New from the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play

Upcoming FREE Webinar!

Play Everyday For A Healthy Brain!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

The brain NEEDS play! The human brain is an amazing and complex organ that allows each of us to think, feel, and act. The brain systems that regulate those activities are largely shaped by experience. Learn why play is essential for optimal early brain development and why …

As the weather gets warmer and we all start to spend more time outside it’s a good opportunity for us AND the children we supervise to ensure we are getting a healthy amount of physical activity.

Children need to be active every day to promote their healthy growth and development. We also know that people who establish a healthy lifestyle pattern at a young age will carry those habits with them into adulthood.

A healthy lifestyle is something we …

Download Canada's physical activity guides.

This resource is designed to help those who teach children and adults about healthy eating and physical activity. The Toolkit includes:

* The Eat Well and Be Active Every Day poster;
* Downloadable activity plans
* 54 healthy eating and physical activity images to complement the poster.

Let's Move in School (LMIS), a national initiative to increase physical activity before, during, and after school, was introduced by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and its National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) on February 1, 2011.

Take a look at the LMIS Promotional Video!

In support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, the initiative helps yo…

The Let's Move Initiative should consider the power of playgrounds for combating the childhood obesity crisis.

A nearly free resource in the obesity crisis is the local school or park playground according to a study released by the Rand Research Corporation.

Girls who do not live within a half-mile radius of a school playground that is accessible when school is not in session have a 3-percent higher body mass index than girls who do have playg…

Tired of grant writing for your PE or recess equipment? Here's an opportunity using an e-script program to avoid those long hours of writing.

Fitness and good nutrition are important for a healthy life and a priority for Safeway.

With fitness and nutrition programs being reduced or even eliminated in schools, Safeway Inc. is asking that 20% of more than $20 million that it donates be allocated to fitness and nutrition programs.

Safeway's s…

Small steps matter.

Small steps can bring about positive effects on your brain—without an Olympic effort. How? Walking. A new study indicates that adult seniors who walked three or more times a week resulted in brain growth which enhanced memory. http://su.pr/2em7AD

So now we know. Exercise isn't only good for kids but results in similar benefits for young and old alike. Get walking.

The Head Start Body Start Center is offering a series of webinars.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

The brain NEEDS play! The human brain is an amazing and complex organ that allows each of us to think, feel, and act. The brain systems that regulate those activities are largely shaped by experience. Learn why play is essential for optimal early brain development and why it is vital for all parents and educators to be play partne…

Colorado lawmakers are starting work on mandatory recess / physical activity requirements for schools.

The measure approved in committee Monday afternoon requires all elementary school students to receive 30 minutes a day of physical activity. It now goes to a vote in the House.

House Bill 1069 would allow physical education classes to count toward the requirement, but recess couldn't replace P.E.

Nine states and the District of Columbia enact…

As you know, this week marks the first anniversary of the launch of the First Lady's Initiative called, Let's Move! An important part of this week is the unveiling of multiple resources that are designed to let you work within your community on solving the problem of childhood obesity

Watch the video.



Check out the Let's Move in School Resources here.

Peaceful Playgrounds is pleased to be an organizational supporter of Let's Move i…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer


Studies show that play reflects more of who you are than your work. When you're engaged in activities of "personal expressiveness," ones that are self-chosen and that reflect intrinsic goals, you're operating from the "true self," says Alan Waterman of the College of New Jersey.

As a self titled seeker, I love hearing about anything that helps me discover more of the truth. The trut…

The latest news supporting recess comes from a survey of 1,951 principals or deputy, assistant, or vice principals polled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It found that:

* Recess has a positive impact on academic achievement.
* Student listen better after recess and are more focused in class.
* Recess has a beneficial effect on children's social development.
* Recess improves children's well-being overall.


Find out more…

2020 GOAL: THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE WORLD

President Obama has established a goal that, by 2020, the United States will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Meeting this goal is vital to our long-term economic security and to preparing young people and adults to be active citizens. In order to track progress towards this goal he has instituted a Data Dashboard.

The dashboard is part of…

Ohio leave no child inside video urges teachers and parents to see to it that all children play outside at least once per day.



Need some outdoor game ideas? Check out the Peaceful Playgrounds instructional games DVD's.

I saw these dogs playing tetherball in a utube video and realized it they were playing on a Peaceful Playground. Notice the tetherball marking with the safety zone? The Freeze Out court in the background also gave it away.

Dogs need exercise too.

The School Wellness Recognition Program is sponsored by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with the California State PTA and is designed to recognize and applaud schools that are making significant improvements in their school environment related to healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco free lifestyles.

ACS and PTA want to motivate and empower California schools to "step up" and create healthy school environments.

To r…

The government has issued new standards for the school lunch and breakfast programs. They are accepting feedback for 72 days, which ends April 13, 2011. These new rules were created so that schools are serving meals in alignment with the 2005 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” as required by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

What changes will we see?

More fruits, veggies, lowfat/nonfat milk options, whole grains, and reduced sod…

The recorded copy of the Let's Move in School Webinar and the Webinar slides are now on the Let's Move in School website. Almost 800 people participated in the Let's Move in School Webinar according to NASPE the event coordinator.

Why not sign your school up to celebrate Let's Move in School during National Sports & Physical Education Week, May 1 - 7. Sign up here: National Sports & Physical Education Week.

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer









First Lady Michelle Obama is making more progress with the Let's Move campaign. A presentation was made at the Conference of Mayors, 470 Mayors decided to make their town or city a Let's Move City.

Want to know if your city is one of them? Let's Move Cities & Towns. I'm very pleased to see that all 3 major metropolis' that I've lived in have joined. Riverside, San Diego and Los Angel…