Let Grow Play Club creates safe spaces where children of all ages enjoy unstructured free play together whilst adults step back, helping kids develop crucial social skills, resilience, and independence naturally.
"Welcome to Let Grow Play Club on ChangeX. We believe that children learn important skills and life lessons when adults don’t get involved every step of the way. By hosting a Let Grow Play Club at your school or organisation, you can help kids of all ages enjoy unstructured free play outside of regular school hours. We're looking forward to helping you get started!" - Lenore Skenazy, President & Co-Founder of Let Grow
3-4 hours for initial planning and preparation, then ongoing supervision during club sessions. It's up to you how often you host your Play Club, it could be every day or it could be once a week!
Register and Plan
Register with Let Grow to receive your free Implementation Guide for Parents and Schools. This comprehensive resource provides detailed planning guidance and frequently asked questions.
If you're working with a school, consider scheduling a free support call with Let Grow for additional resources. Decide whether your club will be parent-led or hosted by an existing organisation, and determine your target location, schedule, and participant numbers.
Consistency in timing and clear communication are essential for success.
Watch this TedX talk that explains why it is so crucial for children to play.
Build Community Support
Share resources from letgrow.org about the importance of unstructured play and why adults must step back.
Start small by introducing the concept to your core group first.
Distribute the Kid Pledge and Parent Pledge so everyone understands the parameters - children must resolve disagreements independently whilst adults provide safety supervision only.
Address parents' concerns about letting go, emphasising that stepping back is an act of bravery that builds children's resilience and problem-solving abilities.
Establish Location and Equipment
Choose a consistent location such as a school playground, gym, or community centre space. Playground equipment is helpful but not essential - loose parts like balls, hula hoops, blankets, tires, and boards work perfectly as children use imagination to transform them.
Create a portable collection in a wagon that children can pull themselves. Natural settings with branches, tree stumps, and rocks provide excellent play opportunities. Ensure the space is safe but allows for appropriate risk-taking.
Introduce the idea
Recruit your core group as initial supervisors (Let Grow calls them "Lifeguards").
Expect many parents to stay initially - this is acceptable as long as non-designated adults remain separate from children's play and bring diversions like books.
Collect emergency contact information for all participants and establish a regular communication plan with calendar updates.
Create clear procedures for when parents feel confident enough to leave their children and collect them later.
Launch Your Play Club
Begin your first session by ensuring everyone knows the location, timing, and expectations. Suggest children wear clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes.
Start the play and resist intervening in children's activities unless safety is genuinely at risk. When children come to adults with complaints, respond with "Thank you for telling me" without solving their problems.
Children quickly learn to work things out themselves, developing crucial social and emotional skills through this natural process.
Find the full Implementation Guide and some additional resources and guidance on the Let Grow Website.
