Go Outside and Play!

Growing up in Hawaii, I had plenty of reasons to go outside. Add together optimal weather, a beach a few blocks away and friends who liked to play sports and it's a wonder my parents ever saw me. Surprisingly enough, though, I spent my fair share of time indoors. Watching sports on TV, playing video games or board games, reading -- they all had their appeal as well. But I think I had a pretty good balance.

Today, thanks to the addition of computers and the Internet, there are even more reasons for kids to plant themselves inside and never see the outdoors. In fact, according to a 2005 Kaiser Family Foundation study mentioned in this CSRwire press release, kids ages 8 to 18 are "spending on average 6.5 hours a day in front of the television or computer." With numbers like that, and the CDC reporting that "for children aged 6 to 19 years, upwards of 17 percent are overweight," there seems to be more urgency to get kids to play outside.

From September 19 through September 27, communities all over the United States and around the globe will participate in KaBOOM! Play Days. These events for the entire family will "celebrate play, raise money and volunteers for park and playground improvement, and rally support for the cause of play." KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit that wants to get kids outside by building play options such as playgrounds, ice rinks and sports fields. The goal is to get kids to play outside at least one hour a day. According to Darell Hammond, CEO of KaBOOM!, as quoted in the release, there are many reasons to do so:

"It's no secret that play is key to healthy child development. Research shows that active kids are healthier, perform better in school, and learn better social skills than children who are less inclined to play. By joining in a local Play Day, parents can demonstrate that they value play, healthy families and healthy communities."

So drag your kids away from the computer or the TV, find a Play Day here and show your children how fun it can be to actually go outside and play.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng