Tell others about International Stonework Play Day!
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“Stonework Play is a form of creative learning and is an open ended response to the invitation to work with stones, a natural resource. It engages the senses and animates imagination, allowing each person to tell a story or make a unique pattern suggested by handling the stones. The weight, form and texture of each stone suggest artistic choices that result in original work.
Stonework Play responds to the idea of nature's power to enrich the imagination. It helps the artist, no matter how young, to explore and express emotions, thoughts and feelings through stone arrangements and the stories they elicit.
Stones are a kinesthetic medium, never fixed in their place or meaning, the ground an endless canvas, and small hands the brushes that move them.” – Diana Suskind, Creator of Stonework Play
“Stonework Play is a form of creative learning and open- ended response to the invitation to work with stones, a natural resource. It engages the senses and animates imagination, allowing each person to tell a story or make a unique pattern suggested by handling the stones. The weight, form and texture of each stone suggest artistic choices that result in original work.
Stonework Play responds to the idea of nature's power to enrich the imagination. It helps the artist, no matter how young, to explore and express emotions, thoughts and feelings through stone arrangements and the stories they elicit.
Stones are a kinesthetic medium, never fixed in their place or meaning, the ground and endless canvas and small hands the brushes that move them.
- Diana Suskind,
Creator of Stonework Play
Diana Suskind was invited to HEMS School in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2011 as an Early Childhood Consultant. With limited resources she was asked to craft developmentally appropriate, hands-on activities. One day, while gazing at the ground, she realised that, as movable natural objects, stones would be a perfect medium to inspire children’s creativity. Using stones, she was able to provide HEMS children and staff with a much-needed opportunity for self-expression. Stonework Play was born!
The wonderful Stonework Play creative process is made up of 5 Steps. Each Step builds on the previous one and creates a bridge to the next one. They are interconnected on their journey from simple stones to creative stories.
Stonework Play inspires creative and meaningful engagement with nature. Participants will be guided through its process of gathering their chosen stones from those previously collected in natural habitats, constructing their stone creation, rendering their work on paper, narrating what they had done in story form and sharing their experience with the group.
Stonework Play is a fantastic and engaging nature activity for kids of all ages - from babies to 99+! Babies and Teenagers encouraged!
The wonderful Stonework Play creative process is made up of 5 Steps. Each Step builds on the previous one and creates a bridge to the next one. They are interconnected on their journey from simple stones to creative stories.
Stonework Play inspires creative and meaningful engagement with nature. Participants will be guided through its process of gathering their chosen stones from those previously collected in natural habitats, constructing their stone creation, rendering their work on paper, narrating what they had done in story form and sharing their experience with the group.
Stonework play is a fantastic and engaging nature activity for kids of all ages - from babies to 99+! Babies and Teenagers encouraged!
Simply put ... because YOUR STORY MATTERS ... and Stonework Play is such a unique and powerful way to help you share who you are, how you feel and what matters most to you.
When Stonework Play creator Diana Suskind and Nurture in Nature Australia founder Tania Moloney met in 2016 at the International Children & Nature Network Conference a lovely friendship was borne out of a shared passion for outdoor play, nature inspired learning and reconnecting kids, families and people of all ages with the natural world.
Along with their friendship blossomed the idea of Tania bringing Diana to Australia to share all about Stonework Play and thus the seeds were also planted for an International Stonework Play Day.
A warm welcome to you and a BIG thank you from Diana and Tania ...
Hello Stonework Play friends,
Thank you for coming to play and share your stories with us. We're honoured to have you join us on this, the 7th International Stonework Play Day!
A common thread emerged as we talked about the possible impacts that an International Stonework Play Day could have on individuals, families, classrooms, communities and wider still.
The recurring theme that naturally wove itself into many of our conversations was about how important the opportunity to share stories is for people of all ages and backgrounds, but how often now it seems to get pushed to the side in our busy, modern day lives.
All that busyness can lead to many of us thinking that other people are too busy to hear our story and to really listen to what is important to us.
Through getting involved in International Stonework Play Day, we want to show you that YOUR STORY MATTERS and there are people out there who want and need to hear it.
