Tackling the Weight of the Nation Through Outdoor Play

 

The powerful documentary, The Weight of the Nation, has the country and even the world talking — and rightfully so.

That said, so often people’s response to childhood obesity in particular focus on nutrition and exercise. And not that those things aren’t important, but they are not enough, and they leave out play, which should be the cornerstone of childhood.

Now, you all know how I feel about unstructured play and time outdoors. I’ve been writing about it since day one of this blog, and promoting it for twenty years. Today I want to let you tune in to a powerful, passionate, and respected voice in the play and education movements — Joan Almon.

Click on the link to listen to an interview with Joan Almon about the benefits of outdoor play in the fight against obesity and beyond. Joan is one of the co-founders and the Executive Director for the Alliance for Childhood. She is champion of play, and longtime childhood advocate, and a personal friend and hero of mine.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the interview and how you see the role of outdoor play not only  in the fight against childhood obesity, but in raising happy, healthy children.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo by: cote

Happy Mother’s Day!

Cheers to all the mothers, grandmothers, and care-takers out there! To all the women who touch our lives across a lifetime…

Thank you for every skinned-knee you clean, bad dream you hush away, cookie you bake, and broken heart you soothe.

For every costume you make, story you read, school play you sit through and drawing you hang on the fridge…

May your day be filled with blue skies, rainbow-colored flowers, heart-felt hugs, and more laughter than you know what to do with.

I give you the gift of a giggle or two, and perhaps — just perhaps — a knowing smile.

Messy Room by Shel Silverstein

Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp.

His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.

His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater’s been thrown on the floor.

His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.

His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall.

A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.

Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or–

Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!

Go be queens of your day!

xoxo – The Grass Stain Guru

photo by: CS_McMahon

It’s kind of this simple…

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

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