Bringing Play to Kids with At-Home Playground Design Kits

One of the biggest challenges for families during the pandemic is finding ways for kids to play. Parents are getting resourceful to keep kids occupied and safe, finding ways to bring the playground home. Some are able to take advantage of yards, green space, or even just a driveway. But for many kids living in communities experiencing long-term disinvestment, these alternatives don’t exist.

That’s why we’ve started to deploy “At-Home Playground Design Kits” to kids in communities that have limited options for safe play.

Each kit includes items such as sidewalk chalk, pipe cleaners, crayons, coloring pages, origami play activities, and play prompts. The kits aim to promote physical activity while stimulating creativity. Our first deployment of these kits occurred on May 14, 2020 to families with kids attending public schools in Baltimore.

This effort builds on our long-term commitment to achieving playspace equity in Baltimore together with Baltimore City Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, and communities across the city. Ensuring kids have access to the benefits of play is a critical part of addressing the impacts of COVID-19: uncertainty, anxiety, isolation, disruptions in learning, and economic hardship.

Until we’re together again to build the playspaces we all need to reunite, recover and heal, we hope kids and families have some fun with our playground design kits!