The Project

The Territory of Play is a project dedicated to listening, exchanging knowledge, documenting, and disseminating the culture of childhood.

The documentary filmmakers Renata Meirelles and David Reeks travelled with their children across Brazil from April 2012 through December 2013. They visited rural, indigenous, and maroon communities, travelled through large cities, the remote interior and the coast, showing us the country through the eyes of our children. Renata and David documented the subtle spontaneity of play, through which children present themselves.

Every meeting produced an intense dialog and interplay through gestures, expressions, and sayings, all carefully documented in films, photographs, texts, and audio. An exchange in which researchers and children came together through doing and playing, constantly learning from each other.

The Territory of Play’s work extends even further through its partnership with the Alana Institute, a co-producer of the project, with schools that believe in the value of this research and have partnered with us, with the support of Aliança pela Infância (Childhood Alliance), and other individuals and organizations that greatly enrich our story.

We are currently producing a feature-length documentary, two books, and two children’s series for television. In addition to this, a traveling exhibit is touring Brazil, taking a small piece of The Territory to schools, festivals, parks, etc.

Expanding its research, The Territory of Play team will continue their journey to more distant lands, beyond our national borders, and will keep producing material that bring our childhoods to schools, institutions, and families. 

Background

Ever since the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” arose, the educator and documentary filmmaker Renata Meirelles has expressed her wish to be close to children. The path she found was through play. 

Renata has been living this interaction with children of the most diverse regions of Brazil since 1996, in an intense exchange of toys and games.

In 2000, she met David Reeks and together they founded the BIRA Project – Childhood Games of the Amazon Region. In 2001, they set off for the Amazon and visited 16 indigenous and riverside communities in the states of Amapá, Pará, Amazonas, Roraima and Acre.

Using the documentation from BIRA, they produced several award-winning short films. They also published the book Giramundo, winner of the Prêmio Jabuti, the most traditional literary award in Brazil, and gave countless presentations, talks and workshops at schools, institutions and companies in Brazil and abroad.

They continued researching and pursuing projects about childhood while developing important partnerships. Among them is the journalist Gabriela Romeu, leading to the production of the Projeto Mapa do Brincar (Map of Play Project), an initiative by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo that won the Grande Premio Ayrton Senna de Jornalismo award. Gabriela and Renata curated the Trilhas do Brincar (Trails of Play) exhibit, which has toured the SESC units, and the three made the film Disque Quilombola, winner of awards at Fici (International Children’s Film Festival) and at Mostra de Cinema Infantil de Florianópolis (Florianópolis Children’s Film Festival), among other festivals.

Renata Meirelles, in partnership with researcher Ghandy Piorsky, curated the exhibit Mais de Mil Brinquedos da Criança Brasileira (Over a Thousand Toys of the Brazilian Child) at the SESC Pompéia unit in São Paulo.

Part of this material, which has been collected since 1996, is gathered on this website. To us this space represents a chance to access the endless potential and beauty of our children. Welcome, and enjoy!

FAQs

WHAT ARE THE TERRITORY OF PLAY’S UPCOMING EVENTS?

To learn about news and events from The Territory of Play, just visit our FACEBOOK PAGE oor our WEBISTE, where we always post new information about the project. 

CAN THE TERRITORY OF PLAY PARTICIPATE IN MY EVENT?

To solicit The Territory of Play team’s participation in your event, fill out the contact form and we will answer your request. 

CAN I USE THE TERRITORY OF PLAY’S MATERIAL AND RESOURCES IN MY CLASSES?

You may use all of The Territory of Play’s material and resources for free, as long as you do not modify them and do not use them for commercial purposes. 

CAN USE THE TERRITORY OF PLAY’S VIDEOS IN A PUBLIC EXHIBITION?

We utilize the CC BY-NC-ND Creative Commons license. In this case you may share and exhibit The Territory of Play’s videos for free, as long as you credit the project and its makers, and without alterations or using them for commercial purposes. If you need a version in higher resolution or image and voice releases, get in touch with us! 

HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF THE BOOKS COZINHANDO NO QUINTAL AND GIRAMUNDO AND OTHER TOYS AND GAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF BRAZIL?

To buy these books, contact Editora Terceiro Nome through their webiste HTTP://WWW.TERCEIRONOME.COM.BR/. 

