Lethbridge Early Years Coalition (LEYC) created five themes of Digital Play Packs to help parents and caregivers find balance between engaging in active play opportunities and digital play with their children.
Learning from the West Red Deer County Early Childhood Coalition, LEYC created Science Magic, Hide & Seek and Superhero Fun Digital Play Packs (DPPs). A DPP is a suitcase of fun and learning containing supplies, ideas and instructions for caregivers to engage in play with their children.
LEYC formed a partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library to add the DPPs into their circulation so community members could easily borrow the DPP suitcases with their library card. To meet demand for additional DPPs, LEYC partnered with Helen Schuler Nature Centre to create Nature Play theme DPPs and also with Lethbridge Sport Council to create Physical Literacy DPPs. To fund these additional creations, LEYC received support from Sunrise Rotary Club which made it possible to create ten DPPs to have a set of five in circulation at the south Lethbridge Public Library and also five at the west branch making the DPPs easily accessible to the community.
DPPs have become popular with caregivers of preschool aged children and are successfully:
• Increasing awareness of the importance of balance between active play opportunities and digital play.
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Supporting caregivers, as they play together with their children, to
shape a healthy brain, build resilience and strengthen their bond!
How do you use digital technology in your child’s play?
