WELCOME TO INTERNATIONAL PLAY ICELAND
We are International Play Iceland, a non profit organisation that is working with childcare practitioners from all over the globe to join forces and change the way that children are educated once and for all. Play Iceland is a 6 day experience exploring nursery settings and culture. It is an international event where practitioners have the opportunity to connect across continents and create professional bonds that fuel their passion for the years to come. 

Not every experience is the same, we like to cater the trip around those who are involved and what they could learn from certain activities. Usually, we will spend the first two days visiting schools in the area, this gives us the opportunity to observe how other likeminded people are practicing their ideas and to take away some motivation and passion from each of the schools. The week will then vary, depending on where in the world we are. In the past we have had trips to the blue lagoon in Iceland,  a day at Seattle's children's festival and wooden boat making at the Center For Wooden Boats in Seattle...

The idea is to create an environment for the delegates where they feel they can discuss and explore ideas with each other so to strengthen this movement. So we spend breakfast, lunch and dinner with each other every day which has proven to be the time when we can all reflect and discuss. The experience overall is one that should not be missed, the friendships and memories that are made will never be forgotten.
International Play Iceland's commitment to open ended opportunities and resources is fundamental to our thinking and actions. We know how difficult it is for those working with young children to grasp the importance of free thinking, free flowing and self chosen actions (what we call ‘play’) and to make sure it happens in a society that demands order and structure and achievement.

International Play Iceland's philosophy is evolving fuelled, in part, by the work of our team and the delegates we have met over the years. We are developing an important understanding that parents and practitioners need to recognise how the brain develops and why we need to trust children more. We must slow down so that they will have time to enjoy their childhood and develop the skills and understanding for further learning. 

Early childhood is the most important time for brain development. It is the time in a child's life where they start building their brain connections and therefore, ultimately, the work we do will shape their life forever. To work positively with children you need to understand the way in which the connections in the brain are made and also the way that they fade over the early years.

International Play Iceland Trip
International Play Iceland originated in
(You guessed it...) Iceland. We believe that Iceland is a truly magical place that needs to be seen to be believed!

The idea behind International Play Iceland came from two like minded individuals with passions for positive brain development. Their ideas and passion blossomed into life when they created Play Iceland in 2013. 

What originally started off as a small group of people, exploring Icelandic curriculums, environments, culture and child development in a society of only 320,000 people, has now expanded internationally! We have held 8 successful events in Iceland and Seattle and we now planning to embark on our 8th visit to Iceland which is between October 4th - 9th 2020.
Check out some our reviews from guests that have joined us in the past. If you've been before and want to join us again get in touch. We love to see familiar faces.