Become a certified playmaker
The Life is good Playmakers invite you to learn how the power of play can heal and strengthen the children in your care.
“YOUR WEEKEND TRAINING RETREAT WAS WONDERFUL – TRULY THE BEST I’VE ATTENDED. AFTER 26 YEARS OF TEACHING, IT’S GREAT TO ONCE AGAIN BE INSPIRED”
-Kathy Runey, Preschool Teacher, Attleboro, MA
LEARN WHAT IT TAKES
Do you work with preschool-age children? Do many of those children suffer from the effects of trauma from violence, poverty, or illness? We’ve launched a movement to support frontline heroes like you who are dedicated to caring for our nation’s most vulnerable children.
The Life is good Playmakers training team has applied its expertise in early child development and childhood trauma throughout the US and in response to some of the greatest crises of our time, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti and 2011 Japanese earthquakes.
We have certified over 3,500 child care professionals and consistently receive the highest praise for our joyful and transformative training.
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
Unique programs that help you
transform children’s lives – and your own
View Our Training Calendar
PRESCHOOL PLAYMAKER BASIC
Preschool Playmaker Basic is an innovative one-day training retreat held in a relaxing getaway setting. A comfortable environment, training materials, meals and follow-up consultation are all yours for a $25 registration fee. We’ll help you reconnect with your playful self so you can bring a greater level of energy and joy back to your teaching and care giving environment.
PRESCHOOL PLAYMAKER CERTIFICATION
During this two-day advanced training retreat you will deepen your understanding of the power of playful engagement and create a self-care plan to nurture your own playfulness. You’ll gain a wealth of practical ways to incorporate transformative play in your teaching and care giving as well as a duffel bag full of play equipment. Following your certification you’ll receive one-on-one follow up support from Playmaker staff. We will help you effectively implement the skills you learned in training and carry out your personal Playfulness Plan. There are also ongoing opportunities for Booster Trainings, Advanced Offerings, and many more ways to stay involved in the Playmaker Movement.
ADVANCED OFFERINGS
As a Certified Playmaker you will have access to advanced trainings that are designed to further support a playful approach in your work with children.
Advanced Trainings include:
- Powerplay: a play-based psychosocial intervention for small groups of preschool-aged children. Teachers Implement Powerplay with their children over 15 sessions.
- Playful Guidance: Tools, techniques and skills for addressing challenging behaviors productively.
- Playfulness Planning: In-depth opportunity to build playfulness more fully and deeply in your own life through reflection, planning, and both individual and group support
SPECIAL OFFERINGS
The Life is good Playmakers create specially-designed training programs in response to the needs of specific organizations and audiences. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US AT TRAINING@LIGPLAYMAKERS.ORG :
- Child Life Playmaker Certification Training: Two-day training retreats for individuals working directly with children in medical settings.
- Haiti Playmaker Training: One and two-day trainings for child care providers working throughout Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
- Customized Training: Specially designed training programs targeting residential treatment programs, foster care, after school programs, and more.
SUSTAINING OUR COMMUNITY
A NUMBER OF JOYFUL GATHERINGS EACH YEAR ENSURES THAT OUR GROWING PLAYMAKER COMMUNITY STAYS CONNECTED AND INSPIRED
COMMUNITY BOOSTERS
Evening, monthly gatherings of Certified Playmakers are hosted by the Playmaker training team. Boosters are a fun and energizing way to refresh knowledge and share resources as a community of experts in the field.
PLAYMAKERS BALL
An annual celebration for all Certified Playmakers is held each spring. This is a special night of inspired playfulness and entertainment, featuring music, dancing, awards, and lots of laughter.
LIFE IS GOOD FESTIVAL
Life is good holds a premiere music festival in the Boston area every September. With over two dozen nationally known music acts, games and activities galore, it’s an amazing weekend event for all ages. The Life is good Festival is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Life is good Playmakers. Certified Playmakers get first dibs at volunteering on a variety of colorful, active children’s games.