Vanderbilt University Hands-On Play Lab

Join us for our inclusive playdate at Mary’s Magical Place on March 30th! There will be snacks, crafts, and other activities for children of all ages and abilities! Follow the link in our bio for more information and to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

The Hands-On Play Lab is excited to announce we are beginning a new study focusing on the ways that your child learns from and plays with toys! The study requires two in-lab visits where our trained researchers will study how your child interacts with the different toys/activities that are given to them. We are looking for participants who are around 4 years of age who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome or have a motor delay. If your child meets either of these requirements and you are interested in learning more about the study, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or (615) 343-1079.

Join us for our inclusive playdate at Granny White Park on December 2nd! There will be snacks, crafts, and other activities for children of all ages and abilities! Scan the QR code or follow the link in our bio to RSVP!

Some fun ways to keep your kids busy in the Nashville area this Fall!🍂

Meet our Fall 2023 Research Team!

Sometimes it can be difficult for children starting school for the first time to adjust to leaving home for so long! Here are some tips for parents to help the transition go smoothly.

The Hands On Play Lab is currently recruiting for a new study focusing on the ways that your child learns from and plays with toys! The study requires two in-lab visits where our trained researchers will study how your child interacts with different toys. We are looking for participants who are typically developing 4 year olds or who are 4 years old that have been diagnosed with Down syndrome or other motor delays. If your child meets either of these requirements and you are interested in learning more about the study, please contact us at [email protected] or (615) 343-1079!

Sign up for a fun in-home study opportunity from the Hands-On Play Lab, open to families with infants around the ages 12, 18, or 24 months!

For this study, we are interested in learning about babies' natural, everyday experiences in their homes - such as the toys they play with and the places they go. A researcher will visit you and your child in your own home, and the two of you will be video recorded as you go about your day. The visit lasts about 2.5 hours.

Sounds like fun, right? Call 615-343-1079, email us at [email protected], or visit https://tinyurl.com/Hands-onPlayLab to learn more or sign up! Or, check out the link in our bio!

Sign up for a fun in-home study opportunity from the Hands-On Play Lab, open to families with infants around the ages 12, 18, or 24 months!

For this study, we are interested in learning about babies' natural, everyday experiences in their homes - such as the toys they play with and the places they go. A researcher will visit you and your child in your own home, and the two of you will be video recorded as you go about your day. The visit lasts about 2.5 hours.

Sounds like fun, right? Call 615-343-1079, email us at [email protected], or visit https://tinyurl.com/Hands-onPlayLab to learn more or sign up!

Congrats to our seniors who participated in Vanderbilt’s Undergraduate Research Fair yesterday! We are so proud of your hard work!🎉

Welcome to the Hands-on Play Lab! Swipe through to see our lab space and some of our undergraduate research assistants!

Our lab had so much fun today at the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee Extra Mile event!! We especially loved getting to meet Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon!

Our lab members are so excited to be a part of this event!!

All month long!!!

Check out these accessible, and free activities happening around Nashville!

Have you ever been curious how babies learn to play? All children learn and grow at their own pace, but here is a general timeline of how play skills typically develop throughout early childhood. Plus, some tips on what kind of toys to provide to support learning! 📚😊
Information from zerotothree.org ✨

Taking children out to eat can be a daunting task, especially in restaurants not designed with kids in mind. Here are some tips to make mealtime away from home go smoothly for you and your child! 🍽🥤tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics ✨

The Hands-On Play Lab at Vanderbilt is recruiting for an in-home research study open to families with infants ages 12, 18, or 24 months! In this study, a researcher will visit you and your child in your home, and the two of you will be video recorded as you go about your day. The visit lasts around 2-3 hours. As a thank-you for participating, you’ll receive a $50 gift card!

Call or text us at 615-852-6831, or email us at [email protected] to learn more or sign up!

Independent playtime is a great way to boost your child's creativity and confidence, while also giving caregivers a chance to work on their own tasks or projects! Here are some easy steps you can take to help young children develop independent play skills. Info from zerotothree.org ✨

For the first time since 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their recommendations for creating a safe sleep environment for infants. Check out the link in our bio for more information from the AAP, and as always, consult your pediatrician with questions! Info from healthychildren.org ✨

Books are a great tool for helping young children develop both listening and speaking skills, but sometimes it’s a challenge to introduce new activities! Here are a few suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to make the most out of reading with babies while having fun at the same time. Info from healthychildren.org 📚

Too hot to go outside in Nashville this week? ☀️ Here are some fun indoor activity ideas to keep your kids entertained during this heat wave! 😎

Suggestions from zerotothree.org

Sometimes children struggle trying out new foods, but good habits can be fostered from a very early age! Here are some tips from experts at zerotothree.org on how to introduce healthy foods to kids and help them develop healthy, balanced eating habits as they grow. 🍎🍞 🥦

Sign up for a new in-home study opportunity at the Hands-On Play Lab, open to families with infants ages 12, 18, or 24 months!

For this study, we are interested in learning about babies' natural, everyday experiences in their homes - such as the toys they play with and the places they go. A researcher will visit you and your child in your own home, and the two of you will be video recorded as you go about your day. The visit lasts about 2-3 hours.

As a thank-you for participating, you’ll receive a $50 gift card!

Sounds like fun, right? Call us at 615-852-6831 or email us at [email protected] to learn more or sign up!

Vanderbilt University Hands-On Play Lab linktr.ee/handsonplaylab

When children get stressed, angry, or upset, mindfulness practices can help them recognize the emotions they are feeling, take deep breaths, and calm down. Here are some easy activities that caregivers can practice with children to find some calm in the crazy moments!

✨Info from zerotothree.org

Introducing the newest members of the Hands-On Play Lab! We are so excited to have Emma and Vicky working with us this summer. Visit our new website at the link in bio to learn more about the lab and our team members! 😊

Our recent name change may have you wondering - what’s so important about play anyways? From an early age, children learn and develop skills from their play experiences. Here are some reasons why playtime can be so beneficial throughout development, and some strategies you can use to enrich these skills! ✨

Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.