Monday
Mar092009
Announcing Carnival of Play (April 1 to 15, 2009)
Monday, March 9, 2009 
For the first half of next month, PhD in Parenting will be hosting a Carnival of Play. Play is such a critical part of children's development and just makes being a kid fun. The carnival will include:
- Thoughts and Ideas About Play
- Book Reviews
- Product Reviews
- Research on playing
- Fun playtime activities
- Contests
- ....and your posts!
Start thinking now about a topic you'd like to write about related to parenting and play and I'll be featuring your posts here on PhD in Parenting during the Carnival. If you plan to participate, please drop a comment here so I have some idea of how many people are joining in. Then go off and work on your post and I'll put up instructions at the start of the carnival on linking things up (me linking to you, you linking to me) so that we can all play together!
Photo credit: ::: Billie / PartsnPieces ::: on flickr
Reader Comments (38)
I'm interested in participating. Play is something I'm thinking about a lot these days, as mom to a 4-year-old.
I'm interested. And the timing is perfect, since at the end of April, my 'Thrifty Thursday Tips' posts are going to feature tips relating to kids.
I'm in for sure! Maybe a review of Playful Parenting, as I'm reading it now - if I'm finished it soon! We'll see...
@ Lindsay - that is one of the reviews that I have planned, but if you write one I'd be happy to link to yours too!
I'm not a blogger, just a reader, but I wanted to say that this is a great idea. I'm always looking for more options for play, especially at this hard time of year when the weather is not so great.
I would play along. :)
I would love to participate. Play/physical activity coupled with good nutrition is important for overall health.
LOVE it! I have some very unconventional play happening at my house, since I'm a little bit crazy and dorky. I will take this and run with it and I'm really looking forward to April now. Thanks!
I'll play along. My DD is only 11 months, but we do play a lot. :)
Sounds like fun!
I wrote a post on http://planningwithkids.com/2009/03/06/the-importance-of-play/" rel="nofollow">The Importance Of Play last Friday. I feel very passionately that adults need to value play more, so am sure I can find something to write about in April.
I'm VERY much looking forward to reading all about it in April -- what a great topic!!
@Annie - Are you going to participate too? :)
Thanks Planning Queen for alerting me to this post. :) I'd love to write a post about play activities. What a good idea for a carnival!
Hi Annie,
I've been meaning to do some posts about baby games, so if you think that fits your theme, I'd love to participate!
What great timing. I'm also thinking more about the importance of play especially from a practical view point - how to encourage play in young children. I have already posted on this topic on my blog and will have a few more posts coming up for the April Carnival. I can't wait to read what everyone else has to say on this topic too!
I would like to participate! Play is central to our home preschooling. My son's imagination never ceases to amaze me.
I am in - and bubbling with ideas!
This sounds fantastically fun! I'd love to join in... I was just thinking I'd like to take some more "playful learning and exploring" photographs!!!!
Sounds like a wonderful idea. I am certain that babyREADY can come up with an article about play. Can it be about the value of it when our children get older? Mine are 11 and almost 8. They STILL need their time to play.
LMK
Finished my article. It's called Investing in the Art of Play. I am so excited to share it--can't wait! Are we permitted to include photos?
@ Jessica: That's great! You can include whatever you like. I plan to have people post their articles on their own blog and we'll then link them up (I'll profile and link to your post and get you to link your post back to my carnival page). Hang tight for another 10 days or so please....I'm going to launch the carnival early April. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. :)
I'd love to join the carnival..my blog is about improv + parenting (so all about play) and I've got a few new ideas cooking about play...although I think using improv is good for the kids...I also think it can be sanity saving for the moms & dads. Maybe a post specific to that?
I'd love to take part. I just found your blog and am enjoying it. The theme is one of my favorites. I am all about play. :)
Is it okay to take part on two sites? I have a general parenting site/blog (A Magical Childhood) and also a homeschooling blog where I like to post things about mixing play and learning.
@Alicia: Sure - you can take part on two sites.
What a great idea. We are big big big on play around these parts and I would like to contribute. Please sign me up!
[...] be insanely busy and I probably won’t have time to put up any more new posts until I start my Carnival of Play on April 1 (you can still sign up to [...]
I love blog projects.... will you have a Mr. Linky or anything?
@ Naomi - I won't be using a Mr. Linky. I'm not a big fan of Mr. Linky. If people are going to take the time to write a post for my carnival, I will take the time to profile their post here (introduce/comment on it) and direct my users over to their blog. Mr. Linky is perhaps useful for increasing technorati rating, but I don't find it the best way to generate traffic to someone's blog or to give them the credit they deserve for their writing.
This sounds great. I definitely plan on participating. Thanks!
Thanks Melitsa for telling me about the carnival. At our house, we're all about play! I'd love to include a post in the carnival. What a fun way to party! Maybe I'll provide the virtual cotton candy :)
[...] is April 1st and it is time to kick-off the PhD in Parenting Carnival of Play (announced previously in this post). From April 1st to April 15th, the content on my blog is going to be dedicated to play. I hope [...]
I put up details for those that are planning to write posts here: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/04/01/time-to-play/
I'd love to participate with a post, but I have to brainstorm a topic. Our little guy is only 16 months old, and we certainly play, but I'm not sure what I have to say about it. I'll definitely be posting about your carnival either way.
Mine will appear tomorrow morning. :)
[...] in Parenting is hosting a Carnival of Play this month and I signed up to take part. I am all about play! ;) It’s my favorite part [...]
I'm interested!
[...] use them as guest posts. I am totally stealing the format Annie from PhD in Parenting used for her Carnival of Play back in April, since that was way cool. As is Annie. Seriously, check out her blog if you [...]