Harvard University Podcast Focuses on Building Resilience Through Play

Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child recently hosted a podcast on the importance of resilience and how play can help to build it.

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According to the Center on the Developing Child, play helps to create sturdy brain architecture and contributes to the foundations of lifelong health. It is also an important building block for resilience.

In the podcast, Dr. Jack Shonkoff explains the role of play in supporting resilience and five experts discuss ideas and personal stories. The discussion revolves around applying the science of play in homes, communities, and crisis environments around the world.

Panelists include professors, directors, and researchers from the University of California Irvine’s School of Education, Institute for Museum and Library Services, Harvard Graduate School of Education, BRAC Institute of Educational Development, and Harvard Medical School’s Cambridge Hospital.

The podcast is coupled with a variety of resources - including those focused on play in humanitarian settings and information on how to prevent childhood toxic stress. Both the podcast and its transcript are available on the Center on the Developing Child’s website.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Offers Sensory-Friendly “Nutcracker”

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will offer a sensory-friendly performance of the beloved holiday classic “The Nutcracker” in December.

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The performance will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Benedum Center. Tickets are now available.

The theater’s sensory-friendly performances are open to all. During the performances, theater staff and patrons celebrate the myriad ways that audience members can experience a live performance.

Accommodations include lower sound levels, elimination of some special effects, and house lighting at about 20%. The performances also offer quiet areas and activities in the lobby before and during the show. Additional staff will be on hand to help create a safe and welcoming theater experience.

Schenley Park Skating Rink Reopens Following Equipment Upgrade

Schenley Park Skating Rink reopened for the 2024-25 season this week following an upgrade to its chilling equipment.

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The city planned to celebrate the opening of the outdoor rink with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 19. The city’s Department of Public Works encountered some issues during the upgrade of the equipment that prevented the 2023-24 season from taking place.

The department completed the replacement of the aging chiller system, which was having difficulty keeping the ice viable. The total cost of the project was $3.5 million. Allegheny Regional Asset District contributed $2 million to the new chiller system.

“The installation of the new chillers will ensure outdoor skating continues at Schenley Park for years to come,” said CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas, who added that the upcoming season marks 50 years of the rink.

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Schenley Park Skating Rink operates seven days a week and offers a variety of public skating sessions as well as several special skating events.

Upcoming special events include:

• Skate with Santa - 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15

• Mascot Skate - 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (online tickets only) on Saturday, Jan. 25

• Disco Night - 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (adults only) on Saturday, Feb. 1

• Valentine’s On Ice - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (online tickets only) on Friday, Feb. 14 

• Family Skate - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (one child skates free with a paying adult) on Thursdays

Admission to the skating rink is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and veterans (with ID), and $3 for youth (17 years and younger). Skate rentals are available for $3 per skater.

For more information, visit the skating rink’s website.

Registration Open for First Event at Pittsburgh Esports Arena

Registration is open for the first event that will take place at the Pittsburgh E-Arena, a new esports forum.

The CitiParks Office of Special Events will host a tournament featuring Rocket League area youths on Saturdays Dec. 14 and 21. Registration is now open and limited to the first 32 individuals.

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The tournament will be a double-elimination event that is open to youths between the ages of 13 and 18. It will kick off with online-only gameplay on the first day of competition. This will be followed by in-person matches on the second Saturday, during which young gamers will have the opportunity to compete for the title of “Best in the City.”

Participants will form teams to compete in doubles mode in preliminary rounds to determine the final teams for the in-person event, which will be held at CCAC Allegheny. All participants are invited to attend the final round and will receive a commemorative T-shirt, complimentary food, and access to activities sponsored by Tech 25, a local workforce development nonprofit that will also provide the use of Legion Gaming PCs for finalists.

The esports forum will hold year-round community program offerings. It is designed to unite local gamers in competitive environments and provides a platform for youth to showcase their gaming talent while exploring educational opportunities in tech and digital careers.

For more details on tournament regulations and requirements or to register for the event, visit the CitiParks Office of Special Events’ E-Arena website.

Duo’s Treehouse to Offer Bilingual Play Experience for Children on Fridays

Duolingo and La Escuelita Arcoiris are inviting children - birth to age 5 - and their caregivers to spend time with them on Friday mornings at The Kingsley Association.

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This bilingual - Spanish and English - free program aims to foster healthy development for children and support the adults who care for them.

The first Duo’s Treehouse event will take place on Friday, Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The event will be held at the same time each Friday through Dec. 13 at The Kingsley Association, located at 6435 Frankstown Ave. in Pittsburgh. 

Duo’s Treehouse

Duo’s Treehouse is an early learning community initiative designed for children, from birth to age 5, and their caregivers. It offers a high-quality immersive environment that fosters development through play. 

The program is grounded in the belief that joyful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning. It is designed to offer a weekly bilingual learning experience to children and families who may not be enrolled in traditional child care.

October Recalls on Children’s Products

Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.

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Here is a list of August recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fisher-Price recalled more than two million Snug Infant Swings due to suffocation hazard. The recalls occurred after five deaths were reported. The swing should never be used for sleep and bedding materials should never be added to it. If the product is used for sleep or bedding is added, the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation. 

Ricky Powersports recalled youth and adult all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that fail to comply with the requirements of federal safety regulations. The ATVs’ mechanical suspension fails to comply with safety requirements, posing a crash hazard. Also, its service brakes fail to sufficiently stop the vehicle and the handlebars pose a laceration hazard.

Reyhee Group and Jinling International recalled Droyd Fury Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) that fail to comply with the requirements of federal mandatory ATV regulations. The handlebars pose a laceration hazard if the child rider’s body or head strikes the handlebars at a high rate of speed.

Gimars Playpens have been recalled due to entrapment and suffocation hazards. The playpens are found to be in violation of federal regulations for play yards. The included basketball hoop accessory can be a head entrapment hazard. Children can also become entrapped beneath the mattress, posing a suffocation hazard.