers, and the importance of play for children today.
Are you hosting an event and you want to get the word out about it? Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative can help! We developed this tool just for you 🤗.Simply visit the link to our Event Submission Form, and select the channels you’d like your event promoted through (including Kidsburgh), and let us take care of the rest!
We’re happy to promote your playful event on our website, through our newsletter, and through social media. If you have questions, reach out to us at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org.