Wild Rumpus: An Anji Play Experience

What is Anji Play?

AnjiPlay is an educational philosophy centered on self-determined play, created by Ms. Cheng Xueqin, Director of Early Education in Anji County, China. This approach is based on five pillars: Love, Risk, Joy, Engagement and Reflection.

Why is a library doing Anji Play?

The five practices of early literacy are Read, Write, Talk, Sing and Play.  The deepest intrinsic learning processes that play affords come most authentically during play that the child has chosen to engage in.  The  "reflection" component of AnjiPlay in which children create a "Play Story" after they are done playing is key to the Anji Play experience.  Whether they create drawings, write paragraphs or simply scribble, kids are getting an excellent opportunity to express themselves on paper and reflect on their own experiences.

Upcoming Events

AnjiPlay Date

Tuesdays, 10:30am - 12pm | Lussier Community Education Center [55 S Gammon Rd]

Come experience Anji Play! If you loved A Wild Rumpus this summer outside in the parks, join an indoor version this winter at the Lussier Community Education Center. In this weekly award-winning program, kids lead the play while adults step back and observe with deep curiosity.  This educational approach rooted in True Play was created in Anji County in China. Madison Public Library is a pilot site for developing a library-based Anji Play model. Open to all ages. No registration required. 

See all upcoming dates for this program on the calendar at madpl.org/calendar.

Past Events

A Wild Rumpus

Throughout Summer 2023 we enjoyed child-led play at A Wild Rumpus, which is based on the educational approach of AnjiPlay. The library provided special play equipment to spark children's imagination at two parks this summer - Haen Family Park and Reindahl Park. We hosted four events throughout the summer with nearly 400 attendees. Check out the Rumpus Report [download] to read more about the event. A Wild Rumpus will return in 2024!

This award-winning event is created in partnership with the Madison Parks Division and AnjiPlay, and funded in part by a grant from the Madison Public Library Foundation.