Love Local
Tim Denker
Dennis Bacon CPA, CFP® Partner I Chief Investment Officer, BW
John Kliewer Partner, BWA I Sr. Financial Advisor
Julia Hampton CPA, PC
Lee’s Summit’s Premier Aesthetic Center
Where aging is OPTIONAL
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Celebrating Love Local
I don’t know about you, but this time of year I am always torn. I find myself torn between resisting the commercialization of another greeting card holiday and indulging in all the sweet excuses to enjoy the season.
To do a Valentine’s Day date out or enjoy a cozy night at home? To buy a card or just say a kind word? I usually land somewhere a little in between. We’ll each arrive at different answers based on our preferences and personalities, but what we hold in common is an opportunity to make sure those around us know we love them. And regardless of how you choose to celebrate, we hope the pages of this month’s magazine will help you do just that as we celebrate and highlight what’s to love in your local community.
One of my favorite memories from Valentine's Day many years ago was attending a private date night event at an Italian restaurant, that has since closed, in downtown Lee’s Summit called Ciao Bella. Couples were treated to dinner and wine while a therapist was invited to speak during dinner about improving your relationship. I didn’t expect to leave there that night with one simple bit of advice that has been so helpful in my marriage ever since. I have fallen back on it frequently over the years and share it with my friends. It was simple involving 3 C’s. Communication, Compromise, and Commitment. Looking back I realize how many years we have been creating memories in our local downtown area. Ironically, a brand new Italian restaurant is opening once again a few doors down from where Ciao Bella was located. A brand new place to create memories in!
While we teeter between the chill of January Winter and the excitement of Spring, we hope you’ll be inspired to take a moment to come together with the people in your life. The ones in your home and on your street. In your neighborhood and your community.
“Love local” means local businesses, those in your community - but it also means loving what is near. Those under your own roof included. So grab a coffee at Frost Coffee and Tea and head home for a game night around the fire with the family. Or snag a bottle of wine from Red Door Wine Store and some Belle toffee from Cockrell Mercantile Company and indulge on a movie night in.
Cheers to loving local!
LAURA PASZKIEWICZ, PUBLISHER @LEESSUMMITCITYLIFESTYLE
February 2025
PUBLISHER
Laura Paszkiewicz | laura@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Stephanie Williams | stephanie.williams@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Judy Goppert, Katie Currid, Michelle Glicksman
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Janie Jones, Katie Currid
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
Italian Restaurant Opening This Spring In Downtown Lee's Summit
Calaveras restaurant located in Downtown Lee's Summit held their final day of service Jan. 4th, 2025. Owners Josh, Lanni, and Jeff Edwards have announced the unveiling of an exciting new restaurant concept in its place. The reopening of "Vetta" will feature the Italian dishes declared the highest in demand from community surveys. The Italian translation of the word Vetta means summit, top, or crown. Expected reopening is spring of 2025.
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At the Potter’s Wheel
Life set this artist’s feet upon her creative path
When your mother is as attentive as Rachel Akin’s, you are predestined to shine! She encouraged her by providing art supplies and signing her up for art classes, specifically one at the Nelson Atkins Art Museum when she was six, and at age 11 she attended a summer art camp at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Together they visited antique shops when she was a young girl and Akin was surrounded by her extensive flint glass collection and antique ornament collection and her grandmother’s milk glass plates lining the kitchen wall.
“Many years into working with clay, I realized being surrounded by these vintage pieces had influenced my own creative work,” she smiled.
While attending Shawnee Mission East she was exposed to a technical theater class where she helped with school plays on props, costumes and stage sets. She enjoyed that but enjoyed the ceramics class she took her junior year more.
“I was immediately drawn to working with clay,” she explained.
ARTICLE BY JUDY GOPPERT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
She persisted and was inspired by her jewelry instructor, who sat down at the potter’s wheel with only one arm as he lost the use of the other due to polio. She purchased her own wheel and practiced at home. She realized her dream of attending KCAI in the fall of 1995.
“I loved my time in the Ceramics Department and spent my sophomore year under the guidance of George Timock. I learned various sculpting techniques like tile making, sculpting our own bust and mold-making,” she continued. “During my junior and senior years, I was fortunate to have Victor Babu as my instructor. He is known for his exquisite porcelain vessels and large intricately decorated platters. I watched him throw a fifty-pound platter once during a studio visit to his house. He noticed my interest in decorating my ceramic vessels and encouraged me to obsess over the surface and put the time into each piece. To this day, I have always emphasized the need for quality not necessarily quantity as I get ready for any show.”
