OU Summer Educator PlayShop 2026:

3 or 4 Day Training

3-Day Training: June 17-19th, 2026 Early Bird (by April 12): $425/ Regular $475

4-Day Training: June 22 -25th, 2026 Early Bird (by April 12): $500/ Regular $550

Transforming Education Through the Power of Play Rediscover Your Inner Player. Revolutionize Your Teaching.

Are you ready to unlock the transformative power of play in education? Join us for an immersive educational journey that will change how you think about learning, teaching, and the incredible potential that lies within playful education. Choose between our intensive 3-day experience or our comprehensive 4-day program with extended learning opportunities.

All day sessions will occur on the OU campus at the Institute of Child Development at

2727 Asp Ave., Norman, OK, 73019.

What Is the PlayShop Experience?

The OU Summer Educator PlayShop is a hands-on, research-based professional development experience designed for educators who want to harness the science of play to create more engaging, effective, and joyful learning environments. This isn't just another workshop—it's a transformative experience that reconnects you with your own capacity for play while equipping you with practical tools to integrate playful learning into your practice.

Registration Now Open

Training Options

3-Day Intensive Program

Dates: June 17-19th, 2026

Early Bird (by April 12): $425 | Regular: $475

A concentrated, transformative introduction to play-based learning

You'll Experience:

Personal Play Reconnection: Engage in self-active play sessions with diverse materials including clay, kinetic sand, magnatiles, and zen gardens. Create identity-reflecting art projects and discover your unique play personality. Practice mindfulness and breathing techniques that center and ground your teaching practice.
The Neuroscience Behind Play: Explore cutting-edge research on how play affects brain development and learning. Understand the neurological foundations that make play such a powerful educational tool. Learn why adults need to play in order to effectively teach through play.
Practical Pedagogy: Design playful learning activities aligned with educational standards. Experience guided play sessions and free play labs. Master the art of being a "playmaker" in your learning environment.
Community and Advocacy: Build connections with like-minded educators who share your passion for playful learning. Develop your advocacy skills with elevator speeches and community engagement strategies. Create lasting networks of support for your play-based teaching journey.
Movement and Embodied Learning: Participate in active body/active brain activities including quadrupedal movement. Experience how physical play enhances cognitive function. Learn games and activities that integrate movement into academic content.

4-Day Enhanced Program

Dates: June 22-25, 2026

Early Bird (by April 12): $500 | Regular: $550

Add just $75 for an extra full day of intensive training plus advanced lesson planning workshops

Everything from the 3-day program PLUS:

Extended Play Opportunities: Additional hands-on play sessions with expanded material exploration. Deeper dive into personal play style development. Extended free play labs for more comprehensive experimentation.
Advanced Lesson Planning Workshop: Intensive practice sessions for creating specific lesson plans with detailed alignment to desired learning targets and educational standards. Personalized coaching for integrating play into your specific curriculum. Small group collaboration on lesson design and implementation strategies.
Enhanced Curriculum Development: More time to design, refine, and practice implementing playful learning activities. Work one-on-one with trainers to customize approaches for your specific teaching context.
Deeper Community Building: Extended networking and collaboration opportunities with fellow educators committed to play-based learning.

*See minimum enrollment and refund policy below.

What's Included in 3-Day Registration

3-Day Program ($425):

All training sessions and materials
Daily breakfast and lunch
Snacks and refreshments throughout each day
All play materials and supplies
Training resources and take-home materials
Access to optional evening experiences (separate fee)

What's Included in 4-Day Registration

4-Day Program ($500):

Everything included in the 3-day program
Full additional day of intensive training
Advanced lesson planning workshop sessions
Enhanced curriculum planning resources and personalized coaching
Extended community building and networking opportunities
Additional play materials and expanded resource library
Access to optional evening experiences (separate fee)

Registration now open! Click here!

Optional Evening Experiences - Amplify the Effects of Play and Creativity!

Enhance your PlayShop experience with optional evening excursions that model adult play and creative expression. These activities are available to participants in both the 3-day and 4-day programs.

