I volunteer in a couple of capacities for Playtime Project in Washington, DC.
Sometimes I’m a “Volunteer in Motion,” turning up to wrap or distribute holiday gifts or stuffing newsletters into envelopes. Most of my volunteer time is as a Play Ranger. I attend afternoon playtime sessions on Mondays (sometimes Wednesdays instead) at Columbia Heights Village. I started in 2022 at The Brooks, but switched to the CHV group pretty much as soon as it began.
In the time since then I’ve met new kids coming into the program all the time but have been especially lucky to get to watch some of our original participants grow - SO FAST! - over the course of years now. At CHV we have all kinds of fun. Chasing monsters around the playground, throwing or kicking balls around, facing challenges at Connect 4 and Uno, and making slime are some major favorites. My own top thrills might be the times I get to see the kids sing or dance or work with real intensity on drawings or art. They are amazing artists.
I’ve lived in Washington for over 25 years. After working in marketing positions mostly at non profits, with some time out of the workforce to raise my own children, I found I was lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and spare time. I worked occasionally as a substitute teacher for DC Public Schools as my way of staying connected to the community, but after the pandemic I felt my teaching and classroom management skills really weren’t the best I had to offer. I found Playtime’s model which lets me just bring a sense of silliness and fun to share in unstructured joyful time with individual children. What has really motivated me is the discovery of how kids at almost any age are so profoundly gratified just to know they have your attention and that you appreciate hearing what they have to say.
Sometimes I’m a “Volunteer in Motion,” turning up to wrap or distribute holiday gifts or stuffing newsletters into envelopes. Most of my volunteer time is as a Play Ranger. I attend afternoon playtime sessions on Mondays (sometimes Wednesdays instead) at Columbia Heights Village. I started in 2022 at The Brooks, but switched to the CHV group pretty much as soon as it began.
In the time since then I’ve met new kids coming into the program all the time but have been especially lucky to get to watch some of our original participants grow - SO FAST! - over the course of years now. At CHV we have all kinds of fun. Chasing monsters around the playground, throwing or kicking balls around, facing challenges at Connect 4 and Uno, and making slime are some major favorites. My own top thrills might be the times I get to see the kids sing or dance or work with real intensity on drawings or art. They are amazing artists.
I’ve lived in Washington for over 25 years. After working in marketing positions mostly at non profits, with some time out of the workforce to raise my own children, I found I was lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and spare time. I worked occasionally as a substitute teacher for DC Public Schools as my way of staying connected to the community, but after the pandemic I felt my teaching and classroom management skills really weren’t the best I had to offer. I found Playtime’s model which lets me just bring a sense of silliness and fun to share in unstructured joyful time with individual children. What has really motivated me is the discovery of how kids at almost any age are so profoundly gratified just to know they have your attention and that you appreciate hearing what they have to say.