She was the Artist in Residence, Studio Tech and Instructor at the Kansas City Clay Guild for a few years before attending grad school at Ohio University between 2003-06 where she received her MFA.
She then became artist-in-residence at Red Star Studios, now Belger Crane Yard Clay and met her future husband.
“We moved to St. Louis so he could attend medical school. I taught at Craft Alliance for several years while we lived there and also enjoyed a one-year artist residency. I also
taught Ceramics classes at Forest Park Community College,” she noted. “I began participating in art fairs and traveled back home for the Plaza and Brookside art fair and Laumeier Art Fair in St. Louis."
They have two daughters, and she shared that lately her older daughter has been into crocheting and her younger daughter loves to draw and sculpt out of clay.
“I'm proud that I have exposed my daughters to a variety of experiences including ice skating, aerial arts, swimming, horseback riding, gymnastics, piano and of course all of the artistic
techniques that I have exposed them to over the years,” she exclaimed.
When her husband found a job back home in KC, she was thankful. They now live in Lee’s Summit, and she taught at the KC Clay Guild from 2016 to 2020, and at Art School in downtown Lee’s Summit until it closed in the fall of 2024.
She anticipates being a part of the Brookside Art Fair again this spring.
“I am inspired to create when I see how people respond to my work at art fairs. The positive input from new and repeat customers makes me want to rush back into the studio and get to work!” she smiled.
She creates decorative porcelain pottery, with surfaces accented with stamping and slip trailing. She sees porcelain pots as blank canvases for decoration, and fires in an electric kiln at her home studio.
Her work can be found locally at Belger Crane Yard Clay, the Kemper Museum Gift Shop, West Bottoms Plant Company, Blue Sky Art and Home, and also Charlie Cummings Gallery in Gainesville, FL.
To see her work, visit https://rachel-akin-ceramics. square.site
Follow her – instagram.com/rachelakinceramics
NEW OWNERS ARE THRILLED TO CONTINUE BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD CAFÉ TRADITIONS
It’s a beautiful day in the Neighborhood… Café that is! The Café has a storied history of bringing families together, providing excellent food and making breakfast the prize meal of any day. Recently, Andy Lock and Dom Molloy, proprietors of the extremely popular Third Street Social, right across the street in downtown Lee’s Summit, purchased the restaurant from its owners, Tony and Kelly Olson.
ARTICLE BY JUDY GOPPERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“When making the decision to buy Neighborhood Café, a huge part of the appeal was that it was a very well run and popular operation with a long track record of success,” Andy noted. “We are not in any hurry to make changes. We will assess current operations and make small changes if they benefit the guests and NO, we won’t change the cinnamon rolls!”
He went on to explain that they say that they have witnessed their operation flourish, grow and operate at such a high level over the years, and have always had admiration for it.
“When we heard it was potentially for sale, it was very clear to us that it was a brand we would be proud to have under our restaurant umbrella,” he smiled.
That restaurant group includes Summit Grill in three locations: Lee's Summit, Gladstone and Waldo. Third Street Social, with the original there on 3rd Street across from Neighborhood as well as locations in the South Plaza and the Northland. Also, they own the popular Pearl Tavern, South of Summit Taqueria and Tequila and Boru Asian Eatery.
“THIS RESTAURANT IS BIGGER THAN US. IT IS A CITY TRADITION IN LEES SUMMIT.”
Recent owners, Tony and Kelly Olson, are happy to turn over the reins to them. They actually purchased the café in 20ll, explaining, “We had been regulars at the family-owned restaurant for years. When Neighbors was set to close its doors in 2011, we knew we had to try and keep the tradition going. We reopened as Neighborhood Cafe in February of 2011 with the entire existing staff, menu, loyal customers and traditions that had been the center of Downtown Lees Summit for years. We were surprised and grateful that the community rallied around us as the new owners.”
They believe Neighborhood Cafe brings the community and downtown together, and a great cafe can be the centerpiece of business, family, and community in a city, and they think that is exactly what they became.
“This restaurant is bigger than us. It is a city tradition in Lees Summit,” they smiled. The two have three young boys and have been in the restaurant business for over 21 years and have owned nine different restaurants around Kansas City throughout this time. They are looking forward to further focusing on their family and starting a new chapter.
