OCDSB Speaker Series: The Power of Play – Exploring the Role of Play in Emotional Health and Learning
Parents, caregivers and community members are invited to join us for an insightful session with educator, author, and speaker Hannah Beach, exploring the vital role of play in emotional health and learning.
Date: Thursday, September 12th, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Format: Zoom Webinar. Register in advance.
Our current culture has replaced play with entertainment, and we are now seeing the emotional side effects of this loss of play in the lives of children. Children may feel anxious, isolated, or disconnected, they may show signs of aggression, and they may be distracted or glued to their devices. For parents and caregivers, it can feel exhausting to search for strategies that work in the long term. This session will remind you that you are not alone, and will help you find practical strategies that work. You will:
- Understand the vital role of play in the lives of our children
- Learn how play can reduce aggression, lower anxiety, and build resilience
- Explore relationship-based strategies to help children flourish
This webinar welcomes parents and caregivers of students across all grade levels, though the content will be especially relevant for those with elementary-aged children.
To join this virtual event, use the registration link above. You will receive an email containing a link to access the webinar.
This event is part of our OCDSB Speaker Series.
About the Speaker:
Hannah Beach is the co-author of the best-selling book Reclaiming Our Students: Why Children Are More Anxious, Aggressive, and Shut-Down than Ever—and What We Can Do About It, with Tamara Neufeld Strijack, a trauma-informed resource for educators and parents rooted in the relationship-based approach. She was recognized by the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2017 as one of five featured changemakers in Canada. Her bestselling I Can Dance book series, supporting the emotional health of children through movement, play, and expression, won a 2017 Gold International Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Hannah delivers professional development services across the globe, provides emotional health consulting to schools and community based programs, and speaks at conferences about the power of relationship and play. Hannah is also an emotional health and play-based learning consultant for Britannica Education.