HOW CAN I SHARE MY CHILDHOOD GAMES WITH YOU?

You may share your games and memories here on the website, leaving comments at the bottom of the posts. You may also share your stories on our FACEBOOK PAGE.

Itinerary

To choose a route is to make tough decisions. Selecting one region means leaving out many others. Regional and cultural diversity and the richness of our folk parties were the criteria guiding our choices. Over the course of 21 months, The Territory of Play team visited rural, indigenous and maroon communities, and travelled through large cities, the remote interior and the coast. Here you will find texts, photos, and videos that reveal the many childhoods that exist in this great country.

POMERANIANS OF ESPIRITO SANTO
May and June, 2012 

RECÔNCAVO BAIANO
July, August and September, 2012 

PANARÁ INDIGENOUS RESERVATION
October and November, 2012 

JEQUITINHONHA VALLEY – MG
December, 2012
January and February, 2013 

COSTA DA LAGOA – SC
December, 2013
May and April, 2013 

TATAJUBA BEACH – CE
May, 2013 

MARANHÃO
June through September, 2013

JAGUARÃO – RS
October and November, 2013

Partners

Know who are the partners that run the Territory of Play with us:

Partnership with Alana

Instituto Alana’s mission is to honor children. And, in order to honor children, we must honor play. When we discovered Renata and David’s work we were sure we had found partners who shared in this belief.

It is an incredible joy for Alana to participate in this journey. We believe in the power and potential of the content gathered and shared by Renata and David. We believe that what we have gathered on this website and in other initiatives – exhibits, books, films, etc. – is worth more than any course because it brings us emotion, sensitivity, and the chance to reconnect with the playful being that is inside us and drives us to educate – whether or not we are educators.

Travel with these children, just as we have travelled over the last few years. There is no better way to respect childhood than to make space for this game.

If you want to know more about the work of Alana, visit our WEBSITE.

Partnership with schools

The Territory of Play has counted on a partnership with six schools that contributed to this initiative during 2012 and 2013. The Territory of Play team organized materials with videos, photos and texts at each community, inviting educators to reflect and converse with the various childhoods of our country. These debates encouraged a sensitive view of childhood and education. Through these exercises of watching and listening to the child that plays building cars and boats, that plays with water, earth, air and fire, that plays as boi or careta, the educator turns their eye towards the child that also plays in our schools. This diversity brought up questions, dialogs, and possibilities throughout these two years, turning the partnership between The Territory of Play and schools into a space for listening and sensitivity towards children.

 

	“It was just like that: let them play with more freedom, pay attention to their play, see what they are doing, what they say while they’re playing… We get to know them while they’re playing; seeing how they hold a doll, listening to what they say as they play.”
	“In many ways this partnership has shown us the child at play, encouraging, substantiating, and allowing the child to play inside the school. More free play with nature, with less structured materials, with more time for play!”
	“The whole diversity of childhoods brought by The Territory of Play changed our view of play. It makes us see things we don’t notice directly, such as seeing everything that is behind the gesture of a child.”
	“I believe it has further refined our view of respecting the children’s time; our view and sensibility when it comes to dealing with them.”
	“The films are extremely poetic, the expressions of the children are extremely genuine! The Territory of Play fostered our sensitive vision and encouraged us to listen to the children.”
	“Suddenly our children started bringing PVC tubes and similar materials in order to build toys at school. This came from The Territory of Play, which has shown us children making their own toys, cars made of cans and other materials that have the potential for building.”

Support and thanks

General support:

Support and thanks by region:

Vale do Jequitinhonha – MG

Support:
ASSOCIAR – Araçuaí
Casinha de Cultura – S. Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras
Casinha de Cultura – Córrego da Velha Debaixo
Casinha de Cultura – Abadia

Thanks:
Adilene
Aparecida e Luciana de Abadia
Boi de Janeiro da Jequitinhonha
Dona Efigênia e o Boi de Janeiro do Itaobim
Frei Chico
Gobira e Tyr
Grupo de Folia de Reis do Arraial dos Crioulos em Araçuaí
Lira Marques
Marcos Vinicius

São Paulo – SP

Support:
Edna e Alex
CEI Alana

Thanks:
Aiuê Produtora
Banda Alana
Clerouak e Malu
Dr. Zé Armando
Dra. Paula Miuno
Fernanda Heinz Figueiredo
Hana Vaisman e MiniEstudio
Jorge Saad Jafet
Luiz Waack
Nayana do Carmo Monteiro
Natalia Viana
Paulo Dias e Cachuera!