“We are so excited to hand this great tradition off to another family-run, local restaurant family in the Summit Grill Group. They have been so great to work with through this transition and we know they will continue the tradition and make it even better,” they continued. “Just as they run other amazing concepts, we know Neighborhood Cafe is in good hands!”
The month of February is a great month to take your valentine out to breakfast! Why not make a visit?
This building has a storied history, beginning as a wagon repair shop in the early 1900s. Over time, countless families have enjoyed food through the years at a long line of different restaurants in this locale. Neighborhood Cafe is carrying on this rich tradition of serving our community.
Visit neighborhoodcafe.com
DOWN THE Rabbit hOle
An immersive children’s literature museum
While childhood can have memories of family vacations, an obsessively-watched cartoon or a favorite toy opened on Christmas morning, there’s something uniquely transporting about opening a book you read as a kid. Children’s books are enjoyed over and over, and remind us of times in our childhood bedrooms, sitting on an adult’s lap and the coziness of that time of focus and quietude that seems reserved only for reading time, especially in the loud, rambunctious days of childhood.
That’s why the Rabbit hOle, an immersive museum for children’s literature, is so special. It brings the characters, colors and the feeling of reading as a child to life, taking two-dimensional stories and turning them into interactive, art-filled exhibits that are anything but static.
The Rabbit hOle is a project years in the making, started by married couple Deb Pettid and Pete Cowdin, who originally owned the Reading Reptile bookstore in Kansas City. The two, who also raised five children, set out to make the nation’s only immersive museum for children’s literature.
The museum has secured rights and permissions to over 70 works from the last century of children’s literature. Inside, museum-goers will find exhibits for beloved characters including Curious George, Madeline, Frog & Toad and Babar the elephant, and can step into the familiar spaces such as the kitchen from “Blueberries for Sal” or the green great room from “Goodnight Moon.” They will also be introduced to lesser-known settings, such as the cliffs from “My Father’s Dragon,” or the Harlembased bookshop from the works of late author John Steptoe, created in collaboration with his children. The museum has worked closely with the authors and illustrators and their estates, explaining their unique educational project and gaining the rights to bring these books to life.
The Rabbit hOle is located in one of North Kansas City’s many industrial areas, in a four-story 150,000 square foot building.
“You always want to have an artistic anchor in a community and The Rabbit hOle gets to kind of provide that,” says Emily. “All the kids who come through [for] school field trips, our goal is that they leave wanting to read a book. But there's probably going to be a lot of kids who leave who are like, ‘Oh, I want to build giant tiger statues when I grow up.’ It’s going to help inspire artists, too, which I think it's really cool.”
While so many programs for children focus on children’s literacy and the ability to read, Emily says that not many programs serve to solely foster the love of reading.
“It’s our mission to inspire the reading lives of children and adults,” says Emily.
“We want to be a place where kids can really discover the types of stories that they like that they've maybe never been exposed to before — whether it's because they've never seen a picture book with a kid who looks like them, or heard cultural stories that might resonate with their own household.”
Behind the robust and imaginative construction of the museum’s exhibits is a staff of two dozen fabricators, all with different specialties and backgrounds. The book exhibits range from animated shadow boxes to larger-than-life mechanized sculptures. The exhibit’s makers studied the original books carefully, paying close attention to colors, lines and illustration styles, making models of the exhibits before painstakingly bringing them to life with wood, metal, foam, concrete, paint and more.
“We want to be a place where kids can really discover the types of stories that they like that they’ve maybe never been exposed to before.”
One of these fabricators and artists is Kelli Harrod, who has a background in theater design. She said one of the hardest challenges of bringing the books to life is taking a two-dimensional page and making it into a three-dimensional object. There are some sides of characters or rooms — like the wall behind the point of view in the great green room from “Goodnight Moon” — that you never see in the books. So the fabricators derive inspiration from the author or illustrator’s real life to complete the scenes.
Above all, though, Kelli says her favorite part about the work is how much joy it brings her.
“I get to show up and have fun every day,” says Kelli.
Emily says that the museum, overall, wants to be a rare place that celebrates the culture of children. The Rabbit hOle takes special care in making something interactive and artistic, drawing inspiration from the St. Louis’s City Museum. The exhibits are built to withstand the enjoyment of children while still being interactive and imaginative so all generations can enjoy the displays.
