THE PLAYGROUNDgr

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from THE PLAYGROUNDgr!

04/04/2026

Attachment is the foundation of healthy communication, relationships and self actualization! Simple strategies such as tracing each other hands with chalk build attachment through play!

So grab a piece of chalk and GO, Go, go and play.

04/03/2026

THE PLAYGROUNDgr is a local nonprofit, who is committed to bridging the disparities of the racial, gender, culture, and socioeconomic gaps often found in caregivers/educational institutions and community based programing around the world of play. Play based support, therapy and awareness continues to be an evidenced tool that sharpens and supports, emotional health, mental health, trauma, grief and attachment. THE PLAYGROUNDgr is tasked with ensuring all members of our community have access to free or reduce rated play workshops, trainings, play based groups and play based therapy.

Learn more at theplaygroundgr.org

04/02/2026

Did you know that THE PLAYGROUNDgr provides PLAY THERAPY based trainings to professionals in our community?

Here is what our community if saying:

“I really appreciated the knowledge and insight Jacqueline shared. It was nice to have someone acknowledge
the problem behaviors that we see and give direct skills that will work for that individual in the moment. It also
gave me personally more of an opening to be more empathetic to those students (and adults) with trauma in
their past. I was most affected by the discussion of hypo vs. hyper play. I do think that one of my children
probably needs hyper play to help him calm down. As a parent that was very helpful and I really appreciated
her input and personal experience.” -Literacy Paraprofessional at GRPS

“My biggest take away from this professional development is that the implementation of something that is very
simple and requires little time to do has such an impact on self-regulation. We want our students to be attentive
and regulated ready to learn, when this is the most difficult to achieve, we need strategies that can be
implemented in a split second, I feel this is a toolbox that we all need to be utilizing to empower our students to
center themselves so that they are able to be focused and engaged. I walked away with strategies that I can
immediately use and a renewed hope that this school year has an opportunity to feel different for all of us.”
-GRPS Special Education Resource Teacher

Who is our trainer?
It is Founder and Executive Director, Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW and RPT. Learn more below!

Want to schedule a training? Email us at jacqueline@theplaygroundgr.org

04/02/2026

Paint + Outside Play = Emotional health & Body regulation....... That isn't an opinion, that is science!

TODAY'S GRSP PreK programing explored their "roots that ground them" as they painted themselves as a tree!

Themes included: family, love, hugs and "kisses from my Mom!" 😘

Learn more about the science of nature and emotional health in the comments. ⏬️

03/31/2026

THE PLAYGROUNDgr loves starting our morning with scholars at Coit Creative Arts Academy.

Today we explored and normalized feelings through tools that included: books, mirrors and Play-Doh.

03/31/2026

🔊 Wow! We have reached capacity!

THE PLAYGROUNDgr will play alongside 100 neighbors touched by Foster Care on May 2 for a full day FREE Play Therapy™️ based experience!!!

We are excited to bring Play Therapy ™️ strategies, Theraplay Strategies, drumming, attachment based yoga and break dancing.

Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-trauming-through-play-tickets-1980588760298?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you for our sponsors: Mayflower Congregational Church, FOOD HUGS, Wedgwood Christian Services . We couldn't do this work without you.

03/30/2026

Thank you Aberdeen Academy for inviting THE PLAYGROUNDgr to lead a Play Therapy ™️ based training for your teachers and school team!

Together we learned the power and science of play! Your commitment to learning, community and our youth is undeniable; thank you!!!!

🔊 But what did they have to say ????

"That was so fun! It was the best training I've attended." -3rd grade teacher

"Yesterday proved to me how much I need to play...I felt better last night and it seeped into this morning." -Building Principal

"Thank you so much for setting up the play therapy training. She was amazing. Very engaging and had so many good ideas. I can't wait to implement them." - ASD teacher

This.Is.Community.

03/30/2026

10 SPOTS left!

Are you a family touched by foster care? THE PLAYGROUNDgr would love to play alongside you on May 2 for a full day FREE Play Therapy™️ based experience!!!

Join us for Play Therapy ™️ strategies, Theraplay Strategies, drumming, attachment based yoga and break dancing.

Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-trauming-through-play-tickets-1980588760298?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you for our sponsors: Mayflower Congregational Church , FOOD HUGS and Wedgwood Christian Services . We couldn't do this work without you.

03/29/2026

PLAY THERAPY at THE PLAYGROUNDgr is much less about who we are and so much more about YOU and all of the elements that make you uniquely amazing!

You are Enough AND that is why Play Therapy ™️ works.... This is why Play HEALS!

03/29/2026

🔊 We are nearing capacity!

Year Five of THE PLAYGROUNDgr working alongside Foster Care Professionals and those touched by Foster Care! We are thrilled to bring back Healing Trauma Through Play, a training for Professionals working in Foster Care based support settings! Join us in honor of May's Foster Care Awareness Month for this FREE training!

Special Appreciation to D.A. Blodgett - St. John's for hosting the space!

Registration :
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980564772550?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/28/2026

🗞 Thank you MLive for sharing our work and mission! THE PLAYGROUNDgr is thrilled to reduce the stigma of mental health and feeling based practices!!!!

Learn more ⏬️

The reimagined family expo features bounce houses, wellness activities, and expert-led parent sessions on child mental health at DeVos Place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.