"You would never see me leaving Playtime. You know why? Because I love this program so much. I love it way too much for it to go. I hope it keeps on running for the next generation so they can learn what I learned.”
Logan is the longest-running Playtime attendee, coming to program every week for the past three years. He has the self-appointed title of “Mayor of Playtime,” impressive for just 13 years old. When asked what being the Mayor means to him, he shared, “I want to be a role model for the kids that start coming...that means being out there, showing them what to do and what not to do.”
Over the past several years, Logan feels that Playtime has helped him manage and understand his emotions. “Sometimes I do act up, but I learn from my mistakes...I learned how to, like, calm my emotions down, stay calm, and take deep breaths sometimes when you're getting out of control.” During program, Playtime’s curriculum focuses on social-emotional development, creative problem solving, and optimism for the future, all with the goal of building resilience.
At certain sites, Playtime can separate programs more intentionally by age, allowing program activities to be tailored and age appropriate. For the older kids, optimism for the future becomes a central focus. Being separated by age group gives them “the privilege to do what we like and what we can do at our age, like cook and coding,” Logan says. He enthusiastically shared his dream of going to college for game design and creating a game that goes viral. He loves math and is intrigued by the overlap with creative design.
Jakyah, a sophomore in high school, started at Playtime just a few weeks after Logan. She was one of our first teens to become a Play Ranger* in Training. “Since it rolled out in 2024, the Play Ranger in Training program was an intentional expansion to provide opportunities to keep older children engaged,” said Program Director, Jordan Clayton. “The role allows kids to still experience the power of play at ages 15, 16, 17...and no matter how old you are, you still need to play. As Play Rangers in Training, they can now lead the younger students who are the next generations of Playtime kids.” The position helps teens work on responsibility, teamwork, and leadership, while continuing to support their learning and growth.
Despite moving across the city a few years ago, Jakyah comes to program weekly and has brought a number of friends with her – one of whom, Michael, loves being someone the younger kids look up to. “I feel like everyone's able to express themselves in some type of way. It's just that they don't know if they can without feeling...the sense of being in trouble. I think Playtime creates that space, and that goes for anybody, honestly. Doesn't have to be little kids. I try to get them to be as expressive as possible, so I can, kind of, crack the code. To make people more expressive, or to get them to express more, you just have to keep asking questions, and–” “Be yourself!” Logan excitedly interjected. “Yeah," Michael continued, "be genuinely interested in what they have to say. Everyone deserves to be expressive of their emotions, so I try to be as patient as possible." Playtime is proud to work with these future leaders!
