12Nov2025

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PLAY SUMMIT 2025
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PLAY SUMMIT 2025
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experiential learning Tag

Tag: experiential learning

IMPORTANCE OF PLAYPLAY2LEARN
November 7, 2025

Annual Report 2024-2025: Twenty Years of Play, Joy, and Change

Click here to access Annual Report 2024-2025

Twenty years ago, The Opentree Foundation began with a simple belief — that Play is not a luxury, but a necessity. What started in 2004 with one small group of children has grown into a movement transforming learning across 12 districts in Maharashtra. Through partnerships with 600+ under-resourced schools and 10,000+ teachers, we’ve seen how play unlocks imagination, resilience, confidence, and connection — helping children truly thrive.

This year marked a milestone moment. We hosted India’s first Play Summit, bringing together educators, policymakers, and community leaders to champion play as central to learning and wellbeing. Our recognition by HundrED.org as a leading global education innovation reaffirmed what we’ve always known — that play has the power to change lives.

"Through our Conscious Play approach, we’ve turned classrooms into spaces of curiosity and discovery, helping every child experience the joy of learning and the confidence to explore the world."
Shweta Chari
Co-founder & CEO, The Opentree Foundation

The 2024–2025 Annual Report celebrates this 20-year journey of learning, adapting, and staying rooted in the belief that every child deserves to experience the joy and freedom of play. As we look to the future, our next bold step is clear: to reach one million children by 2030 and build systems that embed play as a right, not a privilege.

Because when we choose play, we choose a future filled with possibility and dignity. 

IMPORTANCE OF PLAYPLAY2LEARNSAFE SPACE
April 16, 2025

Cooking Up Skills Through Play With Little Chefs

It all began with a simple craving — a craving for pizza. But this time, it wasn’t just about eating it. It was about making it. Together.

The idea sparked during playtime, as the children chatted about their favourite foods, and just like that, they decided to make their own pizza and the game was on. 

What followed was no ordinary kitchen activity — it was an adventure led entirely by the children, powered by imagination, curiosity, and joy. First, they huddled together to list all the ingredients they would need. Tomatoes, cheese, onions, bell peppers… the list grew longer with every excited suggestion.

Then came the expedition. With shopping lists and bags in hand, the little team set off to the vegetable market, the dairy, and even a nearby supermarket. They asked questions, compared prices, bargained shyly, and learned how to choose the freshest produce. The bags were heavy, but not one complaint was heard — because they carried them together.

Back home, play turned into purpose. Sleeves rolled up, hands washed, and vegetables rinsed. Some chopped while others debated the best topping combinations. It was messy, noisy, but perfect. Each child had a role, and every task was a tiny triumph — from slicing mushrooms to spreading sauce just right. They took turns, shared tools, and offered encouragement. 

When the pizzas were finally ready, they gathered around like proud chefs at a grand feast. It wasn’t just about the taste — it was about the journey. The teamwork, the creativity, the hands-on problem-solving. And the play.

This wasn’t a structured lesson. There were no worksheets, no formal instructions. Yet, in that afternoon of pretend play turned into a real-life project, they learned more than any textbook could offer — how to collaborate, communicate, plan, adapt, and most of all, how to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

This activity reminded us that play is not separate from learning — it is learning. 

Written with inputs from Vijay Suryavanshi, a longtime volunteer at The Opentree Foundation and a supporter of play and play-based learning.  

IMPORTANCE OF PLAYPLAY2LEARNSAFE SPACE
January 30, 2025

Art, Imagination, and Play: A Vibrant Day at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2025

“It was inspiring to see how freely they translated their thoughts into art, reminding me that imagination has no limits when given the right space to grow.”

– Grade 11 ABWA CAS volunteer

On January 29, 2025, we partnered with Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA), to co-create a vibrant and inclusive play session at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. The collaboration brought together over 60 enthusiastic students from ABWA and 41 of children from The Opentree Foundation’s play centres, who celebrated the power of play, creativity, and connection. This wasn’t just an event — it was a reminder of how play can break down social barriers and empower every child to express themselves freely.

A Canvas of Creativity and Connection

The session was a colourful fusion of artistic exploration and joyful interaction. Children immersed themselves in:

  • T-shirt and bag stencil painting – Letting their imaginations run wild, children designed unique pieces that reflected their inner worlds.
  • Loose parts play – Using everyday materials like U-pins, paper cups, and clay, the children created their own ‘imaginary friends’ —characters born entirely out of creativity and personal interpretation.

These hands-on activities encouraged self-expression, problem-solving, and collaboration. Children weren’t just making art — they were communicating ideas, forming bonds, and stepping into each other’s imaginative universes.

Play Beyond the Classroom

This session stood as a powerful testament to how unstructured play fosters critical life skills like creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and teamwork. Through shared experiences, children learned not only about themselves but about each other—celebrating differences, building confidence, and finding common ground through joyful engagement.

“Through this activity, I learned the importance of self-expression and creativity in a child’s development,” a Grade 11 ABWA CAS volunteer said. “It was inspiring to see how freely they translated their thoughts into art, reminding me that imagination has no limits when given the right space to grow.”

For the students of ABWA, it was a day of reflection and inspiration. For children from our play centres, it was a moment of recognition and freedom. And for us, it was yet another affirmation of the transformative power of play.