“Whenever you're talking about children's culture, there is this [idea of], ‘Oh, it's good enough. It's for kids, you know, just make it cheap. They don't really deserve anything beautiful,’” says Emily. “And that's the exact opposite of how The Rabbit hOle feels. We believe that kids deserve something beautiful. Yeah, it's going to be durable. Yeah, we're going to be able to sterilize it and clean it and everything. But just because it's for children, doesn't mean it is a lesser art form.”
FROM RELAXATION TO SHOPPING TO GOLF TO SIGHTSEEING, THIS DESTINATION HAS IT ALL
THE SCOTTSDALE LURE OF
BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN
Photo courtesy of Experience Scottsdale
The endless skies of blue are interrupted only by cacti rising majestically from the ground, arms reaching skyward, and palm trees, which are often adorned by lights that twinkle when the sun sets. There are vistas of open desert, rising mountains, and even the lush green of the locale’s many golf courses. And, of course, there are the vibrant shopping, dining, art, and event scenes, too.
Scottsdale is a city located in Metro Phoenix in Arizona, which as a whole is nicknamed “The Valley of the Sun” for its more than 330 days of sun each year—one of the reasons the area is a draw for visitors. With few rainy days, it’s easy to plan your daily activities without worry. Yes, though, the summer gets hot. But the rest of the year? Perfection.
Scottsdale is a mix of a resort destination, city, and suburbs, with more open desert the further north you venture. To the south is Downtown Scottsdale —also known as Old Town
Scottsdale—which is a mix of old Southwestern charm (including the legendary cowboy saloon, Rusty Spur Saloon); modern eateries from famed chefs; lots of shopping at small boutiques and specialty shops; the Arts District , which is filled with art galleries; and even tasting rooms from Arizona wineries located along the famed Scottsdale Wine Trail
Nearby is Scottsdale Fashion Square, one of the nation’s premier shopping destinations. While you’ll find many usual retailers there, there are also more than 40 luxury brands, including Christian Louboutin, Bottega Veneta, and Louis Vuitton.
Heading north are open-air shopping destinations Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons , which sit across the street from each other. Take the afternoon or evening to stroll through, exploring the shops, restaurants, and activity destinations such as the indoor minigolf destination Puttshack . What else is there to see and do? Plenty.
“WITH FEW RAINY DAYS, IT’S EASY TO PLAN YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES WITHOUT WORRY. YES, THOUGH, THE SUMMER GETS HOT. BUT THE REST OF THE YEAR? PERFECTION.”
Photo courtesy of Experience Scottsdale
PLAY
Like golf? There are more than 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale area. Whether you’re a pro or just starting out, there is a course for you. One of the most popular in the area is the TPC Scottsdale as it is the locale of the WM Phoenix Open, the most-attended golf tournament in the world.
For most of the year, Scottsdale boasts warm temperatures, making spending a day splashing in a pool a perfect choice. Many local resorts have pool areas that feature fun extras such as water slides, lazy rivers, and even a cooled sand beach. And even if you’re not an on-site guest, you can often purchase a day pass to be on-site through ResortPass.com.
Of course, there’s also plenty of outdoor recreation in Scottsdale. Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale is a popular mountain to hike (as is the iconic Camelback Mountain, which is located in nearby Phoenix), and the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt is a park and trail system spread over 11 miles. Kids love McCormickStillman Railroad Park , which boasts a small-scale train that circles the park and plenty of play areas.
A destination filled with numerous attractions is A rizona Boardwalk , a center that includes Butterfly Wonderland , OdySea Aquarium , Ripley’s Believe It or Not! , Museum of Illusions , and more.
CULTURE
The beauty of Scottsdale’s Sonoran Desert led famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), to build Taliesin West , his winter home and desert laboratory, in a mountainside in East Scottsdale. Today, there are daily tours of the UNESCO World Heritage site, and events are offered often.
However, Wright’s architecture isn’t the only art in the area. Beyond the Arts District in Downtown Scottsdale, there is public art all around the city, from sculptures to murals, so definitely keep your eyes open!
There are also museums such as Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West , a Smithsonian Affiliate, which showcases items from the Greater Western region, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art , affectionately known as SMoCA.
On Thursday evenings, there’s a free public ArtWalk in the Arts District, where galleries stay open later. Wander the streets and galleries, often against a backdrop of live music and even artist appearances.
