Media Information
Welcome to the Voice of Play! We have designed this section of our Web site to be a guide for members of the media who are interested in learning more about IPEMA and the Voice of Play, as well as the importance and benefits of play. Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions, news releases and background information, and an opportunity for you to request an interview. Please feel free to contact us if you need more information. We have many resources available, including the IPEMA staff, and elected officers and our Board of Advisors for the Voice of Play initiative. Let us know how we can help!
Recently, IPEMA was a sponsor of the Summit on the Value of Play, held June 14-16 at Clemson University. Read more about the Summit (below).
IPEMA "played" a key role in this exciting event, both by serving as a sponsor, and also through the attendance and participation of Marketing Committee Chair Tom Norquist, and Voice of Play Board of Advisors members Teri Hendy, Ken Kutska and (keynote) speaker Joe Frost. Participants were able to learn about the Voice of Play initiative from our two informative posters on display.
The Summit brought together many "voices" to discuss the importance of play, and the negative consequences of decreasing amounts of free play time for kids. Speakers included Stuart Brown, MD and Drs. Joe Frost, Stuart Brown MD, Cheryl Charles, Elizabeth Goodenough and Psychology Today Editor at Large Hara Estroff Marano who presented to more than 100 of the nation's leading experts and stakeholders on topics such as:
- Confronting the Crisis in Children's Play
- Cognitive Benefits of Play
- Physical Benefits of Play
- Affective Benefits of Play
Interspersed throughout the presentations were breakout play activities for participants to reinforce and expand upon concepts discussed during each general session.
IPEMA will be heavily involved in this project, so you'll be hearing more in the coming months. We'd love to have your thoughts/insights/suggestions as we move forward. You can learn more about the Summit by clicking here.