About Us

Purpose • Who We Are • What We Do • History of Organization • Vision & Mission • Core Beliefs • Board of Directors • Advisory Council • Annual Report

Purpose

Play is vital. Over the past generation, a significant body of research has demonstrated the critical importance of play for the healthy development of children. =Yet too much of what we know about the importance of play and how to help children play constructively has not been made available to those who need it-parents, early childhood caregivers, teachers, toy designers, manufacturers, and retailers, cultural leaders, pediatricians, librarians, and policy makers, and others.

Playing for Keeps is a national not-for-profit organization that exists to help bridge the gap between what researchers have learned about play-and what parents and professionals who impact kids' lives on a day-to-day, hour-by-hour need to know to help nurture our precious children to their full potential.

Look to Playing for Keeps to:
1. Speak up about the need for constructive play opportunities for all children.
2. Provide parent education on the importance of play.
3. Train toy industry professionals on aspects of play and child development that can improve products and service.
4. Maintain a central base of information about play;
5. Increase access for children who face barriers to constructive play.
6. Bring toy industry leaders, scholars, parents, educators, pediatricians, non-for-profit leaders, and cultural leaders together to learn more about and promote play.