Free to Play Logo
A 2-day virtual event for Play-Based Early Childhood Educators!

The Power of Play Materials

Learn from 16 play-based experts how to bring a robust variety of play materials to nurture and support your student's growth and development and how to manage it all.

October 26-27, 2024

Your email is safe with us and we respect your privacy. 

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Transform Your Classroom and the Way Children Play!

In this summit, you'll learn how the materials you provide children can deepen and expand their play. Learn how to harness the innate power of play!

"Yes! After this summit I walked into my class and put what I learned into action. AND IT WORKED!"

The Power of Play Materials Summit changed everything for Chris. And it can for you too!

We designed the summit to move the needle on your play-based practice. We cut out the fluff and drill down to the strategies that will transform your classroom.

This is more than a summit; it is the ultimate masterclass in play materials.

HBCottageSummer2024-110

Meet the Speakers

In the summit, you will gain insights and strategies from the leading voices in play materials.

CAROL KRANOWITZ (8)
Lynnette Arthur

Materials that Support a Child's Self-Identity

CAROL KRANOWITZ (10)
Lisa Murphy

Art is Not a Receipt for Child Care

CAROL KRANOWITZ (16)
Alice Sharp

Materials for Songs, Stories, and Rhymes

CAROL KRANOWITZ (14)
Dr. Drew

The Incredible World of Reusable Materials for Play

CAROL KRANOWITZ (3)
Curiosity Approach

The Extraordinary Possibilities of Dramatic Play Materials

CAROL KRANOWITZ
Miriam Beloglovsky

The Power of Unscripted Materials

CAROL KRANOWITZ (9)
Lukas Ritson

Supporting Risky Play through Materials

1
Kisa Marx

Super Heroes and Guns Rethinking Our Approach to Weapon Play

CAROL KRANOWITZ (2)
Suzanne Axelsson

The Principles of Loose Parts Teaching

CAROL KRANOWITZ (12)
Nadia Jaboneta

Schema Theory and Children's Use of Materials in Play

CAROL KRANOWITZ (2)
Suzanne Cotton

In Relationship With Light

CAROL KRANOWITZ (4)
Sandra Duncan

Designing Block Centers: 3 Strategies for Improvement

CAROL KRANOWITZ (5)
Pete Moorhouse

Woodwork in Early Years Education

CAROL KRANOWITZ (3)
Stacy Benge

Materials for Literacy Growth and Development

CAROL KRANOWITZ (15)
April Zajko

Nature Materials for Mathematical Understandings

CAROL KRANOWITZ (6)
Sabine Plamper

Everyday Simple Materials for Play

Get their best play materials strategies for your classroom.

Click below to grab your All Access Pass at the special Alumni price (available for a limited time).

Your email is safe with us and we respect your privacy. 

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

The Materials Wheel for planning & development of play.

The Summit is organized around our exclusive Materials Wheel.

This wheel is a valuable tool for you in planning and preparing a well-rounded learning environment for young children.

By categorizing materials into six distinct types - Open-Ended, Pretend Play, Closed-Ended, Visual Arts, Word Arts, and Music & Dance - the wheel provides a framework for ensuring a balanced and diverse array of learning opportunities.

Inside the summit you will have access to this tool.

You will learn:

  • The developmental benefits of each material type
  • How each material category contributes to different aspects of a child's growth.
  • How to use this tool when planning your play invitation
  • Identify areas that may need more attention or resources

Create a rich, stimulating environment that nurtures diverse learning styles and developmental needs.

The learning environment we cultivate for children is profoundly impacted by the materials we choose to fill it with.

Wheel Of Materials Graphic
Screenshot 2024-09-12 at 5.48.20 PM

How do you introduce materials?

This summit has been designed to answer questions like these.

You will learn:

  • How each of the presenters introduces materials (or why they don't).
  • The role of play invitations and provocations
  • How role-playing and brainstorming can expand play possibilities.

How do you encourage children to clean-up?

Materials can often become a major source of stress, taking up too much of YOUR valuable time with clean-up.

Listen in as I ask each presenter their approach to clean up. Learn how to set up the children and YOURSELF for success.

Screenshot 2024-09-12 at 6.02.33 PM
HBCottageSummer2024-86

What do you do when children damage or misuse materials?

