Learn Through Play
At Gathering Place, we know that cognitive development continues into childhood years, where children begin to apply the basics they learned in infancy. When children play, it is a way for them to make sense of their learnings and apply it to their everyday lives. By playing with your child, you can help unify their experiences, knowledge and understanding of their environment. Building an educational bond from birth will expand their emotional, social, and cognitive abilities throughout life.
Growth Through Discovery
There are many aspects of the Park experience that can stimulate a child’s brain and engage learning through play. Our Sensory Garden is focused around the principles of STEAM education (Science – Technology – Engineering – Art – Math). The Sensory Garden encourages questions like “How does it work?” and "How can I play and engage?" A labyrinth of hands-on elements such as mirrors, a giant spinning boulder and amplified voice features will provoke curiosity in this wonderland all its own.
Fairyland Forest and Chapman Adventure Playground encourage creativity with unique structures that bring the wildest imaginations to life.
Educational Programming
From story time at the Reading Tree, show-and-tell sessions with local organizations, programs with Tulsa STEM Alliance, field trips and more, Gathering Place has educational opportunities to peak every child's interest.
We also offer a wide range of cultural art, events and festivals for all ages. Check out our Events Calendar to see upcoming educational programming opportunities
While we continue to practice social distancing, Gathering Place offers at-home educational activities for families to do together at home. Click HERE to check out our At-Home Activities.
Talking Is Teaching
When you talk, read and sing with your child even before they are able to speak, you are building your child’s brain and helping to prepare them for success throughout their life.
A child’s brain begins to develop immediately at birth, and the majority of a baby’s brain is formed by age three. When you engage with your child in everyday activities, whether it is describing things around your house, reading a bedtime story, or singing at bath time, you are creating stimulants and progressing his or her cognitive development. Taking part in simple verbal activities every day will benefit a child’s listening and visual tracking skills as well as language, vocabulary and comprehension abilities.
To learn more about how to engage with your child, visit TalkingIsTeaching.org today.