The Museum, along with Morey Courts and the Isabella Community Events Arena, teamed up on Friday 29th September 2017 to show local children the benefits of play in honor of the fifth annual “Day of Play”.
Kids pretend to cook food at the fifth annual “Day of Play” on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 at the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum. Photo: Kullen Logsdon - The Morning Sun
From 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Isabella County kids could take in a wide variety of activities at the shared campus, located at the corner of Remus and Isabella Roads.
Liz Conway, executive director of the museum, said play is essential for kids and they strive to make it as fun as possible.
“What we look to do is promote play. We know that play is so essential to a child’s well-being and we just want every child to have that ability to come out and play and experience it,” Conway told the Morning Sun. “They’re learning gross and learning skills, cognitive skills, critical thinking and social skills all through play.”
The event is run in conjunction with Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play which encourages kids to turn off televisions and get outside and play.
Organizations like Central Michigan Play on the way, the CMU pompom team, the Chippewa Nature Center and several others set up in the museum parking lot and greeted kids as they walked in the door.
Inside, a live band, corn hole, and a smoothie station took up the dance floor, while kids could use the climbing wall, slides and other activities inside the museum.
Out back, the Isabella County Police Department had a car seat station for parents to bring in car seats and make sure they were safe and the proper size for their child.
Mt. Pleasant resident Michael Hyde brought his son to “Day of Play” for the second-straight year. Hyde got free bike helmets last year and took advantage of the car seat checks Friday.
What he found out surprised him.
“I just found out my car seat was expired, so I ca either hold on for another inch and a half for him to grow or I can just buy a new one. I’m debating on that one,” he said. “We love it here and we haven’t even been over to Morey Courts yet.”
Angie Eldred, also from Mt. Pleasant, brought her two daughters after seeing the event on Facebook.
Eldred said she didn’t know what to expect at “Day of Play,” but was blown away when they got there.
“They have so many different activities here you can learn and do different things. It’s very cool,” she said. “Kids need to be active to stay healthy and grow.”
At Morey Courts, kids could play basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, hula hoop or even play a large-scale version of jenga. Ice skating at the arena was also free of charge.
Alexis Straub, director of events and marketing at the museum, said the group usually starts planning the event in April and had 20 vendors this year — a new high.
With sign language students from CMU, a new educational aspect was added this year, but the main goal of Day of Play remained the same.
“It’s really awesome to offer a free and fun night. It’s beautiful out and we’re ready to play,” Straub said. “A lot of our vendors have been here since the beginning so they know what to expect. Every year we just reach out to more and more people and hopefully get reoccurring groups.
“It’s all about play.”
Worldwide Day of Play was created by Nickelodeon in conjunction with its “Let’s Just Play” campaign. The annual event is designed to encourage children and adults to turn off the television and play, especially outdoors.
All this summer, Nickelodeon has been showing their dedication to all things active and playful with the networks annual Worldwide Day of Play tour! This year Nick has made stops in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and finished up at Prospect Park in Brooklyn on September 16th. The national events eventually culminated in the Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 30, when Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons and TeenNick went dark to encourage kids to go outside and play.
Want to come out and celebrate with Nick? Organizers and families can register events at www.day-of-play.com to join the fun! Every stop is chock full of all-star guests, amazing activities, and play for days! Follow along at nick.com/play as Nick gets up, gets out, and celebrates the power of play!
Follow Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play along at nick.com/play as Nick gets up, gets out, and celebrates the power of play!
More Nick: Nickelodeon To Help Make The World A More Playful Place With Summer-Long Celebration Of Play!
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