Photo courtesy of Experience Scottsdale
Photo courtesy of Taliesin West
Photo by Michelle Glicksman
DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
From mom-and-pop restaurants to those run by James Beard Award-winning chefs and celebrity chefs, Scottsdale has it all. There’s Luna by Giada , by famed chef and TV personality Giada de Laurentiis; Uchi by James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole; FnB by James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman; and The Americano, which is helmed by celebrity chef and TV personality Beau MacMillan. Other local favorites are chef Joey Maggiore’s new The Italiano; Postino, for bruschetta and wine; Ocean 44 for seafood; and Old Town Tortilla Factory—which is set in a historic 75-year-old adobe home—for Southwestern with a Mexican twist.
If you’re looking for a night out, Downtown Scottsdale has the biggest concentration of clubs and bars. The walkable area has Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, El Hefe , Boondocks Patio & Grill , and many others.
If a more upscale lounge is your scene, check out the new Tell Your Friends speakeasy in North Scottsdale, located under The Americano restaurant.
EVENTS
Scottsdale is also known as a destination for events that draw attendees from around the world. Depending on your hobbies, time your visit to coincide with the one that interests you most. Golf lovers (and those who like to party) head to Scottsdale for the popular PGA tournament WM Phoenix Open , dubbed “The Greatest Show on Grass,” also includes concerts with well-known musical acts. Auto enthusiasts flock here for Auto Week , which includes the famous Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction . In late February and through March, the MLB’s Spring Training takes over the Valley, with Scottsdale Stadium becoming the home of the San Francisco Giants. There’s showmanship at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and rivalry on the field at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Classic , which draws players from around the world and features polo matches, a fashion show, parties, and more. And in 2025, Art Week , the next big event in the art world, debuts in Scottsdale.
NEARBY
While there’s so much to do, see, and experience in Scottsdale proper, there’s also much to see nearby. Make sure to experience the Musical Instrument Museum (affectionately known as the MIM), which is the world’s only global instrument museum. Desert Botanical Garden features an array of desert plants, and Phoenix Art Museum has an impressive collection of art. And, of course, the Phoenix Zoo is a perfect place for both kids and adults alike.
LOVE POTION #9
ANNA BARNES
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
A PINK COCKTAIL PERFECT FOR CELEBRATING VALENTINE’S DAY
WHO NEEDS FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE FLOWERS AND COCKTAILS?
This Valentine's Day, whether you plan to treat a loved one, treat your girlfriends, or treat yourself, I can promise you'll want to serve up this perfectly pink cocktail; one I like to call Love Potion #9. It looks as fabulous as it tastes. You can't beat the bright, fresh grapefruit juice and the bubbles add a lively kiss on top. Each sip is dreamier than the next. Cheers, here's to love!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
• 1.5 oz rosé
• 5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 5 oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• 3 oz bubbles (champagne or sparkling wine)
THE HOW-TO:
1. Pour the rosé, simple syrup, egg white, and grapefruit juice into an ice-filled shaker.
2. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds, until chilled.
3. Pour into a coupe glass using the strainer.
4. Top with champagne or sparkling wine.
5. Garnish with edible flowers and grapefruit peel.
6. Enjoy!
The Best in Hormone Balance & Weight Loss Solutions
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Suit Yourself
ARTICLE BY KATIE CURRID PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH SCHREINER
To most people, casual wear is a pair of jeans and a relaxed T-shirt or maybe a sweatshirt. To Dwight Colerangle, it’s a suit.
“People don't like to wear suits because they feel like suits are just for work,” says Dwight. “You can actually wear a suit to a birthday dinner. You can wear a suit to travel if you want to.”
Dwight, also known as King Dwight, or @kingdeewight on Instagram and TikTok, is a fashion influencer in the Kansas City area. He has to wear suits to work every day at his 9-to-5 day job but loves to play around with suits in his off hours and share them on social media.
Dwight combines street style and “classic” style, playing with more elevated looks but making them approachable for all sorts of situations.
But he wasn’t always able to experiment with style. Growing up in Ghana, Dwight wore uniforms to school.
“Back in school, we were so highly regulated,” says Dwight. “There's so much you can do to express yourself.”
He’s 26 now and says he found his style when he moved to the U.S. A dancer, he started his Instagram account as an Afro beats dance account in 2017 but shifted to fashion on a whim one day.
“I used to get complimented every time I dressed up, so, I thought, let me try this video,” says Dwight. “And I posted my first video with fashion, and it took off — like my very first video went viral. I told myself, ‘Oh, this is absolutely what I need to do.’”
“You can actually wear a suit to a birthday dinner. You can wear a suit to travel if you want to.”
