What We Do
Photo by Liza Sullivan
our Mission
Our mission is to build, strengthen and empower play networks to improve the lives of children. We envision a world in which stress is reduced in children through:
increased child-initiated and intrinsically motivated free play,
reduced screen time and high stakes testing, and
increased open-ended, active play opportunities.
Photo by Claude Stephens
our Priorities
Play: child-directed, intrinsically motivated, active, open-ended and freely chosen for all ages especially outdoor nature play, loose parts play and adventure playgrounds
Play: in early childhood education
Playwork: role, value, professional skills
Photo by play:groundNYC
our values
We build alliances and relentlessly pursue means to affect change.
We cultivate critical, creative, independent thinkers.
Our framework supports initiatives at the local/community, city, state or federal level.
We design and facilitate partner-specific strategies to empower Alliance for Childhood friends and donors to take actions that advance our priorities.
Photo by Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor
our Strategies
We participate in existing organizational networks focused on advancing childhood issues aligned with Alliance for Childhood priorities.
We engage our network with our initiatives
We provide strategic organizational tactics to strengthen networks for greater impact.
We develop and facilitate scaffolded advocacy and leadership development curriculum that can be customized for specific locales or tailored with content for specific topics/initiatives.
We provide organizational and strategic support, training, educational and informational materials, and leadership development opportunities [with partner organizations working on initiatives that address childhood issues of concern].