Factory Obscura - Oklahoma City - $40 per person

Experience an immersive, interactive art installation that brings play to life! Factory Obscura offers a mind-bending journey through imaginative spaces designed to spark wonder, creativity, and playful exploration. This hands-on adventure demonstrates how environment and art can create powerful play experiences for all ages. Transportation provided to and from Norman campus.

Painting at Pinot's Palette - $45 per person

Discover the joy of creative expression in a relaxed, social setting. Led by professional artists, you'll create your own masterpiece while experiencing firsthand how structured creative play can reduce anxiety, build confidence, and foster community. This activity perfectly demonstrates how guided creative experiences can be both playful and productive. All materials included, and you'll take home your artwork! Transportation provided to and from Norman campus.

Evening Experience Details:

Both experiences include round-trip transportation from OU campus
Sign up during registration or add on later (space permitting)
Experience play and learn as an adult participant
Network with fellow educators in inspiring creative environments
See playful learning in action outside traditional educational settings

Meet Your PlayShop Facilitators

Our experienced team brings together expertise in education, neuroscience, child development, coaching, and play-based learning. We're passionate educators who have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of play in learning environments and are committed to supporting other educators in this journey.

See About Our Team

What Participants Are Saying

"This training completely changed how I approach my classroom. The science behind play gave me the confidence to advocate for more playful learning, and the hands-on activities showed me exactly how to make it happen."

"I rediscovered my own joy in learning while gaining practical tools I could implement immediately. The community of educators I met here continues to support and inspire my work."

Ready to Transform Your Teaching?

Spaces are limited, and our 2025 sessions filled quickly. Don't miss your opportunity to be part of this transformative experience in 2026.

Registration Now Open!

Complete our registration form now. Click here:

https://forms.gle/YmGqqUwFGJFqZrFr6

Accommodation Options

Local Hotels and Lodging

We recommend the following nearby accommodations for out-of-town participants:

Hotels Near OU Campus:

Information about recommended hotels will be provided upon registration
Several options available within 5-15 minutes of campus
Range of price points to fit different budgets

Alternative Options:

Participants may choose to commute daily if they live in the area
Short-term rentals (Air B-n-Bs) and other lodging available in Norman

Note: Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. Hotel recommendations will be provided upon registration. Dinners are not included, giving you flexibility to explore local dining options. On-campus cafeteria and numerous nearby restaurants are available.

Transportation and Logistics

Evening Experiences: All transportation provided to and from Factory Obscura and Pinot's Palette for participants who sign up
Local Transportation: Uber services available for additional transportation needs
Campus Access: Easy access to on-campus dining and facilities
Parking: Free parking available for commuting participants

Choose Your Learning Journey

3-Day Program

Early Bird (by April 12): $425 | Regular: $475

Perfect for educators seeking focused, transformative training in play-based learning with all essential components included.

4-Day Program

Early Bird (by April 12): $500 | Regular: $550

Upgrade for just $75! Get everything in the 3-day program PLUS a full extra day with advanced coaching, deeper practice, and extended community connections.

Optional Evening Experiences

Factory Obscura: $40 (available to all participants)
Pinot's Palette Painting: $45 (available to all participants)

Early Bird Savings

Register by April 12 and save $50 on either program! Lock in the lower rate and secure your spot in this transformative professional development experience.

Add hotel recommendations and evening experiences to create your ideal PlayShop experience!

Both programs will revolutionize your approach to education and reconnect you with the joy of learning through play.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Minimum Enrollment Requirements

Both programs require minimum enrollment to run. If minimum enrollment is not met, we will contact registered participants with the following options:

If 3-Day Training is Under-Enrolled:

Participants may transfer to the 4-Day session at no additional cost and attend only the first three days (June 22-24), or receive a full refund.

If 4-Day Training is Under-Enrolled:

Participants may transfer to the 3-Day session and receive a refund for the difference in price, or receive a full refund.

If Neither Session Meets Minimum Enrollment:

Both sessions will be cancelled and all participants will receive full refunds.

Participant Cancellation Policy

Once payment is received and the training is confirmed to run:

No refunds will be issued for participant cancellations
Participants may transfer their registration to another person
If a waiting list exists, we will attempt to transfer your registration to someone on the waitlist and refund you once their payment is received

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