Now, Dwight shares his outfits and inspiration with his large following on social media. His fashion philosophy is “upgrade your style." One of his favorite things to recommend to followers is how to dress down a suit for everyday use.
“There are a lot of suits that are being made in this current era that can take you to brunch or a party or a dinner. They don’t look that official,” says Dwight.
To translate a suit to a more casual situation, Dwight likes adding a T-shirt under a suit jacket, or even a sweater or a turtleneck. He also likes combining a hoodie with an oversized suit.
For those who have trouble putting together a look, Dwight also recommends playing around with color combinations, such as complimenting white shoes with white sunglasses. He’s also a big fan of accessorizing, such as with a shoulder bag or a watch.
Dwight’s style is a blend of street style and elevated wear, and he truly believes no article of clothing should only be relegated strictly as formal or casual wear.
“Everyone has the potential to put the right pieces together,” he says.
realty report
A SAMPLE OF RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES IN LEE’S SUMMIT.
This data is a sampling of sold properties from December 2024. Source: IRES MLS system.
The Importance of Play in Child Development
Play is more than just fun for children—it’s essential for their growth and development. Children explore the world, develop critical skills, and build relationships through play. Research shows play fosters cognitive, emotional, and social development, setting the foundation for lifelong success.
How Play Enhances Cognitive Development
Building Problem-Solving Skills
Play encourages children to think critically and solve problems. Activities like puzzles, building blocks, or role-playing scenarios teach kids to evaluate situations, make decisions, and adapt to challenges. These experiences nurture their creativity and ability to innovate.
Boosting Language and Communication
Imaginative play is a powerful tool for language development. Conversations during pretend tea parties or storytelling games expand vocabulary and strengthen communication skills. These interactions help children articulate thoughts, making them better communicators.
Encouraging Creativity
Open-ended activities like drawing, crafting, or constructing allow children to express their ideas freely. This fosters creativity, a cornerstone of cognitive flexibility and problem-solving later in life.
The Emotional Benefits of Play
Expressing and Managing Emotions
Play provides a safe space for children to explore their emotions. Pretending to be a superhero or acting out caregiving roles with dolls helps them process feelings and build emotional awareness. These scenarios teach kids how to regulate their emotions
in real-life situations.
Building Confidence and Resilience
Mastering a game or completing a creative project boosts a child’s self-esteem. Play also teaches resilience; when kids take risks, such as climbing a new playground structure or solving a tricky puzzle, they learn to overcome challenges and grow stronger emotionally.
Social Growth Through Play
Learning Teamwork and Cooperation
Playing with peers teaches valuable social skills like sharing, turn-taking, and collaboration. Group games, whether in sports or on the playground, help children understand how to work together to achieve goals.
Developing Empathy and Perspective-Taking
Role-play encourages children to see the world through others’ eyes. Whether pretending to be a teacher, doctor, or teammate, these activities build empathy and help kids understand different perspectives, a critical skill for building meaningful relationships.
Resolving Conflicts
Disagreements during group play allow children to practice conflict resolution and negotiation. These lessons in compromise prepare them for future social interactions and teamwork.
Creating Play-Friendly Environments
At Home
Parents can foster play by creating spaces with toys, books, and art supplies. Participating in activities like board games or imaginative scenarios strengthens the
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parent-child bond. It helps children develop skills in a supportive environment.
At School
Schools can incorporate play into the curriculum to balance academics with creative exploration. Recess and unstructured free time are crucial for allowing kids to recharge and engage socially. Teachers can also use playbased learning techniques to make lessons more interactive.
In the Community
Public parks and recreational programs provide valuable spaces for children to interact with peers. Community spaces promote physical activity, social engagement, and the development of essential life skills.
Play: The Foundation for a Brighter Future
Play isn’t just a pastime; it’s a powerful tool for shaping a child’s mind, emotions, and social skills. Through play, children learn to think critically, manage emotions, and form lasting connections—all essential for thriving in life.
Parents, educators, and communities play a vital role in supporting play. By encouraging diverse and meaningful play experiences, we can nurture confident, capable, and compassionate children. To learn more about how play supports your child’s development or to discuss their overall health, schedule an appointment with a provider at Community Choice Pediatrics. Visit our website today and take the next step in supporting your child’s growth and success.
Making a Difference in Lee’s Summit
Joel Wilson CFP®
Kevin Carpenter AAMS™ Laura Hudson AAMS™