What is Language Play?
Language Play is the Upper West Side's only language and creativity program for toddlers. This fun and educational program is led by Central Park Storyteller Dan Kitrosser, and focuses on story-making and storytelling techniques, while creating a forum for kids ages 3 and 4 (and caregivers if they choose to stay) to play, bond, and build stories together in a supportive environment. It is an imagination-based language enhancement program that cultivates every child's desire for imaginary play and narration by empowering them with first-hand experience in coherent story construction. Most of all, it's fun!
Developing Storytelling Language and Theatrics
Speaking and writing are inseparable from thinking. When we encourage toddlers to relate their experiences or share an idea of funny made up thoughts, we show them that words have power. The more questions we ask them, the more they learn to process and narrate. The more we ask them to reflect and imagine, the better thinkers they become. Dan tells the children an animated story about his day and then asks each child (using very specific language) to tell the group a story about his or her day. As the semester progresses, the children are encouraged to use props, body-language, and voice intonations as tools in their storytelling.
Learning to Use Prompts and Objects for Inspiration
In the middle of the semester, kids and caregivers pick illustrated cards from a deck and use them as prompts in creating one story as a group. Story building culminates in puppet shows and live performances by Writopia's children's theater professionals.
Cultivating Social Skills
As toddlers and parents work together to create stories, children experience first-hand the pleasure of brainstorming and building in a social setting.
Having Fun
While the creative process is always exciting, developing stories with your own child is an even more deeply fulfilling experience. Caregivers enjoy the rare pleasure of playing and laughing with their children as they work as a team to brainstorm, narrate, and perform original stories.
The Foundation
The age-specific, original curriculum is based on an integrative learning approach that encourages critical thinking and helps develop narrative skills. While little pre-writers discover and express their own individuality through a variety of activities, caregivers witness, participate in, and enjoy these magical moments.
Writopia Lab partnered with linguist Alex Rogers and other child development specialists to develop Language Play®, an innovative program designed to inspire and enhance your 3- or 4-year-old's imagination and language usage in a fun, interactive environment
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Fall Schedule
Tuesdays (ages 3 and 4)
Wednesdays (ages 3 and 4)
Thursdays (ages 3 and 4)
Sundays (ages 4 and 5)
Additional classes available upon request.
Language Play workshops begin on September 13th (Tuesdays) or September 14th (Wednesdays) and runs for eight consecutive weeks.
Workshop Fee: $375
Please call (212) 222-4088 or send us an email to inquire about availablilty.
Dan Kitrosser
 Dan Kitrosser teaches Language Play's, "Tell Your Story!" workshops (ages 3 and 4), as well as musical theater (ages 6 and up), playwriting, and fiction workshops (ages 8-18) year-round at Writopia Lab. Dan is the resident storyteller at Central Park and an award-winning playwright. His own 2009 children's musicals were performed at theaters throughout the city and in Bryant Park, and won rave reviews from Time Out New York Kids. Six of Dan's Writopia students have won "Best Play" in Stephen Sondheim's 2008, 2009, and 2010 Write a Play! contests, and many others were named finalists or won honorable mentions. A graduate of NYU, Dan's screenplays include Old Days, directed by Matt Shapiro and starring Brad Oscar (Tony Nomination, The Producers) and Mary Beth Piel (Dawson's Creek) and Bodybuilder Island, directed by Matthew Kliegman. Dan has been a final committee judge for the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival for four years (this coming summer will be his fifth). Dan's play Be Here Now won this festival and was a finalist in Stephen Sondheim's National Playwriting Competition.
"The best thing about Language Play was watching the kids become active in storytelling, and involved in the creative process. No other comparable program offers practice using language, phonics, and creative language play."
-- Rebecca R., mother of Avner, three years old.
"I was so impressed with how the children answered questions in a group setting... and how they were prompted to think creatively. They worked together and listened to each other's ideas. And the instructor really focused on the children's ideas as well."
--Cecily C., mother of Lila, three years old.
"Language Play is more focused on writing than any program I know of--and the group is more intimate."
-- Stephanie D., mother of Jack, three years old
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