Nothing is as upsetting as watching children damage your materials. Listen as each presenter shares how they guide children to respecting class materials.

SallyHeadshots3-24-3-3

Meet Your Host

Hi, I’m Sally!

I started my teaching journey in 1996 and taught for over 20 years. In 2010, I started Fairy Dust Teaching with a passion for the wonder and magic of early childhood. I believe young children have the right to play, to be collaborators in learning and to dream. Since then, Fairy Dust Teaching has become a global platform serving 120 countries worldwide. My teaching philosophy has let me travel the globe, sharing my knowledge and experience with teachers in Vietnam, Canada, Holland, the United States, the Philippines and more. My literary works include The Wonder Art Workshop (publ. 2019) and Through A Child’s Eyes, co-authored with Sandra Duncan and Jodie Martin.

Join me and 16 play experts for a one-of-a-kind event that will help you engage young children in the power of play in a way that feels natural.

I can’t wait to see you there!

“One of the best I have ever been a part of!”

"What a wealth of knowledge was shared over just 4 short days. Thanks to each of you for making this one of the best I have ever been a part of!"

–JENNY STEIB COLLINS

“I am reminded of the importance of what I do.”

"I am reminded that what I do and the way I do it is so important. The research is out there and supports it. We must keep doing the good work for the sake of our children and our families."

–LESLIE FRIED-RUBIN

“Highlights what is so often undervalued and forgotten.”

"Thank you, thank you, thank you many times over for the passion, inspiration and support in teaching from the heart with all the right knowledge in our back pockets! Thank you for highlighting what is so often undervalued and forgotten in a sector that should first and foremost be about connection, nurture and love for our tamariki (children). Thank you, Sally, and thank you to the amazing team behind the scenes for making this possible and free/ affordable for all! Again, thank you, from my heart to yours."

–EILEEN WILFORD

“One of the best advocates for children and play.”

“Sally you have created a wonderful forum for all of us who deeply care about children. The Free to Play Summit is a fantastic summit, which I look forward to every year. Your passion and enthusiasm for early childhood is making a difference. A wonderful person, with a great team. One of the best advocates for children and play. Long may the Free to Play Summit and Fairy Dust Teaching continue.”

–TRACY HILTON

“Amazing takeaways from excellent speakers!”

“Thank you! My first summit here and certainly not the last! Amazing take aways for me. The amount of excellent and appealing-to-me speakers during those 4 days was extremely high! You have created quite something here. Again: thank you.“

–FRAN ZIS KA

“Mind-bogglingly inspiring, with incredible speakers.”

“I have quite literally never seen or experienced anything like this summit. The work and care and thought and love you all put into every single detail is mind bogglingly inspiring. The speakers were absolutely incredible. Thank you thank you thank you!!”

–MOLLY LANNON KENNY

Are You Ready for a Dynamic Approach to Materials?

Discover the undeniable magic of play materials for your classroom!

Your email is safe with us and we respect your privacy. 

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
“Ignited the flame yet again!”

“Sally and Team - yes - you have ignited that flame yet again- a million thank yous!!”

–TRACY LLOYD

“My go-to center for ideas.”

“So much to learn. This space will definitely be my go to center for ideas from time to time.”

–ESSIEN NSIMA

“Lifts up my motivation.”

“Thank you so much for all the support and guidance we received during the summit's days. Your work, kindness and understanding has been great! The topics, play lab and speakers lift up my motivation to really fight for children and their wellbeing. Amazing , as always. Thanks again.“

–TINA TEODORESCU

“So refreshing and filled with new ideas.”

“This summit has been so refreshing and filled with new ideas to incorporate into the classroom. I keep reflecting on the importance of letting children learn through play and at their own pace. The presenters have been amazing. I feel inspired to go and practice everything I got out of this summit. Thank you Sally and staff for making this possible.”

–MARIA LARA

“More focused, confident, hopeful and joyful.”

“I feel invigorated, rejuvenated, heard, felt, and seen. My thoughts, instincts, hopes and desires for children have been validated. I feel a part of something bigger and less alone in the struggles. I feel hopeful and joyful. I feel empowered. I am more focused on my WHY and more confident in my HOW. Thank you to Sally, all the presenters, every single person who had a hand in putting together the Free to Play Summit and for everyone participating in this amazing community. You are all enough...and so much more.”

