The Story of Her Hoodie

Great hoodie right?

It was spotted a couple of years ago at Baltic Street Adventure Playground.

The child wearing is was confident and chatty. She was laughing and climbing and joking with her mates. And all the while, she was talking to us, a group of visiting adults, showing us how the site works and what children do there.

She really belonged there on that Playground. Really belonged.
She was in her element.
She was like sunshine bouncing off rippling water.
She was happy with who she was.

I told her I liked her hoodie and asked if I could take a picture.
She was happy with that, very happy.
I said I wanted to have a picture without her face in it, so I could share it with random people and tell them the story of her hoodie.
She laughed and we said goodbye.
Then she went on playing.

Join us on Fridays at 3pm for Playwork in Progress – a reflective practice conversation for Playworkers all over the world.

Bring your own story.

Or stories.

We love to hear your stories.

This is how we learn, from our source material. From children.

Penny Wilson is a Trustee of The Playwork Foundation and voluntarily chairs Playwork in Progress – a free weekly online reflective practice session for playworkers anywhere in the world. This usually takes place each week on a Friday afternoon 3-5pm BST (until 26/10/25 when it will revert to GMT).