The Social and Emotional Learning Task Force, part of the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services department’s Healthy Youth Initiative, will be conducting a Facebook Live event at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 for parents and educators of young children, titled “The Importance of Play.”

To watch this event, simply friend and follow the Facebook page for the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation. The video can also be watched at another time, for those who can’t tune in on Tuesday.

Local pediatrician Danette Glassey will moderate panel questions to Judy Whitmer, instructor at the Bellevue College Learning Lab and Linda Ernst, children’s librarian at the Mercer Island Library. These child development professionals will address the importance of play to a developing child’s brain and the appropriate role parents and adults can play in facilitating (or not obstructing) this process.

Panelist questions asked will focus on: What is play? Why play? What is the adult’s role in play? What are the barriers that prevent children from playing? And tips for how parents can get started with different age groups (0-2; 3-4; 5-6 years old).

Questions and answers will be taken from audience members at the end of the panel discussion.