PLAY IT FORWARD

Unleash the Power of Play

with KIM ADAMS, M.A.

In our rush to "get ahead," we've forgotten the fundamental importance of play in education. Why? Perhaps it's a relic of our industrial age roots, focused on creating compliant workers. Maybe it's the lack of easily measurable outcomes. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because play can be messy, both literally and figuratively.

But in a world fueled by technology and information overload, 21st century learners need more than just literacy and the ability to follow directions. They need to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make connections across diverse disciplines. This isn't just enrichment; it's essential for academic and future success.

This is where play steps in, and steps up. Through open-ended exploration, experimentation, and collaboration, play fosters creativity, ignites innovation, and sparks meaningful inspiration. It's a messy but magical space where children build critical connections, develop problem-solving skills, and learn to think outside the box.

Are you ready to embrace the mess? Join me, Kim Adams, in championing play as the cornerstone of 21st century learning.

ABOUT ME

I'm a passionate speaker and workshop facilitator dedicated to empowering educators, parents, and communities to harness the power of play.

Since 2001, I have been the owner of Barron Park Playschool in Palo Alto. I work both in and out of the classroom and have an in-depth understanding of the ways in which children perceive and interact with their world.

I'm an advocate for keeping play in childhood.

GUIDANCE & INSPIRATION

I specialize in communicating the value of creativity and play in peoples' lives – both for adults and children. I offer engaging sessions on play, creativity, and the Positive Approach to working with children. Below are some current topics I am offering.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS

It Might Get Messy–Supporting Creativity and Creative Thinking in Children and the Adults Who Serve Them Through Play

We know that children learn best through play and experience and access to the creative self in their early years, more so than at any other time in their lives. Helping children to recognize and become acquainted with the many facets of creative expression can be an amazing experience for the early childhood educator as well.

In this workshop participants will learn to adapt early childhood environments to support play and creativity. Educators will become familiar with creative behaviors and biases we may have about those behaviors as they gain skills to support creativity, creative thinking, and creative problem solving in their practice.

Workshop participants will be invited to provide open-ended and engaging activities for young children that foster creativity and creative thinking. Participants will also be challenged to explore their own creativity and deepen their creative processes.

Play it Forward

It is widely accepted that play is critical for healthy development. Children learn best through play, yet many programs struggle with defending this practice. Increasing pressure for academics to be introduced at younger and younger ages, has many educators feeling the tension to compromise best practices. Understanding current research, having skills for communicating its importance, and the conviction to implement is key. Participants will leave with tools to communicate the importance of keeping play in early learning environments while being encouraged to make learning and development that happens through play visible and understandable. Participants will gain strategies for promoting play in their practice.

Save the Gingerbread Man

In this workshop, participants will be exposed to Design Thinking and its use in ECE. I provide hands-on experience solving design challenges, engaging participants in brainstorming, ideation, prototyping, testing prototypes, and reviewing the learning outcomes. Participants will be given ideas to foster and spark their own creativity and inspiration.

Making Learning Visible

It is widely accepted in the Early Childhood Education field that children learn best through play, yet many programs struggle with defending this practice. Understanding current research, having skills for communicating it’s importance, as well as the conviction to implement is key. This interactive workshop will help participants discover how to communicate the valuable outcomes that happen when children are allowed the freedom to direct their own learning through play. Participants will learn how to make documentation and displays that will make learning visible to children, parents, visitors and other educators.

Play-Based Emergent Curriculum

Research supports that children learn best through self directed play. In this workshop participants will become reacquainted with the values of play, and play-based early childhood education. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the emergent curriculum approach by practicing observation and learning strategies for scaffolding or supporting children’s emerging interests in the classroom. Discover how emergent curriculum is meaningful and encouraging to the children and the adults in your school community.

The Positive Approach

Many educators struggle to find effective tools to address difficult behaviors in the classroom. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to a positive approach that can change the way an adult thinks about a child’s challenging behaviors, while learning effective tools to use right away.

Participants will be exposed to Adlerian Theory and how it may be applied in our work with young children. Participants will gain an understanding how our perceptions and actions invite behaviors from others.

