Basic information about Play Matters Grants

Play Matters awards small grants to deepen adult understanding of the value of play to young children and increase adult ability to encourage and enrich it.

• Grants are awarded to projects in the Los Angeles and Seattle areas, which serve children ages birth to 8 years old.
• Grants range from $500 - $5000.  We accept applications year round but will make funding decisions in the summer for implementation during the subsequent school year.
• Grants may be made to both organizations and individuals.
• In general, Play Matters does not fund capital equipment costs.

Play Matters invites grant applications for projects designed to do one or more of the following:

• Develop and implement play-based curriculum.
• Develop presentations for conferences, parent meetings, early chidlhood consortiums or classes, which demonstrate the importance and meaning of play in the lives of young children.
• Develop teacher understanding of the value of play and ability to create play based curriculum.  Possible approaches include:  in-house staff development, work with consultants, participate in classes, attend conferences, and any other activities which support teachers' development of the ability to place play at the heart of programs.
• Develop research and writing projects to articulate the importance of play for young chidlren and demonstrate the outcomes of play based curriculum for children and families.

How to apply for a Play Matters grant:

• Review Play Matters mission and project criteria.
• Mail or email a one-page concept paper describing your project.  State which criteria it aims to meet and include your budget.
• A Play Matters representative will contact you.
• If a match, submit your more detailed application. Applications are accepted and considered year round, with decisions made in the summer for implementation during the subsequent school year.

Small Faces Child Development Center, Seattle, WA $3500

• Increase teacher ability to see children's learning within play choices and activities through use of the Learning Stories assessment tool.
• Deepen parent, child, school and community awareness and abiltiy to reflect on the complexity and meaning of children's play through use of this tool.
• Raise the level of awareness of Learning Stories as the future of formative assessment for teachers, parents, directors and policy makers.

Neighborhood House, Seattle, WA $5000

• Increase staff understanding of the values of play in natural settings.
• Increase classroom opportunities to explore natural settings with children.
• Familiarize parents with natural settings which they can easily access with their children.
• Increase parent opportunities to share their traditions, knowledge and cultural memories, many of which are rooted in the earth.

St. Anne's Early Learning Center, Los Angeles, CA, $5000

• Build teacher competence in applying theory to practice.
• Help teachers reflect on their daily interactions with children and parents.
• Enhance the environment set up while meeting ICERS/ECERS criteria.
• Encourage teachers to be active listerners and use each play experience as a teachable moment.

Mar Vista Family Center, Culver City, CA, January ’07, $5000
“Parents Play”

• Increase parent observation skills and understanding of what play means to young children
• Increase parent comfort and interaction  with children during playtime at school and at home

St. Anne’s Early Learning Center, Los Angeles, CA, January ’07, $4000
“Focus on Play”

• Increase teacher knowledge and skills utilizing play in the classroom
• Increase teacher ability to communicate the importance of play to parents and other caregivers
• Build parent awareness of the importance of play

The Cooperative Children’s Center, Seattle, WA, May ‘05, $4000
" Inside Out: Extending the Classroom Outdoors"

• To create an outdoor environment that supports broad learning
• To extend parent/teacher understanding of what outdoor learning is
• To increase parent/teacher skill in setting up and using outdoor environments

The Middle East Peace Camp, Seattle, WA, May ‘05, $1500
"Peace through Play"

• For adult and youth counselors to experience the pleasure and power of play
• For adult and youth counselors to become more effective co-players
• For adult and youth counselors to experience the ways play can awaken understanding and break down barriers

The St. Joseph Center, Venice, CA, April ‘05, $3000
"The Importance of Play" (second year funding)

• For parents to make time to play with their children at school and/or at home
• For previously non-playing parents to begin play activities with their children

Santa Monica College, and Southern California and North Bay AEYC’s, April ‘05, $4000
"Play Wise"

• To deepen teacher and parent understanding of play as children’s source of learning and development
• To empower adults as skilled co-players
• To enhance children’s environments as dynamic “ecologies of play”