The 2026 edition of the World Cup is building to a crescendo. More than 11 billion have tuned in from around the globe - men, women and children from every walk of life. Later this afternoon the two top ranked teams in the world go head to head in Dallas. Players on both sides will walk onto the pitch hand in hand with young aspirants.

At the speed of play is a magnificent place to be. There is no set pace, it is variable.

Kids rule the roost at this extraordinary play party. Three non-stop hours of kids darting hither, thither and yon. They explore everything on offer at this volunteer driven event celebrating the International Day of Play. Parents are fully engaged - speaking with other parents and playing right alongside their children. As for passersby, they take it all in pausing for awhile, amused, bemused, at times enthused.

The first time I saw kids in action with loose parts was just a little more that 10 years ago on Glasgow Green in Scotland. I was there for a family wedding that just happened to coincide with the Play Summit, an international conference on play where said loose parts were being put on for local kids. The young girl is this pic totally captivated me.

We had so much fun creating reels as part of our socials for our International Day of Play celebrations in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia that we thought we’d share them here too. If you’re in the Halifax area come and celebrate the International Day of Play with us on June 6 between 11 AM and 2 PM at Ferry Terminal Park in Dartmouth…

On June 6, come and celebrate the UN International Day of Play at Ferry Terminal Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. There will be loose parts, ‘old time’ play, a fitness fun zone for kids …

Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia – 2013 – PlaySnaps number 45 Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia – 2013 Last week, I thought winter shi…

Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia - 2013 - PlaySnaps number 45 Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia - 2013 Last week, I thought winter shipped out. A melt had all but evaporated the snow and there was a welcome warmness in the air. It looked like winter was finally on the ropes, no match for the inevitable change of seasons.

Fort Beauséjour - A great stay, Aulac, New Brunswick - 2016, PlaySnaps number 44 Fort Beauséjour - A great stay, Aulac, New Brunswick I didn't think to ask the site interpreters at Fort Beauséjour about the purpose of the mirror image 'L' shapes. Cobbled together nearly 300 years ago, the stone blocks of the outer perimeter are infilled with bouldery rocks.

Shredding the White Stuff, Brightwood Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - 2023, PlaySnaps number 43. Shredding the White Stuff, Brightwood Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth This year's abundant accumulation of snow has all but evaporated. It's been a steady melt during the past week. Already I'm getting a little nostalgic and misty-eyed. This photo sweeps me right back to winter's delight.

Footloose and Fancy Free – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2009 – PlaySnaps number 37 Footloose and Fancy Free – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2009 Beyond permission, children don’t need much…

A Sandpit Like No Other – Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto, Ontario – 2016 – PlaySnaps number 33 A Sandpit Like No Other – Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto – 2016 The sandpit …

Interview with Eduarda Aun, from GDCI. Rethink urban design: and prioritize children's needs to create vibrant, inclusive streets.

Just Boxes – 5th floor boardroom,  Halifax, Nova Scotia – 2014 – PlaySnaps number 32. Just Boxes – 5th floor boardroom,  Halifax, Nova Scotia – 2014 A little box talk as we close out th…

The Dragon of Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 2014 – PlaySnaps number 31. The Dragon of Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 2014 We’re scanning for a roads…

On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me A tire swing in an oak tree Photo credit – Derek Buff. License – CC BY-NC 2.0 On the second day of Christmas My true love gave to m…

On Tour – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 – PlaySnaps number 28 On Tour – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 – PlaySnaps number 28 For the better part of three years between 2009 -12, th…

Number 24 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. The Orb – Salamander Playground, Parc Mont Royal, Montreal – 2010 The Orb – Salamander Playground, Parc Mont Royal…

Number 23 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. The Drop – West LaHave, Nova Scotia – 2017 The Drop, West LaHave, Nova Scotia – 2017 The LaHave River empties into the A…

Number 22 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Pond of Delights – Grand Manan Island, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, 2016 Pond of Delights – Grand Manan Island, Bay of F…

Number 21 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Taking a breather – Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum, Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia – 2012 Taking a breather – Cole H…

Number 20 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Paint Shop – New Children’s Museum, San Diego, California – 2012 Paint Shop – New Children’s Museum, S…

Number 19 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Glasgow Green – Glasgow Scotland, 2014 It was a sad time for our family in 2014. My dad’s wife of nearly 60 years, my mom, pas…

Number 18 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Under the Baobab – Queen’s Park, Bridgetown, Barbados – 2008 A newly minted three-year-old in this pic, Noah…

Number 16 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. On the road – Dempsey Corner Orchard Farm – Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2013 I’m sure Fred…

Number 15 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Superheroes in training – Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2019 Superheroes in training – Easter…

Visiting a forest school in Fife, Scotland 10 years ago was a grand fresh air adventure. I was picked up in Glenrothes by Mairi and Chris, two brilliant play aficionados. Not babes in the woods &#8…

Number 12 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Kindred Spirits – Bridgetown, Nova Scotia – 2011 In this snap, artist and designer Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam makes a gift…

Number 11 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Never too many firefighters Unlike cooks who may end up spoiling the broth, can you really ever have too many firefighters? Not in o…

This is #9 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Tumbling lessons – simple pleasures – Halifax Public Gardens – 1992 Parks are supberb places to play – lots…

This is #9 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Tumbling lessons – simple pleasures – Halifax Public Gardens – 1992 Parks are supberb places to play – lots…

This is #8 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y. Play Zone on Parc Belleville’s slopes the one we got – Paris 10e – 2022 Our family walkabout in Parc …

This is #4 in the PlaySnaps series. A Gleeful Balance, Hemlock Ravine Park, Bedford, Nova Scotia A green oasis of natural adventure, just a hop, skip and a jump away from the basin where naval and …