Learn how to play with your food

At the JCC’s FREE family and special needs friendly Day of Play, kids will not only be invited to play with their food, they will be expected to dig in and enjoy the creative process of food prep. On Sunday, October 28, noon to 4 pm, the community is invited to spend the afternoon at the JCC exploring play through food, movement and art, followed by a free concert featuring family rocker, Rick Recht.

The JCC presents the free Day of Play and free concert as part of the 3-week long 14th annual Ann Katz Festival of Books and Arts, October 24-November 17 at the Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis.

The day of play invites kids and adults to engage together for an afternoon full of activities, as follows:

1. Play with Your Food.Make your own quesadillas at the Kids Restaurant! JCC nutritionist, Katherine Matutes, PhD, has created an array of interesting and unusual ingredients so that children can create their own quesadillas with fillings of their choice. Children may choose to pair blueberries with cilantro, for example – the choice is theirs, which is one of the best ways to encourage children to try new foods. They will use a griddle to toast their creations and will serve them to friends and family. Research shows that by engaging children in the decision-making and preparatory processes of cooking, they are more likely to eat new and healthy foods. Sponsored by Kroger. The restaurant is open Noon-3 pm.
2. Play with Movement.12:30-1 pm, 1:15-1:45 pm, 2-2:30 pm. JCC dance instructors will give participants colorful scarves and other props to explore movement, color and music making, with lively songs chosen to motivate for 30 minutes of continuous movement.
3. Play with Paint, in partnership with VSA Indiana.Noon to 3 pm. Who can resist tables of colorful fabric, papers, decorations, markers and glue sticks? Kids will create their own book markers to take home. VSA Indiana will be on hand with adaptive wheelchairs fitted with special paintbrushes that children are welcome to try. Art knows no boundaries among the able- and less-able bodies, as this opportunity will demonstrate.
4. Rick Recht Concert, 3 pm.Rock, clap, enjoy – Rick Recht’s brand of up-tempo, family music is a great finale to the Day of Play. Presented by Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.
5. Some of Indy’s favorite food trucks will be parked just outside the Arthur M. Glick JCC, so everyone is invited to stop by and purchase lunch.
6. Participants are kindly asked to bring a can or package of food for Popsie’s Pantry, a local resource for families and individuals in need.

For more information, visit www.JCCindy.org or call 251-9467.