Insights from an Intern with Let's Play America
This summer of 2024, I had the privilege of interning at Let's Play America (LPA), an organization dedicated to promoting play for people of all ages. As a Family Science major at the University of Maryland, my time at LPA was both an enriching and transformative experience. It gave me valuable insights into play's role in fostering healthy family dynamics and community well-being.
Let’s Play America’s Connection to Family Science
At its core, family science explores the dynamics of family relationships, development across the lifespan, and the impact of various social and environmental factors on family functioning. These theoretical foundations provide a lens through which to understand how play, as facilitated by LPA, contributes to family cohesion, child development, and overall well-being.
During my time here at LPA, I had the opportunity to participate in various events that allowed me to connect with vast communities from outside of my own. My academic major focuses on family well-being and human development, exercise, health impacts, and how environments shape daily life. It's easy to get caught up in theories without seeing how they all come together. However, my time at Let's Play America (LPA) was a refreshing change. I connected with people from different professions and backgrounds, working together in this nonprofit to bring play to communities everywhere.
In one of my many key roles as an intern, I created flyers and engaging infographics to promote LPA’s initiatives. This experience was instrumental in honing my skills in visual communication and marketing. It allowed me to advocate for play and gain practical experience in supporting a non-profit organization. Additionally, I developed a deeper understanding of the resources available in various communities. Another key responsibility was to enhance LPA’s website. I updated several pages to create a more visually appealing, accessible, and inviting site. This redesign aimed to simplify search navigation, enhance our promotion of past play days, and include the impact we have made throughout various communities. I was also responsible for ensuring that all content was current and functional, and I regularly updated the main pages with information about new projects and events. These updates were essential in keeping the website relevant and engaging which helped in effectively communicating LPA’s mission and events to our audience and play advocates.
My Future as a Family Scientist and Play Advocate
Working as a play advocate and website developer at LPA has provided me with skills and insights that will greatly benefit my future career as a social worker. Understanding the role of play in fostering positive relationships and personal development has deepened my appreciation and understanding of the importance of recreation and engagement in improving mental health and social well-being. Through my experience here at LPA, I had the opportunity to advocate for activities that enhance well-being and support play contributions to family and community, creating cohesion and individual growth. I also gained insight into various community resources through LPA, such as changeX, which broadened my understanding of the variety of available support systems in my nearby communities. Moving forward, drawing from my knowledge of how play can boost engagement and growth will allow me to help design interventions that better encourage client participation and development in the future.
Conclusion
During my time here at LPA, participating in play events and learning about their positive impact has profoundly shaped my perspective on the true value of play. I’ve discovered that play is more than just a leisurely activity; it is a powerful tool for connection, growth, and healing. As I further my education and work towards my career as a social worker, the lessons I’ve learned about the significance of play and advocacy will guide me in creating meaningful and supportive experiences for those I serve. I am inspired by the belief that we can build stronger, more resilient communities through connection, creativity, and advocacy. This vision will drive me as I move forward in my career, committed to making a positive, more playful impact in the lives of others.
