Learning Through Play: RSP’s Professional Development Day at Port Discovery

At Ready Set Prep Early Learning Center, investing in our educators is an investment in every child we serve. Our team’s professional development day at Port Discovery Children’s Museum brought that commitment to life through Professionals At Play, a program centered on the role of play in early childhood education.

Port Discovery describes Professionals At Play as an initiative supporting the early childhood workforce across different settings throughout Maryland. The program gives educators opportunities to examine how play is embedded in their practice and connect with peers around that work.

For RSP, dedicating time to this experience reflects a belief that guides our approach to education: children deserve curious, thoughtful educators who continue learning themselves. Stepping outside our everyday routines creates space to consider fresh ideas, revisit familiar approaches, and think intentionally about the experiences we offer our students.

Play holds an important place in that reflection. A building activity, pretend restaurant, or shared storytelling experience can invite children to ask questions, express ideas, work through challenges, and connect with one another. The educator’s role is to recognize those possibilities and create space for children to explore them.

Our participation in Professionals At Play also connects to RSP’s broader commitment to preparing children for the future while protecting the wonder of childhood. As we develop opportunities in digital literacy, creativity, and discovery, hands-on exploration and human connection remain central to the experience we want every child to have.

Professional development helps us keep that commitment intentional. It gives our team time to consider the choices children have in their learning environments, the materials that invite curiosity, and the ways adults can encourage discovery through everyday interactions. These are meaningful considerations for the classrooms and relationships we build at RSP.

We are grateful to Port Discovery for welcoming our team and providing professional learning opportunities for the people who teach and care for young children. Making room for our educators to learn together is one way we continue strengthening the care and education we provide to our families.

At RSP, learning is a shared journey, and our educators are part of it every step of the way.