Comunidades Pomeranas – ES

Support:
MPA -ES
Escola Estadual Emílio Schroeder
Secretaria de Educação do Município de Santa Maria de Jetibá

Thanks:
Arlette e Emil Schubert
Daniela Meirelles e Paulo Scarim
Leomar
Genques, Tolentino, Ivone, Tayla Strelow
Lourival Reets e familia
Samuel e Florinda
Wellington Pomerano

Acupe – BA

Support:
Grupo Caretas “Dodô” de Acupe
Grupo Nego Fugido
Monilson
Secretaria Municipal do Município de Sto. Amaro

Thanks:
Dodô das Caretas
Dona Anna e o Grupo Samba de Roda Mirim de Saubara
Dona Santa
Dora (Doralice Santana de Almeida)
Joanice e o Grupo Samba de Roda Mirim de Acupe
João de Boi e Alumínio
Joseane
Milton Primo
Nalvinha e Neide
Nando
Paulinho Caiçara do Grupo Capoieira Angola de Acupe
Samba Chula de São Braz
Samba de Roda São Francisco do Conde
Santinha e Zilda
Suca e seu filho Leo

Tatajuba – CE

Support:
ACOMOTA – Associação Comunitária dos Moradores de Tatajuba

Thanks:
Camila
Eron e Manuel
Escola E.F. Gregório P. Alexandrino
Junior
Mariazinha
Pedrinho e Toninho
Quinha

São Luiz, Oiteiros e Entre Rios – MA

Support:
Casa Fanti Ashanti
Jandir e a Casa do Nhozinho

Thanks:
Boi Brilho da Sociedade Cururupu
Boi da Floresta- Apolônio
Boi de Guimarães
Boi Fé em Deus
Boi Mirim Flor da Vila
Boi Pindaré
Boi Rama Santa – Cururupu
Boi Unidos de São Bento
Bumba-Meu-Boi Garotos do Cruzeiro
Irene
Jorge de Oiteiros
Ju Balsa
Lysandra Domingues
Laborarte
Marcele Guerra
Marina Quinan e Fred
Mestre Amaral e Suzana
Nelsinho e Mariana
Pai Euclides Talabyan
Piéra e André
Soraia Chung Saura
Tião Carvalho
Valdeira e Família

Jaguarão – RS

Support:
Escola Barão do Rio Branco
Secretaria Municipal de Educação do Município de Jaguarão
CTG Rincão da Fronteira
PTG Raízes da Fronteira

Thanks:
Álvaro e Marisa
Andréia, Celso, Leocádio, Cleusa, e Lucas
Lilian e Dayne
Nani e Marcos da Escolinha Gaúcha
Profª Drª Gláucia Maria. Figueiredo Silva – UNIPAMPA.
Prof.a Miriam e Patrícia e a Escola Barão do Rio Branco
Profa. Rosária e a Escola Pompilho
Profa. Simone e a Escola João Azvedo
Professor Daniel
Silvánia e José Carlos
Silviane, Nelson, Juliano, Gabriel, Antônio
Thomaz, Max, Paulinho, Bruno e Bia
Vizinhos da Rua Sta. Terezinha
Zé Mancilla e Adelma

Terra Indígena Panará – PA

Support:
IAKIÔ Panará
ISA – Instituto Sócioambiental
Paula Mendonça

Thanks:
Escola Indígena Matukre
FUNAI – Coordenação Local Colider
Mikré
Paulo Junqueira
Perankô
Steve Schwartzman
Sykiã Panará

Costa da Lagoa – SC

Support:
Escola Desdobrada Costa Da Lagoa – Nei Costa Da Lagoa

Thanks:
Adão
Adelgícia
Carol
Custódia
Douga
Gilka Girardelo
Joana
Nailde
Sandra Eckschmidt

The Territory of Play’s “Inspirational” Council

Adriana Friedmann
Doctor in anthropology, masters in Education and Pedagogy. Specialist, speaker and consultant in themes related to childhood and play. Founder and coordinator of NEPSID (Center for Study and Research in Symbolism, Childhood and Development). Post-graduate coordinator and professor. Author of various books in the field, including “Linguagens e culturas infantis,” “O desenvolvimento da criança através do brincar” and “A arte do brincar.”

