be part of a global movement for play advocacy
Become a Certified Playarista
Empower yourself to advocate for play, create thriving play environments, and confidently challenge outdated biases.
Join the waitlistEmpower yourself to advocate for play, create thriving play environments, and confidently challenge outdated biases.
Join the waitlistYou see firsthand how children thrive when given the freedom to play—how they explore, problem-solve, and develop confidence. Yet, despite your passion, advocating for play can feel like an uphill battle.
You feel frustrated by how little time and space is given to autonomous play.
You struggle to communicate the value of play to colleagues, parents, or decision-makers.
You lack the confidence, words, or research to advocate for play effectively.
You find it tough to differentiate between autonomous play and teacher-led activities.
You want to observe and document play but aren’t sure where to begin.
You’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck.
Imagine feeling fully confident in your ability to advocate for play—knowing exactly how to articulate its importance, back it up with research, and create a lasting impact in your educational setting.
A Playarista is more than an advocate for play. They are a leader, mentor, and expert who:
Notices and identifies play in all its forms.
Is deeply knowledgeable about the benefits of play, backed by research.
Communicates the value of play to colleagues, parents, and others, breaking through biases and misconceptions.
Supports colleagues in creating environments where play thrives—both physically and emotionally.
Ensures all children have access to diverse, rich play opportunities.
Overcomes fears and biases about risky play and sees its value in child development.
Designs and implements play strategies tailored to specific contexts.
Observes, documents, and analyzes play to create responsive learning environments.
This certification is more than a course—it’s a movement. A hope-based pedagogy that upholds children’s rights, joy, and autonomy.
Be the first to know when enrollment opens again.
My conversations with my colleagues, following sessions with you, have been so reflective. I hope this is just the beginning of a life-long connection.”
– Sam
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By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped to:
Recognize and support autonomous play in diverse settings.
Communicate the theory and benefits of play to others using neuroscience, psychology, and pedagogy.
Reflect on your environment to make it more play-responsive.
Overcome fears about risky play and advocate for its value.
Design and implement a sustainable play strategy for your setting.
Observe, document, and analyze play to create thriving play ecosystems.
The certification includes 10 live sessions designed to immerse you in play advocacy:
With over 30 years of experience in education and 20 years as an atelierista, pedagogical leader, and consultant, Suzanne has dedicated her career to championing children’s rights and democracy.
Her Swedish book on Risky Play received a 5/5 rating from the Swedish Library Service and is praised for its accessible, inclusive approach to play advocacy.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to meet you. What an incredible experience to have a human being with a heart as big as yours."
– Lewis
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Early childhood educators and school teachers who want to better understand and advocate for children’s right to play.
Preschools and schools seeking to implement a Playarista role to improve pedagogy and children’s well-being.
Anyone passionate about creating play-responsive educational settings that work for all children.
Foundations: This course is self-paced and pre-recorded, so you can go through it at your own pace. It offers 10 in-depth slow-released films (sessions) introducing the Playarista philosophy, providing foundational knowledge on play advocacy.
Certification: Includes everything in foundations course, plus 10 live sessions with in-depth discussions, personalized weekly feedback on play observations, exclusive reading materials, hands-on practice in advocating for play, a global community of educators, and an official Playarista Certification upon completion.
The first module will be available on April 1, 2025. Modules will be released weekly, allowing ample time to absorb and reflect on each before progressing. All modules are expected to be released and accessible by the end of May.
This course provides 15 hours of professional development through 10 in-depth films. A PD Certificate will be available to request once all modules have been released.
The Playarista Certification course spans one year. It includes a monthly “live” session with Suzanne. Sessions will be recorded. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Professional Development (PD) Certificate, acknowledging their comprehensive understanding and application of play advocacy.
Since PD recognition varies by region, and we serve a global community, we recommend to all participants to check directly with their province, state, territory, or board to confirm if our program meets their standards.
Applications for the Certification program must be submitted by March 21, 2025, at midnight CST. Approved applicants will be sent an Acceptance Email on March 31, 2025. Enrollment is limited to 40 participants.
We will be offering partial scholarships for those in need, covering up to 50% of the costs for the certification program only. Please indicate your interest on your application to receive more details
Think you don’t have time? This course is designed to fit into your daily practice, not add extra work. Your observations will enhance how you teach, not distract from it.
Worried about the cost? That’s why we offer the Playarista Foundations path—start learning now and apply the cost toward certification later.
Not sure if it’s for you? You already know play matters. This course will give you the words, strategies, and confidence to make a real difference