About
Our vision is to expand education equity by integrating Playful Learning into all affordable housing.
About
Live and Learn is a groundbreaking pilot to advance education equity by embedding joyful, Playful Learning installations into affordable housing—bringing high-quality, engaging learning experiences to children right where they live.
This custom "Critter Creator" will soon be installed in a pocket park in Philadelphia's Sharswood neighborhood. Children can create their own imaginary critter and then make up stories about their lives.
Education is the most powerful engine for social mobility.
Yet many children don’t have access to high-quality learning opportunities and lag behind in school readiness, academic performance, and social-emotional well-being. These disparities remain concentrated along racial, ethnic, and economic lines. We need to ensure that all children have access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential.
Did you know? 80% of a child’s time is spent outside the classroom.
To create relevant and engaging Playful Learning spaces in both existing and new affordable housing developments.
To expand education equity for resident families and children, providing valuable skill-building opportunities and increasing school readiness.
To increase social cohesion through meaningful community engagement.
To train developers and designers to use Playful Learning methodologies.
To build a constituency who understands and values Playful Learning in everyday design, and who can advocate for the inclusion of playful learning in design guidelines and RFPs locally, regionally, and nationally.
Goals
Values
We believe:
Learning should be joyful and playful.
Children should have opportunities for learning outside of the classroom: at their homes and in public spaces.
Playful Learning environments should provide skill-building opportunities and increase school readiness for children ages 0–8.
Residents and other community stakeholders should be co-creators of the design, so that Playful Learning environments reflect their values and cultures.
What is Playful Learning?
Playful Learning is a science-backed approach in which learning goals are embedded in play from the start—guided by adults or sparked by thoughtful prompts—to ignite curiosity and deepen understanding. It nurtures six essential skills that help children thrive: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence.
How can we meet families and children where they are and bring learning into their daily lives?
Launching at two Philadelphia sites, Live and Learn has co-created vibrant indoor and outdoor learning environments with residents, reflecting their communities’ values and cultures. These spaces turn everyday moments into powerful opportunities for cognitive and social-emotional growth.
We envision a future where Playful Learning is a standard feature in affordable housing—ensuring all children have access to enriching, engaging educational experiences at home.