Playtime’s playroom at Beltway Plaza Mall in Greenbelt, Maryland has come a long way since the program launched in 2023. Inside a former Big Lots department store, children play dress up using a rack of costumes, build towering Magna-tiles structures, lounge on sofas and bean bags with a book from our children’s library, unleash their creativity on craft tables, and let all their energy loose next door at the amusement center, LOL Stations MEGA Fun Center. What used to be a drab, empty space is now full of color, activity, and children’s laughter.
Playtime children and families truly appreciate what camp offers. Teyonka Nickels, mother of a Playtime child, told us, “It’s so hard to afford summer camp, so when I came to the mall and saw that [Playtime] was doing a free summer camp for a week, I was very excited about that. My son loves the camp...he loves the activities, the staff members. I think it’s a great opportunity for kids in the community whose parents cannot afford summer camp. I wish that it was more than one week; I’m hoping it can be extended for a whole summer.”
Playtime plans an array of activities, special guests, and field trips during summer camp, as well as an opportunity for free play, which is important for a child’s developing mind. Ten-year-old Omari echoed the need for Playtime’s camps: “Kids need places to go in the summer, or we’ll just be stuck at home on our phones.”
The theme for this year’s summer camp was “EveryBODY is Amazing!” Each day centered around a different part of the body. On “heart” day, children created stethoscopes out of two cups and a paper towel roll and used them to listen to each other’s heartbeats. Later, they got their hearts pumping with special guest, Baba Ras D. Gathered in a large circle, he sang and drummed while the kids danced joyfully and played along with the music on tambourines, drums, and maracas. On “skin” day, the room buzzed with excitement as children made their own body butter. A preteen girl cleverly pitched her own commercial. Holding up the bottle with a TV-ready smile, she said, “Do you like strawberry lemonade? If you do, then this is perfect for you. You can smell like it too!”
“My son loves the camp...he loves the activities, the staff members. I think it’s a great opportunity for kids in the community whose parents cannot afford summer camp. I wish that it was more than one week; I’m hoping it can be extended for a whole summer.” - Teyonka, mother of a Playtime participant
Playtime camp isn’t only about having fun—it also provides opportunities for teachable moments. Staff and volunteers observed two boys, Jason* and Damien*, using gendered language and disrespectful language towards one another. After staff members, Leslie, Jordan, and Lucas, heard several of these comments, they pulled them aside to have a conversation about it.
“We want to reflect on some things with you. We noticed you two saying mean things to each
other and things that might be offensive to the girls.” The boys were hesitant to speak openly at first, but soon warmed up.
Referencing a comment one of them made that women should be in the kitchen, Leslie asked, “Can you think of who the women are in your lives?” Damien identified his mom. Jason could not identify a woman role model. “It’s just me, my brothers, and dad,” he shared. “This is just what we’re taught and see online.”
Jordan pressed back. “But what do you think when you see and hear this stuff? Do you think it’s right?”
Jason paused. “I guess there is a sense of shame seeing and hearing this stuff online.” The conversation continued with the boys sharing how media influences the way they think about men and women regarding strength, age, and other traits.
Lucas presented the idea of gender norms. “What do you think are some male norms?”
Damien replied, “That men are stronger than women. Men shouldn’t cry or be weak.”
“Having and expressing emotions and vulnerability is human, not just for women,” Lucas explained. “Every place should be safe for all people to experience emotions. Even if you don’t feel like you have those safe places out in the world, you can always count on having one here at Playtime.”
As the conversation was wrapping up, Leslie checked in with the boys. “How do you feel about everything we just talked about?”
“It was a lot, but I think it was a good talk,” Damien replied. Jason chimed in. “Yeah, me too.”
These are just some of the important lessons that happen at Playtime, both planned and—in this case—unplanned. At every summer camp, spring break camp, and weekly program session we strive to get children to think critically, identify and express their emotions in healthy ways, feel cared for, and develop the skills they need to be kind, resilient, and capable adults. This is the power of play.
*Names have been changed for privacy.
