Purpose

Ames Plays is focused on playing in community. Our children’s brains and bodies crave unstructured, creative play at the playground, in the woods or anywhere in between. Please join us at the park and invite friends! Babies through elementary aged kids will all have fun, and parents can connect with one another!

The Ames Plays Facebook group has great potential as a tool for connection among families in the Ames area, but not just in the social media realm. My purpose of the group is to offer a platform for planning opportunities to meet up with other families. Having a place to ask questions of one another or to promote family events and activities is great, but interacting with other families in person is what is so good for all of us.

Weather permitting, we gather at a different park in Ames each Wednesday morning. We enjoy the outdoors, getting to know each other and letting the kids play. Anyone is welcome to use the Facebook group to plan extra play dates anytime. Gathering together in person is the goal!

Flyer to Share

Unstructured Free Play

Some articles outlining the importance of unstructured play:

Why Free Play is the Best Summer School
What is Big Body Play and Why Is It Important?
Scientists Say Child's Play Helps Build a Better Brain

Nature Days

Plenty of evidence supports the idea that our children are not getting enough outside time, and many arguments specify unstructured outdoor play in natural spaces as being what our children's brains and bodies need. In order to facilitate more free outdoor play in our children, Nature Day will be each first Wednesday of the month. Here are some websites with some more information:

Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature
Forest Bathing
Let Kids Be Kids