the state of child well-being
Two separate reports released this summer delved into the state of child well-being across the country, measuring our nation’s progress over time. Read more
Robert W Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame
The Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who had made outstanding and lasting contributions to the advancement of recreation and parks.
effects of nature on learning
A new free e-book has recently been published that contains 13 articles from scholars around the world highlighting the profound and diverse effects of nature on learning. Read more
overscheduled kids
There are three things that overscheduled kids need in their lives - playtime, downtime, and family time. These three factors protect kids against a host of negative outcomes, strengthen resilience, and bolster students’ mental wellness and academic engagement. Read more
accidental invention of the Slinky
Do you know about the accidental invention of the Slinky? The idea for the timeless toy sprung to mind when Naval engineer Richard James dropped some coiled wires. Read more
smartphones and mental health
There is a scientific debate over teens’ use of smartphones and mental health. Some researchers believe that it repeats a "moral panic" argument that was made many times in the past about video games, rap lyrics, television and even radio, back in its early days. Read more
learn math by playing games
Help your preschoolers be ready to learn math by playing games such as Chutes and Ladders and card games that include counting, and construction activities that use building blocks, Legos, Lincoln Logs, and puzzles. Read more
lose the guilt
You don’t have to play with your kids if you don’t feel like it. Anthropologist David Lancy hopes to help modern parents lose the guilt. Read more
Free play
Almost 90% of Providence, Rhode Island's students qualify for a free lunch, but over the summer, when the lunch program migrated to the parks, most of the kids weren't coming...until the city added something else. Free play. Read more
reclaiming streets
Several Canadian cities are reclaiming streets for the kids to allow them to play in the street outside their own homes where parents can easily keep an eye on them. Read more
