The Genius of Play Expands Outreach to the Teacher Community
November 29, 2016 | The Genius of Play, the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) research-backed initiative to bring more play into kids’ lives, has recently launched several new initiatives to reach educators, one of its key audiences, and provide them with resources to help emphasize the benefits of play within a classroom setting.
Key highlights of the teacher-directed outreach initiatives include:
- A new classroom poster and teacher-dedicated section on The Genius of Play’s website, sharing six downloadable, hands-on, play-inspired activities that align with the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) curriculum.
- A partnership with WeAreTeachers, an online community for educators. From mid-November through the end of the year, The Genius of Play will promote the benefits of play to the group’s educator community, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands teachers via targeted social media, digital and email communications. The Genius of Play will also promote the “Ultimate Toybox” giveaway to be sponsored on the WeAreTeachers website and mail 2,500 classroom posters to teachers in time for the start of the spring semester.
- An interactive booth at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) annual conference, held in Los Angeles in early November, to promote the value of play to early childhood educators. The Genius of Play engaged hundreds of teachers with play challenges and a sweepstakes to give away $500 in classroom educational toys, while distributing play-based activities and promoting resources available at www.thegeniusofplay.org.
These activities complement The Genius of Play’s recent outreach to bloggers, parents and the community at large through a variety of initiatives.
“Supporting and nurturing play ambassadors within the educator community is a natural extension of how The Genius of Play can continue to elevate the role of play in our society and reinforce the connection between play and learning,” said Anna Yudina, TIA’s director of marketing initiatives. “These initiatives further The Genius of Play’s mission to help raise happier and healthier kids through the power of play. We are looking forward to building our relationships with educators and creating more resources to help bring the Genius of Play to the classroom in 2017!”
TIA members interested in becoming involved in The Genius of Play initiative may contact TIA’s Jackie Retzer (646.454.5587).