After assessing the needs of children and seniors in Dane County, the Angels zeroed in on raising money for a playground that will meet the emotional and developmental needs of children who have experienced trauma, including homelessness.
Enter The Playing Field early learning center, whose educational model focuses on high-quality child care, diverse student body and emphasis on developing empathy and handling emotions. With a better handle on emotions and appropriate actions, kids have a more clear path to being ready for school and then to leading productive lives.
The year-long fundraising effort, which was highlighted at a citywide summertime birthday party, raised nearly $75,000 toward the playground. The Playing Field plans to add outdoor sensory stations to help children self-regulate their emotions if they become agitated. For example, children will be able take deep breaths and blow pinwheels or create bubbles. They will be able to feel different textures, such as tin and stones, to help organize their brains. They can relax inside an enclosed swing, find their way through a fun maze, and meet with a teacher to help them reset and return to class.
Attic Angel Association and The Playing Field believe that helping children in their earliest formative years will result in a better society for everyone.
Below are links to some of the media coverage received during Attic Angel’s 130th birthday year:
* WISC TV 3 News, July 28, 2019