Ana Claudia Arruda Leite
Educator, masters in Educational Social Sciences (PUC-SP) and specialist in childhood and adolescence (CLACSO/UNESCO). Has worked in education for 15 years, focusing on childhood and community development. Experienced in creating, managing and consulting socio-educational projects. Education Coordinator at Insituto Alana, member of  the Managing Group at Rede Nacional Primeira Infância and the Advisement Council at Aliança pela Infância. Co-author of the book “Estudos e Reflexões de Lóczy, Organização Mundial para Educação Pré-Escolar (2011) and coordinator of the post-graduate course “Childhood, education and social development” at Instituto Singularidades.

Ana Lúcia Villela
Trained in pedagogy, with a master’s in Educational Pyschology from PUC/SP. She is an advisor to third-sector institutions, such as Conectas Direitos Humanos, Itaú Cultural, Akatu, and Instituto Brincante. Founder and president of Instituto Alana, a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor children. Also a member of the social entrepreneur group Ashoka.

Fernanda Heinz Figueiredo
With her first feature, the film Sementes do Nosso Quintal, it is as if she completed a “PhD” through her experience in audiovisual production as a result of her 4 years filming and living with the children, teachers, community, and Therezita Pagani at Te-Arte, her first school and her daughters’ current school.

Luiza Helena Tannuri Lameirão
Educator, teacher. Works with Waldorf Pedagogy in training teachers and educators for social initiatives. Coordinator of the Waldorf Teachers Training Center. Guest teacher in various Waldorf Pedagogy courses in Brazil, as well as undergraduate and graduate level courses. Author of the book “Criança Brincando! Quem a educa?” and articles published by Aliança pela Infância.

Marcos Ferreira
Professor of mythology, folklorist and art-educator, lecturer at the school of education at USP, visiting professor in universities in Spain and Latin America, cultivator of bonsai and penjing. Author of the books “Crepusculário,” “Antropolíticas da Educação,” “Aproximações ao Imaginário,” Cantinga leiga para um rio seco e outras mitologias,” and others.

Roberta Rodrigues Alves
Coordinated and followed the partnership between schools and The Territory of Play Project through her work in the development area at Instituto Alana. Masters in Reflexive Social Practices from the London Metropolitan University in partnership with the Proteus Institute in Cape Town – studies the approach of phenomenology for the interpretation of the social and the human being. Studied psychology at PUC-SP and Physical Education at USP. Worked in the clinical and educational areas – with children in pre-school and adolescents in public school, and in qualitative research.

Sandra Eckschmidt
Masters in Education from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Coordinator of the Escola De Educação Infantil Casa Amarela and Waldorf Pedagogy Training in Florianópolis. Works in the field of childhood, play, children’s education, and autobiographical narratives about childhood. Researcher at the Childhood Culture and Art Center (NICA/UFSC).

Soraia Chung Saura
Bachelor in Philosophy from the School of Philosophy, Letters, and Humanities at São Paulo University (2001). Masters and Doctorate in Anthropology of the Imaginary from the School of Education at São Paulo University (2008). Doctorate professor at the Department of Pedagogy of Movement of the Human Body at the School of Sports and Physical Education at University of São Paulo (2010). Develops research in the areas of body movement (leisure, physical activity and sport) with a focus on philosophy and anthropology.

Ute Else Ludovike Craemer
Active member of the Anthroposophic Society in Brazil. Co-founder of the Escola Oficina-Social, Aliança pela Infância in Brazil, Alliance for Childhood in Japan and New Zealand. Advisor of the Parliamentary Council for the Culture of Peace (CONPAZ) in São Paulo. Advisor in projects at Fundação Mahle. Has works published in Portuguese, German, English and Spanish, including books, reports, didactic materials and essays. A lecturer on pedagogy and social questions in Brazil, Europe, United States, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

Gandhy Piorsky

Artist and researcher of children’s practices, theologian – Federal University of Ceará and Master of Religious Sciences. Areas of research: Anthropology of the Imaginary/Cultural and Symbolic Production.