In this inspiring and interactive keynote, Yolonda Deon invites audiences to reimagine play as a lifelong practice for wellness, connection, and growth. Through her signature framework, The 3 C’s of Play — Community, Creativity, and Cognitive Development — she explores how mindful play nurtures both children and adults alike.

Participants will experience moments of Yoga Play and Playful Meditation, discovering how movement and mindfulness can spark imagination, reduce stress, and strengthen emotional balance. Yolonda reveals how community fosters belonging, creativity cultivates problem-solving and self-expression, and cognitive development supports focus, adaptability, and lifelong learning.

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Blending insights from psychology, mindfulness, and education, Yolonda demonstrates that play isn’t just child’s work, it’s human work. Attendees will leave inspired and recharged, ready to integrate mindful play practices into their personal and professional lives for greater well-being and joy.

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Learning Objectives

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1. Community  - Understand why creating community is the foundation for mindful play as it relates to social-emotional learning. 

 

2. Creativity - Understand how using imagination during mindful play aids in problem-solving and self-regulation. 

 

3. Cognitive Development - Understand what the progressive building of skills, such as attention, memory, and thinking, are and how those skills support mindful play.