Day 128: National Playground Safety Week

April 25-29, 2011 - National Playground Safety Week is a time to focus on children's outdoor play environments. A time to pledge to use good judgment when playing. A time for gratitude for all the adults who work tirelessly on maintaining our playgrounds. With spring in the air and children returning outdoors to play, encouraging playground safety is important to remember.

National Playground Safety Week has three goals: to focus on children's outdoor play areas, to teach kids how to play safely, and to thank adults who work to make and keep playgrounds safe.

For the week of National Playground Safety it is hoped that parents become informed and warned  of the many dangers associated with playground use. As the weather improves, more and more children will be playing in public parks on playgrounds, and parents should pay extra attention to avoid injury. Some safety tips were offered by Consumer Reports and help caretakers understand the many risks associated with monkey bars and swings.

At Playworks, they envision communities where all children are able to safely play. This vision depends on adults - both at school and outside of school - who make it possible for kids to play and be physically active.

The Playworks mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that supports learning by providing safe, healthy and inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day.

Research shows that play is essential to child development and an invaluable tool for improving school climate. And quality recess and playtime also helps children return to the classroom more focused and ready to learn. 

Playworks is the only nonprofit organization in the country to send trained, full-time program coordinators, called "coaches" to low-income, urban schools, where they transform recess and play into a positive experience that helps kids and teachers get the most out of every learning opportunity throughout the school day. The coaches become part of the school community, working full-time to provide organized play and physical activity through the five components of the Playworks program. They organize games and activities during recess, provide individual class game times and run a leadership development program during school hours. They also run Playworks tutoring and physical activity programs and developmental sports leagues during after school hours.

Donation $5

To support Playworks, please visit:  http://www.playworks.org/