We Speak Playground

Childhood obesity has hit an all-time high. The CDC reports that almost one out of every five school-aged children suffers from obesity. Obesity carries with it a plethora of negative consequences for kids. These include problems with self-esteem, health issues, reluctance to socialize, and more. Of course, no parent wants to see a child suffer from being out of shape, let alone obese. Even so-called normal-weight children often don’t get enough exercise. With the abundance of passive playthings like computers, tablets and cell phones, children are even less likely to get the amount of exercise that they need to thrive and grow.

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system tend to be seen as afflictions of middle-aged and older people, but they can begin to develop in adolescence and even childhood.

Genetics sometimes play a part, but unhealthy lifestyles are overwhelmingly the most important cause of poor heart health.

So it’s vital that parents, educators and kids understand the crucial importance of healthy diet and exercise in preventing problems in later life.

Kids have a natural instinct to climb and explore, which I’m sure is not a surprise to anyone who is a parent. Children climb everything — furniture, countertops, trees, playground equipment — EVERYTHING. The question is why?

Schools across the country are recognizing the benefits of daily recess for elementary age students. In a time of increased academic pressure and focus on standardize tests some schools are pushing back and mandating daily recess. They realize that that their students actually perform better with more unstructured playtime.