–TARA LANG

“Excited to spread this light you’ve shared with us.”

“Please keep on doing what you do. You are reaching all kinds of individuals in different parts and crevices of the world where this kind of information is expensive and hard to come by. Really excited to spread this light that you have all shared with us to our children, classrooms, colleagues, parents and families. Great team effort, kudos to the entire Fairy Dust team!!! All your efforts and planning was simply evident in every step of the way, from the format, the speakers chosen, the summit diaries, playlabs and so much more! More power to all of you!”

–MICA AGUILAR GONZALES

“Groundbreaking journey to become the best version of myself.”

"What I took away from this Summit was togetherness, happiness, freshness, joining as one and, really, doing the fine-tuning to get the work done in a fun, enjoyable, exciting way for all. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking journey and become the best version of myself."

–SANDRA B.

“Above and beyond what I expected!”

"This was above and beyond what I expected and it was worth all of my extra time! Thank you so much for everything you all do and feel I was completely blessed by it all! Looking forward to the next one!"

–FAITH F.

“Has had a huge and wondrous impact on my heart!”

“Sally, you and your team truly inspire each of us that work in this field to try our hardest, to inspire others, to accept children for who they are, to love, laugh and play! Thank you again for the dedication, love and passion you bring! I truly am looking forward to next year’s summit . This was my first and I can't stop talking about it and crying at times. These sessions and the speakers spoke to our hearts. It has definitely had a huge and wondrous impact on my heart!”

–ANGELA ONGO

“All of the speakers were Five Star.”

"This was a gift of love for educators. Every day was an evolution for me personally and as an educator. All of the speakers were Five Star with a depth of knowledge, love and commitment to give students and families their best. This was more than just a summit. It was a call to protect play because "Childhood Matters". Thank-you for this six day gift and I will share it with my students, families, colleagues and our school district in Boston."

–ALICIA C.

Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers.

The Power of Play Materials Summit is all about how to bring materials to children in a way that unleashes their thinking and doesn’t feel exhausting to you While there are lots of summits and other resources out there about play-based learning theories, this summit will give you practical trips and strategies to introduce the right materials to your classroom.

If you’re curious about a practical approach to introduce ordinary to extraordinary materials to your classroom, this event is for you! It’s specifically designed for play-based educators with a focus on 6 categories of play materials. 

The main portion of the summit runs from October 26-27. You’ll also be able to join our private Facebook community as soon as you register, so you can join in on the fun right away!

While most of the sessions for the summit are pre-recorded, there are some live elements, and the pre-recorded sessions are only available for 24 hours with your free ticket. So we encourage you to attend live if you can! We would love for you to set aside some time during the summit to attend the live sessions, watch the pre-recorded sessions, and participate with others who are exploring the possibilities of many diverse play materials.

However, If you can’t attend the live sessions on October 26th and 27th, don’t worry! We are excited to share that with the All Access Pass upgrade, you’ll have lifetime access to all summit recordings starting November 4th. This way, you can watch everything at your own pace, anytime. For more details, check out the invite that appears after you register!

To avoid tech glitches, give you the best possible experience, and keep things easy for the speakers, the sessions are pre-recorded and will be released at a scheduled time during the summit. However, the speakers will be hanging out in our private Facebook group with dedicated threads where you can connect with them and ask your questions! There will also be opportunities to join us for bonus live events throughout the week.

Yes. All sessions have closed captioning, and notes.

Please reach out if there’s anything we can do to ensure you’re able to enjoy this event.

If you still have questions, email us at asksally@fairydustteaching.com.

“Not one of the best – THE ABSOLUTE BEST.”

"This has been not one of the best, but rather THE ABSOLUTE BEST summit I have been a part of in my thirty-plus years as an early childhood educator! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Sally is great and the speakers were as well. I learned so much. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

–VICKI C.

“Enthralling information.”

"It was a week of inspirational and motivating ideas and methods of helping our young curious, adventurous, and experimenting minds. Enthralling information on risk play, puppet play, nature play, and inclusive education. Thanks to all the presenters and Sally for coming up and sharing great information for people involved in children's development."

–AMLA N.

2023 © Fairy dust Teaching  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use  |  Design by Beachside Studio