Athens to Host Groundbreaking ‘Play Identity’ Summit on Play, Positive Education, and Mental Resilience
Athens, March 17 – The Greek capital is preparing to host a significant international event, ‘Play Identity | International meeting on play & education,’ from April 24 to 26, 2026. This pioneering summit, to be held at the Athens Conservatoire, will gather experts from Greece and around the world with a shared vision: to establish a new pedagogical paradigm that fosters positive education, mental resilience, and genuine human connection.
In an era where play increasingly becomes a solitary and often electronic activity, Athens is creating a space for something profoundly human: play reimagined as connection, nature, art, and learning. ‘Play Identity’ emerges from the critical need to reconnect learning with all the elements that make it a vibrant, evolutionary process: the joy of discovery, a sense of belonging, and active participation.
A New Perspective on Education and Corporate Environments
Recognizing that educational environments often grapple with limited resources, systemic stress, and problem-focused approaches, ‘Play Identity’ proposes an alternative perspective. It places play, nature, art, and collaboration at the core of education. The summit also aims to introduce a fresh outlook into various educational processes and corporate settings. Human resource management professionals are expected to draw inspiration from the content of ‘Play Identity’ to innovate their skill development programs within their organizations.
The three-day event features a comprehensive program, including discussion panels, experiential creative learning workshops (both indoors and outdoors), artistic interventions, and interactive projects. Furthermore, the summit will host activities that bridge play with nature, the arts, philosophy, technology, and human-centered design.
The event is designed for a diverse audience, including educators, academics, pedagogues, parents, caregivers, mental health professionals, artists, and innovators in the business sector.
Social Impact: Establishing ‘Living Labs of Positive Education’
Beyond its immediate scope, the ‘Play Identity’ summit sets a clear objective with significant social impact: the proceeds will be dedicated to establishing ‘Living Labs of Positive Education’ across Greece in 2026. These ‘Living Labs’ are practical applications designed to integrate positive education into daily life within schools, communities, healthcare settings, and organizations.
This will be achieved through experiential programs for children and adolescents, support for parents and educators, interactive learning tools, and interventions that transform spaces into environments conducive to play, connection, and development. Thus, ‘Play Identity’ extends beyond the conclusion of the event, continuing its work and giving back to society.
Event Information
- Event: Play Identity
- Dates: April 24 – 26, 2026
- Location: Athens Conservatoire, Athens, Greece
Attendees are encouraged to register early to secure their place.
About the Organizers
Paidagogio (Playground)
Paidagogio is a school that plays, researches, and learns. It views learning as an experience, connecting modern pedagogy with the Greek educational reality and organizing daily life with a clear structure to cultivate knowledge, life skills, and imagination in children. From preschool to elementary school, all educational approaches are meaningful for the children themselves, as they stem from their curiosity and needs. Educators, children, and parents function as an evolving community, supported by experience, knowledge, and international applied practices.
Inside Out Nature
Inside Out Nature is an international educational organization that redefines learning by placing nature at the core of the pedagogical process. Through experiential seminars, school consulting, and educational visits to Denmark, they empower educators worldwide, offering them the knowledge, tools, and confidence to integrate the principles of ‘Nature Pedagogy’ into the modern school environment. The goal is to genuinely reconnect children with the natural environment, enhancing their physical and mental health, and building a sustainable future for societies and the planet.
Human Flourishing Movement (HFM)
The Human Flourishing Movement (HFM) is the official Innovation Hub of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) in Southern Europe. HFM is dedicated to bringing Positive Education to life and integrating it into daily routines through micro-practices, art, play, nature, technology, philosophy, and human-centered design. Its actions are based on the science of applied positive psychology and inspired by the deep Greek tradition of eudaimonia, designing experiential seminars, training, and tools that cultivate socio-emotional skills, mental resilience, self-awareness, and healthy relationships.
PAIZONTAS (Playing)
PAIZONTAS is a Non-Profit Urban Scientific Company dedicated to promoting play in childhood and ensuring children’s right to play. PAIZONTAS envisions the recognition of play’s value for children’s health, development, well-being, and social participation. It implements advocacy and awareness actions, provides education, produces educational materials, collaborates with organizations in Greece and abroad, implements European programs, offers practical strategies and consulting for designing play spaces, and conducts research.
Source: https://elculture.gr/play-identity-i-athina-ypochetai-tin-proti-diethni-synantisi-gia-to-paichnidi-ti-thetiki-ekpaidefsi-kai-tin-psychiki-anthektikotita/