Storytelling has always been a powerful part of every culture in the world - from our early ancestors sharing primitive but meaningful drawings on rock walls to Martin Luther King Jr sharing the story of his 'Dream' for freedom and equality. Stories shared around a campfire or over the dinner table. Telling bedtime stories to our sleepy eyed children that are written or imagined to inspire their growing minds and hearts - these are the moments we feel most connected to each other.
Through sharing our stories we are helping to nurture EMPATHY, KINDNESS, COMPASSION, BELONGING, PEACE and UNDERSTANDING ... and these are qualities that humankind and our world need more than anything right now.
In Stonework Play, every stone chosen and every story created is unique and special - just like you.
Sharing YOUR unique story can help and inspire others to tell theirs. In seeing and listening to other people's stories from all around the world, you are telling them that THEIR story truly matters too.
Sharing your story can also create a ripple effect that can impact the lives of others all over the world. You never know who might be listening who really needs to hear your story.
So on this second International Stonework Play Day we invite you to do Stonework Play wherever you are in the world - be it by a beach, a trail, a sidewalk, at a park or indoors - and then share your Stonework Play drawings, photos and the stories you created with your stones.
This is just the beginning ... we hope you will join us in sharing YOUR STORY far and wide and let's see how far our Stonework Play ripples can take us all around this wonderful world.
#YOURSTORYMATTERS #STONEWORKPLAYDAY
Warmly,
Diana Suskind and Tania Moloney
"It's simple. Go outside, find some stones and just listen to the stones. ... The world's our home, nature's our home, we should take care of it and we should also play!"
– Taylor, Grade 1
It is unique. I feel so creative. It exceeds anyone’s expectation. I made mine under the water using stones in the shape of waves ... I recommend to definitely try it, it is a way to express yourself ... I had inspiration ... Octopus, fish, turtle and the mermaid ...
no one is the same and all the rocks are different.
– Amelie, Grade 6
Stonework Play brings one together with the mind, I am in the Zen mode. It gets your thoughts out ... I made a campfire! Keep calm and nature on!
–Emmett, Grade 4
Click here to listen to a short audio of Emmett talking about Stonework Play
I never played with stones before. This is more fun than T.V. ... I want to do this with my parents.
- Member, Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, MA, USA
"An extremely powerful way to encourage children to think creatively"
I think that it really is magic... Stonework Play is an amazing way to encourage children to think creatively and use their imaginations. I am a big believer in the power of story and I have witnessed children sharing their amazing stories – sparked by simply placing stones in a way that makes sense to them… This approach is extremely powerful. I love Diana Suskind’s mission and it has been an honor to work with her.
PETER H. REYNOLDS Children's Illustrator And Writer, Author Of 'The Dot', DEDHAM, MA, USA
"Mesmerising and meditative"
Stonework Play is mesmerising and meditative. It's so lovely to handle rocks and connect with the earlth and nature through their form.
Pascale miller, Founder of nature Lovers, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
"Thanks for the inspiration Diana!"
Our class does Stonework Play every Monday morning. We have found it to be both a great transition back into the week and a way to rid any weekend stress away. The images and stories some of the kids create amaze me.
JESSICA LEIGH 10th Grade Teacher, Lowell, MA USA
"I see a strong and lasting impact on children and adults when they do Stonework Play"
Diana Suskind and her amazing Stonework Play have such a powerful and magical reach and impact wherever they go… Every time I do this simple but incredibly powerful work it leaves a deep and positive impact on those I share it with - and on me too.
TANIA MOLONEY Founder of Nurture In Nature, AUSTRALIA
"I felt calm and peaceful"
Through Stonework Play I felt calm and peaceful. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure I will do it again with my family and friends.
KEIKO SHIMIZU Parent, JAPAN & AUSTRALIA
"An emotional and healing opportunity"
Stonework Play by Diana Suskind was an emotional and healing addition to the YWCA's event, Artists Stand up to Racism. Refugees from the Worcester Refugee Assistance Program (WRAP) had the opportunity to artistically represent their stories about being in this country and their journey to get here.
SHAUN CANNON Worcester Canal District Art Walk Co-Founder, USA
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