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At an event last month, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi underscored that the private sector has taken major steps to reduce obesity in the U.S. “Industry has done a very good job taking out more calories than we expected to take out,” she said, “I think the time …

Takoma Park, Maryland borders the northeastern line of Washington, DC. The historic area is urban in a sense that one can walk almost anywhere and easily take public transportation, but the atmosphere is of a small town, tightknit community. Most of the …

You cannot even begin to design an inclusive playground if you have not dealt with that most basic concept of ensuring that everyone can access your space. The number one barrier to a playground is surfacing. When I was traveling this summer, I saw many …

We Americans love our “likes,” whether it’s for a funny comment, change in relationship status, or the photo of the dinner you prepared for a loved one. We also love to “check in” at our favorite restaurants, attractions, sporting events, and concerts. …

Recently, while researching models of play and learning, I came upon an article http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/200811/the-value-play-i-the-definition-play-gives-insights  on the Psychology Today blog. It stated “the alert, unstressed …

As we discussed in our last column, Laura Richardson’s insightful The Periodic Table of 21st Century Play poster can a powerful tool in the hands of designers and communities when they seek to create truly human and engaging places that support play. As …

Each year over 290 million tires are discarded in the U.S. alone and disposing of all those old tires can be a big challenge for a lot of reasons. When used tires are sent to the landfill they cause numerous problems for both the landfill operators and …

MASON, OHIO (October 1, 2014) — Two municipalities in Ohio recently worked with Witt Industries to refurbish their benches and waste receptacles. One was a major metropolitan city, while the other was located in a suburban setting.  Both municipalities …

It has happened more than once in my 25 years teaching. A classroom teacher walks into the gym and says, “Hey, can you have them just run around a bunch and let them burn off some energy?”  Or another classic, “It must be nice just to run recess all …

There is an emerging trend in playground equipment standards development. The focus of the hazard based approach is to embrace reasonable foreseeable playground related injuries regardless of what the equipment might be called, what specific category it …

Action Based Learning https://www.youthfit.com/ Neuroscience strongly supports the link of movement to learning. Movement is the body’s way of balancing itself physically, chemically, electrically, and emotionally. Exercise brings the brain and body into …

Have you ever felt the exhilaration of flying through the air? Chances are if you’ve pumped a swing high into the sky or taken a ride on a zip line, then you know what I’m talking about. Simply put, motion playground equipment moves us in ways that static …

“First, do no harm” is a popular mantra of the medical profession. At least that was the phrase that was drilled into me all through my undergraduate and graduate schooling to become an occupational therapist. However, if we want to do no harm to …

Active Play : the act of moving the body via an intrinsic motivation to engage in playful exploration and interaction with others and the environment. Physical activity is important, but often teenagers are left out of the conversation. These days, the …

Pam holds a BS in Physical Education and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction. She has an extensive dance background and competed in Ballroom Dance in Latin Style. Pam has been involved in the fitness industry since she was eighteen and has served as an …

While not everything that moves is living, one of the fundamental tenants of science is that inanimate objects are not alive. Any health professional will tell you that when people stop moving, their lifespan is dramatically reduced. Child developmental …

Thinking about the wonderful and graceful art of swinging takes me back to one of my favorite childhood play experiences, swinging like Tarzan of the jungle on ropes suspended from branches of super tall Douglas fir trees in the Northwest. Swinging has …

“Imagine if you could create a world for your children, one that they would never forget...a magical tree house land filled with action, excitement and squeals of delight, a tree house, fueled by make-believe and the imagination of the young or a tree …

My staff and I conduct playground safety audits all over the country and we often find confusion (by owners, designers, users, and maintenance crews) on what type of equipment should be reviewed to the playground standards. My hope is that the following …

Is it a reasonable expectation of parents that our children are safe when playing on a playground? Safety standards, especially those related to playground safety surfaces, play a huge role in answering this question. But are the safety standards really …

There have been many philosophers and researchers who have made play a central subject of their work: Piaget, Huizinga, Rogers, Parten, Bruner, Dewey, Montessori, Vygotsky and many more. These thinkers have enlightened us and given us new insights to …