Play All In A Day's Work

Program Developer Creates Arctic Adventures

Last updated Friday, December 12, 2008 7:16 PM CST in Our Town

By Marla Hinkle
THE MORNING NEWS

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The program is in its third month and is a certified success among parents who have expressed their delight with the creative play.

"I think we are forgetting the basics of play. That's why I wanted parents to get on the floor and play with their children," Vukin said.

"I'm all about stepping back and seeing what is unique and different. Parents can sit back and watch children play. At home, the phone is always ringing and their dishwasher is calling. Basic play is a memory that will last a lifetime, and it doesn't have to be picked up off the floor and dusted."

Vukin developed the concept after meeting Kassie Misiewicz, executive director of Tricycle Theatre for Youth, through Theatre Squared in Fayetteville.

The two collaborated on presenting a hands-on play experience for children 2 years and older and their parents.

Misiewicz said Vukin is an asset to the community.

"Her years of experience with play and teaching parents how to bring play back into the family fits into Tricycle Theatre. The first step is the lifelong love of arts beginning at home, and when we are able to work with families to enjoy and relate to bringing play into the house, then parents are more likely to bring kids to shows and take classes."

Misiewicz said she didn't know of another professional theater with a play specialist on board. Most theater organizations begin with plays, and do not actually begin by playing.

"We are forging new ground for theater for young audiences. Tricycle Theatre has the opportunity to be a resource for families, and the Partners in Play program gives families a chance to play together," she said.

Vukin is diligent in creating play scenes that are not too intricate to recreate at home. She advises taking 30 minutes to an hour to sit and play with a child.

Fishing is an activity she used to play as a child with paper clips and string. Dawn Bailey was happy to learn about the simple yet effective play her daughter Sasha enjoyed at the theater.

"Sasha loves it, and it has been nice for me to come to the play program. She's a bit of a shy person, and it's just really helped her step outside of herself."

Bailey is a big fan of the carpet squares and crates that children turned into a tea party.

"It's about using your imagination. I am amazed at how Marie used a ladder as a tree for an owl. She took a couch cushion and made it into a snake's den and just really opened up this whole new world for me and what I could do in my home.

"Maybe I can't buy a certain toy, but I can take a cushion off my couch and create a woods scene and snake's den. Marie is just incredible, and Sasha adores her."

Role Play

Children learn best through play, Vukin said, and the arctic scene she has envisioned allows for ample opportunities to develop social skills.

"The village kitchen allows them to try on adult roles and actually learn to negotiate and build self esteem."

For example, if someone needs to use a kitchen item, they may communicate that they need to be next to use the space or a utensil.

"Play means no failure," she said.

"Kids are going to make mistakes and will keep doing things that feel good. I love that. I'm hoping some of their favorite activities will create an environment where they will instinctively know what to do in an ice cave and work off another person to crawl in the entrance and peak in holes."

The papier-mache ice cave is life-size and was made with poultry wire to form a realistic haven.

Aaron Jones, a member of the education/exhibit committee for Children's Museum of Northwest Arkansas, helped build the snow cave.

"I am so glad Marie is in this vicinity and is able to work with Tricycle Theatre."

He became interested in her play therapy and volunteered to help develop the arctic scene.

"Marie does a wonderful job of having different activities and games for kids to explore. She creates a curriculum that not only shows what a child is learning, but helps develop motor skills, positive/negative relationships and parent involvement."

When she was telling Jones about the arctic adventure using a tent as a cave, he said "why don't we just build one." It's got a realistic texture on the outside that gives it an organic kind of feel. Jones said the structure adds to the imagination and takes children beyond blanket and tent.

"Marie is adding so many things to it -- a kayak, snowshoes -- she's amazing. I'm glad she's at the Trike theater to show off her talents, be creative and include work, play and education."

Another favorite scene for children is the miniatures, Vukin said. They construct houses for the animals, play social stories and protect the baby bears. Vukin's daughters continued to create situations for their winter world by discussing the menu options in a drive-through for arctic animals.

The creatures would order fish and krill, and one family had an especially large order. The take-out orders are different each day, she said.

Vukin said her current role is a great combination of her skill set. She has trained in play therapy since 1991, and has taught parenting education classes since 1996. She has conducted seminars at national and international conferences in the United States, Germany and the Philippines.

For 20 years she has worked with children and families by creating unique programs at schools, hospitals, community events, city parks and libraries. She holds a master's degree in counseling education.

As a counselor, Vukin said she has developed a lot of play solutions.

"In my family, I am known more as a crafter than fine artist. Children are my best teachers. With them, I know I'm always learning something."

Growing up in Philadelphia, Vukin imagined herself leading a career as a window dresser, like Rhoda Morgenstern, the character portrayed by Valerie Harper in "Mary Tyler Moore" and "Rhoda."

At Little Flower High School for Girls, she became interested in child care and pursued a degree. She later developed programs at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.

"I figured out how children dealt with illnesses, amputations and even facing their own death through artwork and play therapy."

Vukin said she is concerned about children's lives becoming burdened with overscheduling.

"Parents may think they have to enroll their kids in language classes, sports or buy certain programs to become plugged in. I want them to see some things a little differently, to get on the floor and play with a child."

Testing and building literary skills are important, Vukin said, but children who are able to concentrate and use their imaginations are able to carry those skills over into the academic world.

Creating New Worlds

Although Vukin doesn't have much spare time in between building caves and keeping tabs on puppets and miniature villages, she does enjoy making "artsy-craftsy" projects at home and riding bikes to school with her daughters, Rebecca, 9, and Emily, 5.

The couple moved to Bentonville on Memorial Day 2006. Her husband, Greg, was in the military serving in Kosovo and decided to come back to civilian life. He works in transportation for Wal-Mart. The family lived in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Ohio before relocating to Northwest Arkansas.

At first, Vukin said she wasn't thrilled with the move, but now, she loves her new home with its outdoor activities and close proximity to the schools.

"I love collaborating with people, and I think I bring something different to how children and families interact, in a fun way. They are not going to use a machine, but families who come into the Trike will have a real experience."

Heather Ayers, a parent who took a Partners in Play class at the Trike, said her 3-year-old daughter Hadley enjoyed cooking in the arctic village.

"She loved the fact that she was in charge, leading us in play and guiding us through her world," Ayers said.

The Ayers family loves the play group, and Hadley is already asking when they can return.

"We absolutely love Marie. She gave me the tools to take back home. In just four short weeks, Hadley has went through the terrible twos and is a beautiful child who now has the words to communicate with us. We can see her beaming with pride," her mother said.

Vukin's plans are to introduce a project called Teddy Bears Go To the Doctor. The project will be designed to reduce anxiety children and parents feel when they arrive at the doctor's office.

She will focus on creating partnerships with agencies where children will bring a teddy bear or their favorite cuddly along.

"I've done a lot of work with children in hospitals, and simple toys have the power to reduce fears."

"I want to find ways to bring programs to children and parents and provide training to parents and child care professionals. I have a lot of ideas about classes on how to incorporate drama and play. I'm excited about those ideas."

Also, Vukin is chairwoman of the education committee with The Children's Museum of Northwest Arkansas. She is not employed full-time and said she is happy to be a mom and stay close to her children.

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