This isn’t just any play day.
This one is citywide and backed by a mayor’s proclamation. This one is for children as well as parents and represents a partnership between the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and Minnesota State University.
This play day — scheduled for Friday at Elk’s Nature Center — is official.
“Kids lives are so structured from such an early point,” said Heather Von Bank, an MSU family consumer science instructor. “This is a chance for kids to discover new pathways and their own creative games.”
The inspiration for a citywide play day originated in Von Bank’s summer course on the benefits of play in child development. She and her students approached Mankato Mayor John Brady and he issued a proclamation declaring June 12 as Mankato’s first-ever official play day.
For Friday’s event, 15 of Von Bank’s graduate students will be coordinating a wide variety of activities based on low-cost, household items and focused on the idea that play should be unstructured and child-led. The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota also will be on hand with its growing collection of traveling exhibits.
The event will be held rain or shine and is open to preschool and elementary school students. Parents are required to attend and encouraged to play along.
For the complete Free Press story, go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_161003148.html
For more Free Press news go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
