THE BEGINNINGS OF AN INTEREST FORUM
TEMPLATE
WHAT ARE THE UNIVERSALS FOR INTEREST
FORUMS?
DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT
UTILIZING THE
PLAY, POLICY AND PRACTICE
INTEREST FORUM
AS A CASE STUDY
Walter Drew, Lynn Cohen, Edgar Klugman, Debra Lawrence, Sandra Waite Stupiansky
PPP/IF Facilitators
June 2009
Introduction
Throughout NANE and NAEYC’S history, the voices of members were central to the
mission of the organization. As we grew from a membership of 500 to the present
104,000, the infrastructure to support the field of early care and education developed and
continues to grow and mature. The Interest Forum’s development has enabled NAEYC
members in bridging the communication gap and providing a mechanism for increased
networking and member participation. It also demonstrates how we have and are
continuing to incorporate new practices. It is within this “spirit” that the Play, Policy and
Practice Interest Forum puts forth a new/old way of considering this Template of
Universals which seem to be the foundational basis of each Interest Forum. Since this is a
DRAFT, we would like you to examine the purpose of your particular forum and help us
develop the “next edition” based on your feed back.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF INTEREST FORUMS (IF)
As a way for Interest Forums to get started we have identified the following Universals
that effect (we think) all IF’s. Simply put:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Theory
Research in support of the theory
The practice of that theory and its ongoing research
The policy (ies) required to put theory and research findings into practice.
Of course, there are many other facets that have to be addressed along the way which
may go beyond the universals stated above. However, these dimensions tend to grow out
of any one of the four components above. For example, for the Play, Policy and Practice
Interest Forum it began through a group having attended the first US-Israel Bi-National
Science Foundation’s Play Conference in 1988 at Wheelock College. Some of the
attendees and others concerned with the field of play assembled at the National NAEYC
Conference in November 1989 to report on the dilemmas identified by the conferees. Out
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of these deliberations grew a focus group that presented at the NAEYC’s National
Conferences different aspects that related to the four components above. Simultaneously
an Early Childhood Consortium of Colleges (Bank Street; Erikson Institute; Pacific Oaks
and Wheelock) were formed with a focus on sharing courses and other relevant activities
that were being pursued in the field of play by their faculties. The collaborative energy
and play leaders in other settings created within NAEYC the National Play, Policy and
Practice Group published the newsletter, Play, Policy and Practice Connection. The
Interest Forum serves as a central group within NAEYC crossing boundaries whose
concerns are children and play e.g. The Early Childhood Alliance; Playing for Keeps;
The International Toy Research Association; The Association for the Study of Play; The
Association for Children’s Museums; the International Play Association; and the
American Toy Association. An Interest Forum is like an “organism,” and it grows,
develops and is responsive to the constituencies it serves.
We cite these examples to show that the Forum will grow in different directions. The
following questions, however, are basic for members of an Interest Forum to deliberate:

What are the short and long term goals of the Interest Forum? The four universals
above guide the deliberations
1. What is the theoretical construct that lies behind the goal(s) to be
achieved?
2. What does research have to say about the goals and the costs and benefits
to be derived?
3. What is the reality in practice? In other words, what are the gaps and
barriers among theory, research and practice to achieve the goal(s)?
4. How could one come within the reach of the set goals?
5. Is it possible to achieve a comprehensive/inclusive approach to reach the
goal(s)?
In order to expand this concept of Interest Forum intentions and grounding, the PPP/IF
provides examples of how they have used this construct to disseminate the importance of
the Interest Forum focus. If the goal of NAEYC Interest Forums is to engage membership
in meaningful and relevant work that originates from a member’s personal interest, then
the leadership of the Interest Forums could use this momentum to embed their work in
state affiliates and chapters. This strategy provides the opportunity to engage more
Interest Forum participants at the grassroots level and creates a bridge to incorporate the
four universals into daily practice. This construct provides the Interest Forums with the
ability to garner the expansive membership of NAEYC in furthering the work of each
Interest Forum.
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The PPP/IF looks forward to hearing your thoughts on this approach for engagement of
the membership in Interest Forum work. Please provide feedback to Ed Klugman
(atakara@aol.com) if this is something that your I/F might be willing to embrace. Below
we have provided a framework for a long and short term plan. Above we have provided
the questions to guide your deliberations. We hope the examples at the end of this
document provide concrete strategies to move your Interest Forum’s work forward.
Thank you for your consideration.
We look forward to hearing from you and perhaps include some of your experiences in
the next version.
YOUR NOTES
I.
THE FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENTS
II.
SETTING THE GOALS & MISSION
III.
SHORT RANGE GOALS
IV
LONG RANGE GOALS
V.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
THE BEGINNINGS
One of the major questions usually relates to the resources necessary – these may include:
human, material, physical, economic, political social, cultural and others. Creating a
visual image of what needs to happen in order to achieve the goal can be helpful. For
example, the Play, Policy and Practice Interest Forum began as a National Small Group
of individuals representing different aspects of children’s play. Initially this included:
college teachers of play, researchers of play, theoreticians of play and most importantly
the practitioners of play. During the course of its existence the Interest Forum began to
include other components of play – the people from the “play industry” manufacturers,
distributors, marketers, designers, architects, and the many other “influencers” of play
like radio, television, as well as policy makers in these areas of concern. Since its
existence in 1988 national and international conferences brought together the leadership
concerned with play, research, theory, practice and policy directly and indirectly. Such
groups as Playing for Keeps, CEASE, Early Childhood Alliance, the Institute for Self
Active Education, Reusable Resources Association, Recycle USA existed or grew out of
the concern. Today these groups through collaborative efforts have influenced the field of
play and will continue to be a force that gets constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed
as the necessary resources can be mustered.
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SHORT AND LONG TERM PLANNING GOALS
There is also the short and the long range concern of an Interest Forum. While the PPP/IF
belongs structurally under NAEYC, the long range view is national as well as
international. However, in order to achieve our immediate goals at this juncture NAEYC
has created an infrastructure -of the Interest ‘Forums in supporting the many interests and
concerns that members want to address. In the instance of the Play, Policy and Practice
Interest Forum, we have found that an integrated approach can help us to achieve our
goals. We are presently making a deliberate effort to identify the interest and concerns
relative to play at the State Affiliate level.
SHORT TERM PLAN
State Affiliates have developed the infra-structure to reach out to their membership. We
are working with 6 State Units: Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Alaska, Iowa and Puerto
Rico to imbed in their yearly plan a focus on play. In some states a line item in the
Affiliate State Budget is appropriated to support a focus on play. The end products have
varied from a full day conference to workshops at the yearly meetings of the State, to
special professional development groups sponsoring such seminars as training “play
workers” providing seminars on how to inform and educate the many constituencies on
the costs and benefits of play.
MAKING THE GOALS ACCESSIBLE IN LANUAGE, EXPERIENCES AND
ACTION
Bringing theory, research and practice together, or at least into closer proximity is a
gigantic undertaking. One of our national collaborating groups, for example, the Institute
for Self Active Education (ISAE), has successfully led the way to conduct seminars,
workshops on an ongoing basis. We have found that they uniquely demonstrate how the
four universals above can be incorporated in moving the larger agenda of play forward on
the State and Community levels.
The two State Unit examples below illustrate that different pathways need to be invented
in light of the context and the setting. “One size does not fit all!”
FLORIDA AEYC PPP/IF
In September 2006, ISAE initiated efforts with the Early Childhood Association of
Florida to establish a statewide Play, Policy and Practice Interest Forum as part of the
Florida affiliate infrastructure. The stated vision is to respect and safeguard the child’s
right to play. The mission is to support the child’s right to play through leadership,
advocacy, and professional development. The PPPIF is an official committee reporting to
the ECA Executive Board and interfacing with NAEYC.
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The goal is to help teachers understand and value how their own play experience
influence their teaching practice and to encourage them to be advocates for play.
Over the past three years PPPIF has worked with SUZANNE GELLENS ECA Executive
Director and Board members to develop an interest forum model program emphasizing
play research, policy and practice.

