It is hard to learn a new trick. It takes commitment and drive.

I had been feeling slowed down. While my work with families with young children always included play and joy, some of the paperwork and productivity and demands was making it less fun.

The early childhood educator passionate about social and emotional learning who is sluggish is not going to be that effective. Or last much longer. I was worn down and had said ”No more new tricks”. I have no business signing up for something else.

But I did.

It happened. It happened that I had the chance to slow down and to reflect on what matters. 

In my time of contemplation, I was able to pause and wonder about what matters. What came to me was Joy and Play matter, no matter what.

Then it happened. 

A post came to me in social media. Then it happened again.

I had heard of these folks. I had even played their games led by the early educators who had “studied with them”. These Playmaker folks. 

And it happened. I wrote. And I wrote. And I applied to the Life Is Good Playmaker University.

And Joy happened. And Play Happened.

In 1989, the founder of Life is Good (LIG) drew a stick guy with a hat. That is my kind of art.

Bert and John of Massachusetts designed a shirt to counter the negative news and the rest is history.

Today, LIG Playmaker Project spreads ideas of optimism including play and healing for young children that can change the trajectory of their lives. 

According to researchers with the Playmaker Project, 1 in 3 children face severe adversity. 

Playmaker University launched last year as an online course with a certificate. The course is 15 hours of creativity, movement, joy and O’Playsis. The theory is that a child one caring adult can change a child’s life trajectory for the positive By coaching and supporting early educators, the LIG Playmaker Project supports millions of children.

I was saved by Optimism. Playmaker University was self care for me as well. 

I now know there are many ways to have Optimism, even glass half full being optimistic.

In a post pandemic world, those who work with children really need some LIGPlaymaker Super Powers. 

Playmaker offers scholarships for the university. Check it out and refill your glass. 

https://www.lifeisgood.com/playmakerproject/playmaker-university.html?ecom=true