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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On Nov. 19, the (PLLAN) hosted an event to discuss the meaning and importance of playful learning landscapes in celebration of the launch of the . Shelly Kessler (executive director, PLLAN) set the stage, providing an overview of the playbook鈥檚 current state and future goals, then turned it over to Susan Magsamen, founder and executive director of International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to moderate.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in Psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution), Roberta Golinkoff (Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Education at the University of Delaware), and Jennifer Vey (senior fellow at the Brookings Institute) served as panelists. Below are our three top takeaways from the conversation.

1. The playbook is alive and will grow over time. The playbook outlines a step-by-step process for embedding learning goals into public spaces where families gather, and includes information on cost, complexity and the scientific principles of play.

The playbook follows two children on the journey of building the 鈥渟ix c鈥檚鈥� skill sets: collaboration, content, critical thinking, communication, creative innovation and confidence.

鈥淪cience tells us that these skills are needed for children to flourish in the future,鈥� Kessler explained. Future expansions of the playbook will incorporate training modules and dive into more details on design elements, community activation, monitoring and evaluation.

2. Playful learning landscapes pair the science of learning and architecture. Playful learning landscapes build on the how of learning. 鈥淜ids learn and develop skills from all kinds of play,鈥� Kessler said, 鈥淏ut they learn best when learning goals are intentionally integrated into play at the start.鈥�

When parents, caregivers or the environment can guide play toward a particular learning goal, they are more successful and children absorb information better. 鈥淪ociety thrives when we craft environments in and out of school that support happy healthy, thinking, caring and social children,鈥� Golinkoff said, 鈥淧layful learning landscapes invite the informal interactions that fuel curiosity and learning.鈥�

3. Community involvement is paramount. 鈥淥ur very first step emphasizes the critical role that community plays in co-design, activation and sustainability,鈥� Kessler said in reference to the playbook. 鈥淲e believe that the community is essential to sustainability and impact.鈥�

This intentionality guarantees that the values, hopes and goals of the project reflect and respect the community members. The is focused on increasing community and partner buy-in.

鈥淲e have a holistic vision where we are bringing economic ecosystems, built environments, social and civic together,鈥� Vey explained, 鈥淲hen we talk about the need for support, by the public sector and others, it means that it has to involve different folks working together to make these projects happen.鈥�

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 社区黑料. Learn more here.