Play Is Serious Business at New York's Ultimate Block Party

by Honey Berk (Subscribe to Honey Berk's posts)
Oct 6th 2010 12:45PM

Filed under: News, In The News, Weird But True, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, New In Pop Culture

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The Ultimate Block Party

While the Ultimate Block Party is planned to be an annual NYC event, the organizers say they're looking to replicate the event in other U.S. cities, such as Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco -- as well as internationally.

Honey Berk

The Ultimate Block Party

We've been to block parties before, but we'd never seen anything like the Ultimate Block Party, which took place last Sunday in New York City's Central Park, and was attended by an estimated 30,000 kids and grown-ups.

Sponsored by well-known names like Sesame Street, Crayola, KaBOOM! and Lego, the event was designed to help families experience firsthand just how important play is in helping kids learn.

More than 30 interactive activities took place throughout the day, all geared toward teaching kids the "6Cs" they'll for need for success in the 21st century: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence.

Take a look at some of the amazing activities that brought big smiles to the faces of kid and grown-ups, alike.

The Ultimate Block Party

Clowns, stilt-walkers and other merry-makers were stationed throughout the park to engage families in lots of silliness.

The Ultimate Block Party

Kids and grown-ups swim in a sea of 500,000 green Lego bricks, constructing pieces that would be part of a gigantic final landscape.

The Ultimate Block Party

Just like its namesake at the South Street Seaport in New York City, the Imagination Playground in a box provided plenty of "loose parts" for kids to create with.

The Ultimate Block Party

Old boxes, markers and tape were among the offerings at City Play, where kids built life-size open-ended structures.

The Ultimate Block Party

English and Spanish copies of the Ezra Jack Keats classic, "The Snowy Day," were given out free to kids in the story time zone, where they took a reading pledge and got their own "Peter" cutout photo.

The Ultimate Block Party

Serious Lego builders filled every available space on tables, benches and the ground, working on creations that ranged from lifelike to fantastical, small to enormous.

The Ultimate Block Party

An endless supply of markers, chalk and other Crayola art supplies let kids turn Central Park into a work of art.

The Ultimate Block Party

Kids went on a Rally Race Quest, breaking for pit stops to test their knowledge of cars, car culture and build a custom toy car.

The Ultimate Block Party

At the Pop-Up Adventure Playground, kids used wood, cardboard boxes, fabric and more to create their own play environments.

The Ultimate Block Party

We've been to block parties before, but we'd never seen anything like the Ultimate Block Party, which took place Oct. 3 in New York City's Central Park, and was attended by an estimated 30,000 kids and grownups.

Sponsored by well-known names including "Sesame Street," Crayola, KaBOOM! and Lego, the Ultimate Block Party was designed to help families experience firsthand just how important play is in helping kids learn.

More than 30 interactive activities took place throughout the day, all geared toward teaching kids the "6Cs" they'll for need for success in the 21st century: Collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence.

Take a look at some of the amazing activities that brought big smiles to the faces of kid and grownups alike.

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Play Is Serious Business at New York's Ultimate Block Party

The Ultimate Block Party

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