Play to Thrive
Building strong beginnings through the power of play.
Play to Thrive is a play-based early childhood program from Glazer Children’s Museum that supports babies and their caregivers during the most important years of development. Grounded in the Museum’s Play Builds Character initiative, the program uses play to nurture foundational character skills—love, wonder, resilience, and sense of self—starting from birth.
The earliest experiences shape how children learn, connect, and thrive. By empowering caregivers to use play as a tool for connection and development, Play to Thrive helps families build strong foundations that last a lifetime.
Through playful learning and trusted guidance, families will:
- Build secure, loving relationships with their babies
- Gain confidence using play to support development
- Strengthen early character skills that influence lifelong well-being
- Form supportive connections with other families
Funding Generously Provided By Lily Endowment
A Pilot with Community-Wide Impact
Play to Thrive is currently in its pilot year, serving a small cohort of first-time families. What we learn alongside these families will shape the future of the program, helping Glazer Children’s Museum expand this work to support more families across Tampa Bay.
By investing in babies and their caregivers from the very beginning, Play to Thrive contributes to a stronger, more connected community, one playful moment at a time.
