Childhood is changing. We're helping communities make room for play again.
Rooted in Play is a Tampa Bay area nonprofit creating child-led play experiences, inclusive camps, and learning opportunities that help children, families, and communities thrive.
Rooted in Play’s mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of neighborhood, income, or background, have regular access to child-led play opportunities. Since 2019, we've brought free popup adventure playgrounds to local parks, run inclusive school break camps, and helped parents and educators understand why child-led play matters and how to support it.
Thousands of Tampa Bay area children and families served. More than 95% show measurable growth. And we're just getting started.
Pop-Up Adventure Playgrounds
Pop-Up Adventure Playgrounds
Popup Adventure Playgrounds
Children have built castles out of cardboard, created zip lines between trees, and turned rain gutters into waterways. Every month, we set up a free, popup adventure playground at a Tampa Bay area park and hand the play over to them.
Children today spend 50% less time outside
compared to when their parents were children. Structured activities, safety concerns, and cultural attitudes have replaced outside playtime.
Let’s make child-led play a priority again.
More Ways to Play
Loose Parts mini-course - $5
A practical guide for parents and educators on using loose parts, everyday objects like spools, tubes, and fabric, to spark open-ended play at home or in the classroom.
Professional Development
We host workshops for educators and caregivers on building play into daily routines. If you work with children and want to understand why unstructured play matters, and how to make space for it, this is for you.
Together, we can bring back child-led play!
Together, we can bring back child-led play!
Benefits Beyond Fun
Children who play freely develop stronger social skills, better mental health, more confidence, and yes, even better eyesight. But beyond the research, every parent who's watched their child spend three hours building something out of cardboard already knows it's true.
Your support keeps our popup playgrounds free, our camps accessible, and our community growing.