Open Minds Open Doors
A free inclusive, community play programme for families with children with varying disabilities happening on selected Saturdays
Since 2019, Playeum and Arts of the Earth Learning Practice have collaborated to document, study, and share the benefits of open-ended play spaces for young children with disabilities through Open Minds Open Doors. Building on this foundation, we invite families with children (aged 9 and below) with varying disabilities, along with their siblings, to join this inclusive, free-to-access community play programme.
Focusing on inclusion, 21st-century skills, and empowering children through play, this initiative takes a holistic approach to family learning. Funded by the President’s Challenge, it features expert-led workshops and guidance by Dr. Esther Joosa, a specialist in play, creativity, and disability. Parents and caregivers will gain practical strategies to support their child’s development at home, with opportunities for individual coaching also available.
What the programme offers and how families will benefit from it
1 / Regular Inclusive Community Play Sessions
Designed to foster children's 21st-century skills, creativity, and social connections while building parents' confidence. Sessions are held on selected Saturday afternoons and rotate between two locations: KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey and Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok.
2 / Expert On-Site Guidance for Parents
During the play sessions, parents can book a 10-minute on-site guidance session with Dr. Esther Joosa during Slot 1, where she will provide valuable insights and strategies to enhance children’s holistic development through play. During Slot 2, she will be on-site for observations.
3 / Special Interactive Workshops for Parents
Conducted by Dr. Esther Joosa, these specially designed interactive workshops share insights, ideas, and strategies for enhancing children’s holistic development and family bonding through play at home and in the community.
4 / Opportunities for Individual Coaching and Special Online Support Workshops for Parents
Dr. Esther Joosa provides coaching to help parents develop their skills and receive personalized guidance to support their children's holistic development and strengthen family bonding through play at home and in the community.
5 / Free Access to "Pathways Through Play"
Workshops and coaching sessions include free access to ‘Pathways Through Play: A Parent's Guide to Play for an Inclusive World’, authored by Dr. Esther Joosa. This manual equips parents and caregivers with reflections, knowledge, and strategies to nurture children, emphasizing the role of play in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Workshop for Parents and Caregivers
Date: Saturday, 20 June 2026
Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue: Enabling Village, Singapore
Registration Fee: SGD 5 per family (up to 2 adults)
Registration closes on 18 June 2026
About the Workshop
We warmly invite parents and caregivers of children aged 12 and below with diverse developmental pathways, to join an interactive workshop exploring how play can support replace with can support and create opportunities for participation, confidence, and belonging within community spaces.
Open Minds Open Doors Parent Workshop (OMOD) is a programme developed by Playeum in collaboration with Dr Esther Joosa (PhD Founder Arts of the Earth) to support more inclusive and welcoming play experiences for children and their families. Supported by the President's Challenge, OMOD has worked alongside parents, caregivers, and children since 2019 to explore research-in-practice approaches to how open-ended play nurtures self-directed engagement, communication and critical thinking.
In this workshop, drawing on observation, reflection, and shared experiences with families, Dr Joosa will explore the ideas, experiences, and insights that have shaped the design and evolution of the OMOD programme and are informed by her publication Pathways Through Play.
Together we will reflect on:
• How children communicate and participate through play
• How materials and environments shape engagement
• How adults can better observe and respond without taking over the play experience
• How everyday moments can become opportunities for connection, confidence, and belonging
Community Play Sessions
Register your interest to join us for our community play sessions!
Saturday,
30 August 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
25 October 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
13 December 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
28 February 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
11 April 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre, Bedok
Saturday,
30 May 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre, Bedok
Saturday,
18 July 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
29 August 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
13 September 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
8 November 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
10 January 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
14 March 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
25 April 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
13 June 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
Saturday,
25 July 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
18 October 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
22 November 2025
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
24 January 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
28 March 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
9 May 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
27 June 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At KIDS SPACE @ Dempsey
Saturday,
15 August 2026
2.30pm - 5.30pm
At Common Ground Civic Centre @ Bedok
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"Thank you for creating such a safe environment to allow the children to be creative, to be bold, to interact with others and to learn the different social aspects.
All these are learnt through child-led play! And each playmakers showed their love, appreciation and support for the child. Most importantly, the child can feel that these playmakers believe in them."
Madam S
Mother of J
About Dr Esther Joosa (PhD)
Founder and Director
Arts of the Earth Learning Hub
Dr. Esther Joosa (PhD) is the founder and director of Arts of the Earth Learning Practice, an inclusive play and art education consultancy. Originally from the Netherlands, she has made Singapore her home. For more than three decades, her work, research, and collaborations have focused on opening doors through play, creativity, and the visual arts.
One of her notable contributions to early childhood and special education includes a year-long research collaboration with Playeum on the value of open-ended play for children with varying disabilities. Her work continues to explore the role of play in inclusive community building, emphasising the importance of creating shared pathways with diverse stakeholders.
For more about Dr Esther Joosa and Arts of the Earth Learning Practice, please visit https://artsofthearth.com/.
This programme is funded by the President’s Challenge and made possible through the venue support of KIDS SPACE and Common Ground Civic Centre.
For enquiry, email us at omod@playeum.com.
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