We Speak Playground

Social distancing – it’s like a never-ending rainy day, without the rain. We’re not stuck indoors due to anything our kids can see and the electricity still works; thank goodness! With many adults now unexpectedly working from home and schools closed, the simple answer for an activity is indulging in different forms of screen time on repeat. But we all know the easy way out isn’t always the best way.

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Childhood obesity has become a growing problem in recent generations. With today's technology-driven landscape, many kids don't move as much as they should, which means they're not burning calories. As a result, their bodies accumulate more fat than generations before them did. According to the CDC, obesity affects about 13.7 million children and adolescents between the ages of two and 19, which is about 18.5% of that population. Children between the ages of 12 and 19 have the highest obesity rates, measuring at 20.6% of the population. 

We all want to teach our children how to make the world a better place. In most cases, this starts with small ideas that make a huge difference. In fact, it is always a great idea to show our little ones that it doesn’t take a huge amount of money or a ton of skill to really brighten someone’s world. Here are a few of our best tips on how to incorporate random acts of kindness.

This is a different world that we live in. Kids are exposed to life at a far more rapid pace than ever before, which can lead to serious issues such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders. According to MentalHealth.org, an alarming 70% of children and young people who experience mental health problems have not had sufficient medical intervention at an appropriate age. The CDC defines mental disorders among children as situations that seriously change "the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day." 

When companies market their products and services, they may target a certain market sector that is more inclined to make purchases, such as marketing recreational equipment to outdoorsy people or vacation resort packages to people with families. To successfully market their operations, companies often hire employees that encompass the mindsets and backgrounds of their target audience so that they can better connect to potential customers. Yet many businesses are finding that by focusing on only one subset of individuals can create a workplace culture that excludes employees and potential customers based on their disabilities. Instead, these businesses are making the switch to becoming more inclusive operations that welcome people of all ages, backgrounds, races, genders and disabilities.

When most people think of cell phone addictions and kids, they often think that people are referring to teenagers. Teenagers use their cell phones for many things, including staying in contact with their friends and social media. While teens can become addicted to their cell phones, they are not the only children that can. Young kids are beginning to show signs of cell phone addiction and actually becoming addicted to their parents cell phones or electronic items, such as tablets. As a parent, here is what you need to know about cell phone addiction and your young children. 

Kids of all ages enjoy having a place to play and commune with others, and playgrounds should be designed to meet those needs safely. Long gone are the days of rusty swings, unforgiving ground surfaces and hard equipment that youngsters can get hurt on easily. Today, a modern playground will feature equipment with safety surfacing materials, ample shade and appropriate ground cover that helps prevent injuries. Here are some safety aspects that should be considered when developing, constructing or renovating a playground.

Kids have a lot of imagination and will often come up with plenty of fun things to do on the playground. But they also lose interest pretty quickly or don't agree with each other on an activity. When they need some inspiration, it's always good to have ideas ready in your arsenal. Here are some ideas of fun playground games you can suggest. Some require certain materials or equipment, while others only require kids who want to play.

If you suspect your child is being bullied, it’s important that you intervene before long-lasting damage is done to your child. A child’s formative years need to be shaped by positive social experiences. Children who experience bullying sometimes end up experiencing social anxiety or depression. Later in life, it can be challenging for those adult individuals to build healthy relationships in light of ingrained traumatic memories.