The Play Lab

Round #2 Pictures…

I wanted to share pictures from The Play Lab’s Annual National Day of Play on Saturday, September 19th, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church, Chicago! Providing free opportunities for communities to come together and play with their children and grandchildren is important to me and my Play Advocacy work. Due to recent procedures I am limited physically, so I wanted to give a special shout to my amazing husband Kevin Epperson and son CJ for helping prepare the months up to the event and setting up and breaking down the event. It’s a lot physically and mentally and I appreciate you both so much! You have always supported my work, research, civic engagement and advocacy! I also wanted to give a special thank you to one of my best friends Laura Weninger for staying after to help with break down and clean up, love and appreciate you so much and my Play Lab alum Sammy Bammy for helping, too. Watching you and your Mom play and be silly warmed my heart! Also, special thanks to Dr. Lillian Eleanor and Sabrina Robertson for your donations. I do these events out of pocket, so donations help me buy new items we can use for all of my free community events. Last but not least, thank you to my church family and Pastor Tom Terrell for hosting with the event space. It was a rainy day, so we had to pivot and bring the event indoors. I appreciate everything you do my family and for our community and neighbors! Love you all! Free Play is important to me and a Child’s Right and growing awareness is pivotal to protecting their rights!

We had loose parts, exploration stations, games, sensory bins, mud kitchen, fort making, adaptable supplies encouraging thoughtful inclusion and belonging, and all the things for children and their families to initiate play, explore, create, invent, and be silly and joyful! It was about following the child’s lead! It was beautiful seeing children and adults playing and exploring!

To my beautiful Mama Martinez, thank you for always nurturing our play. You were so wonderful making sure we were allowed to be children and always took us walking, to the parks and beaches, and letting us pretend. When our babies were born you always child proofed your home and threw blankets on the floor, so they could have tummy time. You are an early childhood specialist without even knowing it! Thank you for being my constant!

Special shout outs to play advocates globally who had play events to celebrate and support a Child’s Right to Play!

The Play Lab Hub Illinois AEYC The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Teach Plus Illinois PLAY ASSOCIATION USA USA Play Association Global The Play Lab Family Centered Early Intervention Chicago Underground One Tear Productions Melinda Martinez-Epperson M. Ed

Round #1 Pictures…

I wanted to share pictures from The Play Lab’s Annual National Day of Play on Saturday, September 19th, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church, Chicago! Providing free opportunities for communities to come together and play with their children and grandchildren is important to me and my Play Advocacy work. Due to recent procedures I am limited physically, so I wanted to give a special shout to my amazing husband Kevin Epperson and son CJ for helping prepare the months up to the event and setting up and breaking down the event. It’s a lot physically and mentally and I appreciate you both so much! You have always supported my work, research, civic engagement and advocacy! I also wanted to give a special thank you to one of my best friends Laura Weninger for staying after to help with break down and clean up, love and appreciate you so much and my Play Lab alum Sammy Bammy for helping, too. Watching you and your Mom play and be silly warmed my heart! Also, special thanks to Dr. Lillian Eleanor and Sabrina Robertson for your donations. I do these events out of pocket, so donations help me buy new items we can use for all of my free community events. Last but not least, thank you to my church family and Pastor Tom Terrell for hosting with the event space. It was a rainy day, so we had to pivot and bring the event indoors. I appreciate everything you do my family and for our community and neighbors! Love you all! Free Play is important to me and a Child’s Right and growing awareness is pivotal to protecting their rights!

We had loose parts, exploration stations, games, sensory bins, mud kitchen, fort making, adaptable supplies encouraging thoughtful inclusion and belonging, and all the things for children and their families to initiate play, explore, create, invent, and be silly and joyful! It was about following the child’s lead! It was beautiful seeing children and adults playing and exploring!

To my beautiful Mama Martinez, thank you for always nurturing our play. You were so wonderful making sure we were allowed to be children and always took us walking, to the parks and beaches, and letting us pretend. When our babies were born you always child proofed your home and threw blankets on the floor, so they could have tummy time. You are an early childhood specialist without even knowing it! Thank you for being my constant!

Special shout outs to play advocates globally who had play events to celebrate and support a Child’s Right to Play!

The Play Lab Hub Illinois AEYC The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Teach Plus Illinois PLAY ASSOCIATION USA USA Play Association Global The Play Lab Family Centered Early Intervention Chicago Underground One Tear Productions Melinda Martinez-Epperson

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