Participants will learn why social emotional learning is crucial for children (and adults) in ECE settings, and will be encouraged to provide an environment for children that recognizes, supports, and fosters social emotional development.

HELPING PARENTS EMBRACE LIFE'S CHALLENGES

Positive Discipline Parent Coaching

Positive Discipline can help parents get to the core of a child’s behavior and increase peace in the family environment. Participants will learn non-punitive methods that incorporate kindness and firmness into parenting while practicing tools that can change the way a parent thinks about a child’s challenging behaviors. Parenting workshop series are facilitated in a supportive, interactive group setting and can be done over the course of five weekly sessions or one day retreats.

The Value of Play in Your Child's Development

In a culture that is increasingly focused on academics in early learning. Parents and caregivers may not have a deep understanding of why and how play is important in their child’s development. In this talk, I provide real life examples of what play looks like, what children learn through play, and why play is the best way children learn. Play has value beyond early academic benefits. Play is fun. Play is life affirming. Play is a legitimate right of childhood and…play must be protected!

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

“Kim, you have been the most interesting workshop I have taken in a long time. I agree with all the ideas you presented tonight. thank you for sharing it all with us.”

Pia K, Teacher
Detroit MI

“The workshop changed my whole thought process on how to use materials...great ideas! We are really focusing on more open-ended process based art.”

Margo K, Director

Mountain View CA

“Using design thinking with kids encourages creativity and problem solving as a group. Kim provided a frame work to better explain the learning process."

Maureen L, Teacher

Palo Alto CA

“We will be implementing design challenges into our activities. We are giving children more opportunities to explore and learn from mistakes.”

Carol S, Site Supervisor

San Mateo CA

“Will use Immediately in our conversations and explanations, and in social media campaign about play.”

Kathleen, Program Director
Omaha NE

Thank you so much for all the great work you do. You are awesome. I love your energy and great voice. Thank so much”

Myra, Child Care Provider

RECENT PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS

Kim is a frequent presenter at regional, state, national, and international early childhood education conferences including NAEYC, CAAEYC, CQEL, EveryChild California, and IPA USA. She is actively engaged in professional learning communities focused on play-responsive pedagogy, leadership in early learning, and systems change.

NATIONAL CONFERENCES

NAEYC Annual Conference – Playing for Keeps: Championing Play for a Thriving Childhood
US Play Coalition Conference – Playing for Keeps: A Look at the Barron Park Playschool Approach
International Play Association (IPA USA):
- Cardboard Creations: Big Ideas from Everyday Materials
- The Barron Park Way: A Play-Responsive Approach Rooted in Relationship
Region 9 Head Start Conferences – STEM, Early Head Start, and Family Engagement & Cultural Effectiveness

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

IPA World Conference – The Critical Link Between Creativity and Play

CALIFORNIA STATE CONFERENCES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CAAEYC Conference:
- It Might Get Messy: Creativity and Play in Early Learning
- The Positive Approach
- Play It Forward: Understanding and Advocating for Play in Early Learning
CQEL Annual Conference – Playing for Keeps: Advocating for Play in Early Learning
EveryChild California:
- Supporting Play-Based and Play-Responsive Classrooms
- Best Practices in UPK/UTK Implementation (Panelist at the UPK/UTK Symposium)
- Advocating for Play in Transitional Kindergarten
California Kindergarten Association – Growing and Learning Reflections: Rethinking Assessment in TK
California Head Start Association – Professional development sessions on play, creativity, and early childhood leadership

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOLS & EDUCATORS

Led workshops and focus groups for Transitional Kindergarten teams, site administrators, and district leaders across numerous California school districts
Collaborated with County Offices of Education on play-responsive environments, leadership development, and creative curriculum design, including:
- Taking the Risk to Allow Real Play
- Play-Responsive Pedagogy
- Supporting Creativity in Early Learning
- The Positive Approach: Understanding and Supporting Behaviors Teachers Find Tricky
Guest lecturer and practicum partner for early childhood education programs at local community colleges

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Parenting the Positive Discipline Way – Four-week family education series
Research Showcase, St. Mary’s College of California – Presented culminating action research on play-responsive pedagogy in TK classrooms