school forest initiative
Hardscaped schoolyards present health risks in a warming world. A school forest initiative in California reflects a potential national trend to change the character and function of outdoor spaces. Read more
Bill Michaelis
Bill Michaelis is a leading play advocate who has written, taught, and consulted extensively in the area of play and its applications to creativity, learning development, self-esteem, and healthy living for all age groups.
teen mental health crisis
Eye-opening testimony from a top scientist offers a useful primer on the role social media may play in the teen mental health crisis. Read more
changing school start times
Despite public skepticism about changing school start times to allow more sleep time for students, evidence from schools that have made the plunge seems clear: It leads to better-rested, more motivated students. Read more
higher-weight children
The American Academy of Pediatrics released concerning new guidelines for the care of higher-weight children. Is surgery or drug intervention really the answer for kids? Read more
Lucky girl syndrome
"Lucky girl syndrome" is trending on TikTok. Here's what parents should know. There are some pros, but do the cons outweigh them? Read more
after-school programs today
About 8 million kids are enrolled in after-school programs today, but that’s less than a quarter of total demand, according to the nonprofit Afterschool Alliance. What’s the problem? Read more
racial justice in recreation
Playgrounds spread across America in the early 20th century as cities grew and the movement for public recreation started to gain momentum. From the very beginning, however, black leaders had to fight for racial justice in recreation. Read more
Lower Body Strength
Lower body strength is the ability of the body to exert a maximum force against an object external to the body in one maximum effort of the lower body muscles. The muscles that make up the lower body are the large, strong muscles that allow us to get around. Children do much to enhance their lower body strength by engaging in daily active play, such as running, jumping, climbing, and bicycling.
Recess isn’t carefree
Recess isn’t carefree for every child. Here are three things schools can do to make sure all kids reap the benefits of that play time. Read more
