Playful Creations Entertainment and Crafts

Playful Creations Entertainment and Crafts offers a Twirling Arcade of engaging movement and therapeutic play activities using handmade hula hoops, juggling sticks, scarves and other props to toss, juggle and fly.

Louie the Hoop Flying Clown Therapy Dog will make everyone smile with his friendly personality, "pet me" scarf and favorite tricks at events where dogs are appropriate.

The therapeutic benefit of these activities is to help foster a 'flow state' that connects people of all ages and most abilities within a joyful environment of energized focus and full involvement that is challenging without being overwhelming.

We offer basic instructions and information resources for using hula hoops and juggling sticks. We also have them available for sale.

We are covered by liability insurance through the World Clown Association and are happy to offer this at festivals and other events as 'valued vendors' that can sell the things we make in exchange for providing free movement and craft activities.

Handmade hula hoops and flower sticks are available for sale at about $25.00 (price varies depending on size, tape quality and quantity ordered).

Hoops and sticks can also be offered as a craft activity for $30.00/person (includes cost of materials) in a class that requires at least 2 hours and includes brief instructions with a list of online resources to learn more.

Handmade Toys, Crafts and Activities

to Connect All Ages and Abilities

This 'Hula Hoop Lounge we hosted at Art All Night 2012 attracted people of all ages and abilities to play together late into the night. Many adults were grateful for the opportunity to 'feel like kids again' and playfully relax while listening to great music.

Kite Making

Small paper kites that can be personalized

4 yrs old and up

Dream Catcher, Hula Hoop or Juggling Stick Workshops

8 years old and up

Twirling Juggling Sticks is a form of playful relaxation, based on an ancient Chinese form of martial arts. Here is a playlist of youtube videos with great instructions for learning tricks: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7KlLv2gDjJ-asyBfU5SQC4v01QU0IB9 These boys are twirling juggling sticks that they made in an IDEAS after school workshop at Community Park School in Princeton, NJ in 2002.

The idea for Playful Creations was inspired by my only sibling, Debbie, who had a history of behavioral trouble that began in elementary school. At the time, I didn't know how to help her; but, it motivated me to want to create fun learning environments that engage creative, energetic children, like her, with challenging play and educational activities.

When Debbie finally got the help she needed, it was art therapy that helped her the most. She found her purpose as an artist and now works with flowers, weaves dream catchers and macrame wall hangings. She is also very helpful as a Playful Creations partner with a special talent for twirling the juggling sticks that she so skillfully creates with wood, tape and other materials.

The choices we offer, based, in part, on a theory of 'redirecting aggressive play', bring people of all ages and most abilities together through movement, music, crafts and tricks performed by Louie, our super friendly hoop flying clown therapy beagle. His happy disposition and entertaining behavior have earned him many fans at the nursing home he has visited regularly since early 2011.

Most activities evolved from what was most popular at The Learning Arcade program; which I began in 1995 as a collection of creative, cooperative and technology-assisted play/learning activities designed to promote peaceful interactions through empowering play. Sugata Mitra has demonstrated excellent results with his 'Hole in the Wall' experiments that are similar to what I observed anecdotally at The Learning Arcade.

Please contact us to learn more about how we can help you or your group to create experiences of joyful connection through movement and play for people of all ages and abilities at festivals, parties, schools, nursing homes, assisted living centers, etc...

For more information contact:

Sue Bertomeu Albert - call: 609-577-7053

or email: learningarcade@gmail.com