THE PLAYGROUNDgr

11/01/2025

THE PLAYGROUNDgr provides a free curriculum to youth and families in our community called Healing Through Play. This model provides hands on play therapy strategies and tools to support healing from a trauma journey, grief journey, growth in body and emotional regulation and overall wellness. During these workshops, youth, neighbors, providers and teachers, are gifted books from our curriculum for their home, offices and classrooms.

November marks our THE PLAYGROUNDgr Book Drive KICK OFF, an opportunity for our community to invest in our work!

We are excited to begin by sharing local author Janay Jones as our Author of National Author's Day and her books "ABC Affirmations."

Want to sponsor a book for a child in our programming ? Donate today!
https://theplaygroundgr.org/invest-in-our-programming

11/01/2025

THE PLAYGROUNDgr provides a free curriculum to youth and families in our community called Healing Through Play. This model provides hands on play therapy strategies and tools to support healing from a trauma journey, grief journey, growth in body and emotional regulation and overall wellness. During these workshops, youth, neighbors, providers and teachers, are gifted books from our curriculum for their home, offices and classrooms.

November marks our THE PLAYGROUNDgr Book Drive KICK OFF, an opportunity for our community to invest in our work!

We are excited to begin by sharing local author Janay Jones as our Author of National Author's Day and her books "ABC Affirmations."

Learn more about our 2025 Book Drive at theplaygroundgr.org

10/31/2025

How do you define family? We've learned that showing and creating is an invalueble opportunity for growth, communication and attachment.

10/30/2025

An important reminder from your friends at THE PLAYGROUNDgr!

10/29/2025

THE PLAYGROUNDgr continues to be in awe and gratitude to our friends at Doeren Mayhew. Thank you for their generous donation of $1,692 in support of our free programming in our downtown community.

Thank you to THE PLAYGROUNDgr Board Chair Elizabeth J. Bigelow who shared our mission and passion for play and play therapy based supports in our city. Your leadership and love is forever valued!

10/28/2025

Thank you Grand Rapids for choosing THE PLAYGROUNDgr as your PLATINUM choice for Therapy and Counseling!

Official 2025 Community Voting Awards Platform for Grand Rapids, MI. Where the community votes for their favorites every year.

10/27/2025

You've been waiting and we are thrilled it is just around the corner.... Year 4 of PORTRAIT OF ME!!! Save the date!

REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 1

10/22/2025

Thank you First Steps Kent and Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage for your investment in our October 2024- October 2025 Prek Programming!

We are proud to share, we were able to work alongside over 160 youth under five during this fiscal season.

And..... 🔊 Our 3-4 year old programming WILL continue with local partners at Grand Rapids Public Schools and YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids into 2026 due to a generous community partner!

Thank you Grand Rapids!

10/22/2025

Do your feelings on the inside match the message you are sending on the outside? Today we explored feeling messages and nonverbal communication with our team at Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth!

10/22/2025

🔊 Here is a sneak peak....

THE PLAYGROUNDgr is launching our 2025 Book Drive experience on November 1, and cant wait to dive into Bibliotherapy with each of you.

Stay tuned for local authors, books and tips for building our emotional health library.

Meet local Grand Rapids Author Janaya Jones our newest THE PLAYGROUNDgr book partner.

https://grps.org/pub/stories/view/author-janaya-jones-practices-affirmations-with-grps-scholars

10/21/2025

THE PLAYGROUNDgr often uses scented play-doh and sensory dough as a tool to showcase our feelings. Feelings such as: sad, mad, frustrated, happy and silly are common themes shared in classroom spaces.

Normalizing tears, and other responses to our feelings continues to be incredible community building.

Thank you Grand Rapids Public Schools for creating space for emotional wellness!

10/20/2025

Congratulations to friend of THE PLAYGROUNDgr Chef Jenna Arcidiacono ⏬️

8 Italian Restaurants In Michigan You Absolutely Have To Try October 14, 2025 Credit: Google Maps There’s something truly delightful about stumbling upon a hidden gem of a restaurant, especially when it serves up flavors that transport you straight to Italy. Michigan is a treasure trove of exquisi...