The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the rate of childhood and adolescent obesity has nearly tripled over the last 20 years. Playgrounds, free play, and outdoor physical activity programs, play a critical role in providing resources to get kids moving again!
This workshop provides valuable information for effectively designing play environments and leading standards-based activities to increase children’s physical activity and fitness levels by maximizing the use of your playground.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize current research on national childhood obesity epidemic, national initiatives, and trends that encourage children to meet recommended physical activity guidelines.
- Define three strategies for designing play environments that promote active movement and overall fitness through utilization of the six key elements of play.
- Describe at least two developmental benefits of balancing, brachiating, spinning, swinging, sliding, and climbing.
- Discuss a variety of ways to utilize outdoor play environments to bring learning outdoors and promote physical activity.