Pat Rumbaugh

Pat Rumbaugh

“Saving Play: One Playful Step At A Time”

Since the 1980s, American kids have lost 8 to 12 hours of free playtime a week. Those days when parents used to say, “go out and play, and don’t come home till dinner” are gone. Pat “The Play Lady” Rumbaugh believes we need to “organize unorganized play” both for kids and adults, and strengthen our physical and mental health in the process. In her talk she reminds us of the importance of play and shows us how we can bring it back into our lives and communities.

About Pat Rumbaugh

Pat Rumbaugh, The Play Lady was the child that was always outside playing. In high school and college she played on sports teams, while striving to get others to play. She taught physical education and coached several sports at Washington International School. While raising her two children and pursuing her career in education she saw the need for people to play.  Researching play for her children’s book, “Let’s Play at the Playground,” published in 2013 Pat put play at the top of her list. In 2009 she founded www.takomaplays.org this group has organized over 45 fun FREE play events for people of all ages. Play Days, closing streets to play and holding events in play spaces are just some of the things Pat does to promote play. Currently she is forming www.letsplayamerica.org to help communities develop play events. Pat’s life dream is to encourage people play.