The Florida PPPIF model was presented to the Affiliate Council at the NAEYC
Professional Development Institute in June 08.

Follow-up action workshop was conducted with Gwen Simmons, NAEYC
Affiliate Director. Seventeen states are interested in developing play leadership.
Missouri and New Mexico are working with Florida to develop their affiliate
PPP/IF.

A “Play” track was established for the ECA annual conference Workshops are
offered by PPPIF members during ECA annual conference including the Alliance
for Childhood/DVD Where Do Our Children Play?

An On-line play course, PLAY: WHERE LEARNING BEGINS
Introductory Play Coaching Course for Early Childhood Educators is being
offered through the Early Childhood Association of Florida - (www.ecaoffl.org)
is now offered to help teachers use more hands-on intentional teaching strategies,
documentation and portfolio assessment techniques to strengthen their classroom
practice, leadership, and advocacy.
IOWA ON THE ROAD TO PPP/IF
Working with the Iowa AEYC in collaboration with the NAEYC Office of Affiliate
Relations a two day Play Symposium was conducted in May 2009
Special invitations were sent to the Iowa leadership, including Iowa AEYC Board and
local chapters, Head Start and CCRR, state policy makers, and other select individuals.
The main goal was to stimulate leadership dialogue, their passion for play, and then make
the connection with Developmentally Appropriate Practices and issues related to high
quality early childhood programs, along with other critical concerns.
 Follow-up connections between May and the Fall Conference:
 Video documentation was made of the two day play event.
 Eight candidates were selected for Play Coach/Leadership training by ISAE to lead
play workshops during the fall conference.
 Efforts began to establish a community based Reusable Resource Center to provide
materials for teachers and parents.
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
Discussions have begun to establish an Iowa AEYC Play, Policy and Practice Interest
Forum
CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGH COLLABORATION
PPP/IF—PLAYING FOR KEEPS—THE ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN’S
MUSEUMS
The seedling “Playing for Keeps” which began through deliberations within the PPP/IF
and was featured in one of the early issues of the Play, Policy, Practice Connection
newsletter (see NAEYC Web Site Interest Forum Communities) has moved from being a
national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving outcomes and quality of life for
children through increasing their access to healthy play to merge with the Association for
Children’s Museums (ACM) in the United States. It is now considered a Leadership
Initiative of the ACM. They reach out to 356 Children’s Museums who have 30 million
visitors a year. This platform along with the PPP/IF affords new opportunities nationally
as well as internationally for State Affiliates to collaborate on play at many different
levels.
ACM’s goals are:



To elevate the discourse about the importance of play
To empower and support ACM members with resources and advocacy tools
To position children's museums as vital early learning partners in their
communities
While these illustrations of a look back and forward of one Interest Forum’s experiences
it also provides the question of whether the Template Universals are applicable to the
Interest Forum in which you participate. Your comments and thoughts will be helpful in
the revision of this “thought piece.”
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