The Unplug & Play program started as a summer programming initiative in partnership with Childcare Resource and Referral with MCFD summer program funding. Given the great concern those working with parents were experiencing due to parents being distracted from their children by engagement with phones, or giving phones or tech to young children to keep them occupied and quiet, the program was developed to encourage parents/caregivers to “put down your media and tech and play with your child!”

The summer program proved such a success that Charlene determined it was too valuable to lose and decided to continue it as part of the CAPC programming. The program runs from 11 am–2 pm and includes a healthy lunch and play equipment. Parents and children play and cook together, making lunch items such as salads, pizza, etc.

Families really enjoy participating in the activities and arts and crafts together. Some parents have never learned how to play. One grandfather, who brings his granddaughter to the program, says he is re-living childhood, as he never had an opportunity to “be a kid” when he was growing up.

There are usually around 12–14 parents/caregivers with about 28–32 children in attendance at the sessions, which are run in a hall with an adjoining yard for outdoor play. The secure outdoor play environment is particularly valued by mums who are bringing up kids in apartments and who often don’t feel safe going to public outdoor play areas with their children.

The program addresses a variety of key areas for families, including isolation, healthy foods, food security, role modeling, how to play, and age-appropriate play. The program offers opportunity for extended family to build relationships. Parents, grandparents, and other relatives are welcome to participate, for example, a mum and grandmother regularly attend together with the family’s children. An Infant Development specialist visits the program to do infant assessments. The program addresses a variety of key areas for families, including isolation, healthy foods, food security, role modeling, how to play, and age-appropriate play.

Recent enhancements to the program have included adding a music component. A musician who plays guitar and flute has worked with the families to make flutes for the children out of poly pipe as a craft project. As well, the Early Years Coordinator based at the Friendship Centre has been partnering to enrich the program with specific Early Years skills and learning, which has been a great asset.

A Family Support Worker is partnering with Charlene to get permission from MCFD for the program to be used for supervised visits for non-custodial parents, so that they can be given support with learning parenting and play skills and improving the quality of the time they are able to spend with their children.

The verbal feedback on the program has been amazing. They hear comments from parents such as “My child woke up saying that she wants to go back to ‘school’ to play together.”

There are very few places in the community for parents to take their children for play opportunities. The recreation centre offers swimming programs and families take their children to the MacDonald’s play area, but neither of these offer opportunity for parent and child to interact together. the Unplug and Play program started with a summer program a year and a half ago, and now runs for a full year through CAPC. It has become a huge addition to available community assets, helping to deal with isolation for families, offering learning around nutrition and parenting, building enriched family relationships with children, and developing peer support networks.