Day 153: National Backyard Games Week

National Backyard Games Week (May 23 - May 30) Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start of summer. But, kids can enjoy the outdoors for a whole week prior to the holiday. The 12th National Backyard Games Week begins the Monday before Memorial Day and ends the Monday of Memorial Day. The week-long celebration was introduced by Patch Products to promote physical activity among kids, parents and teachers through participation in backyard games.

If weather permits, play a different outdoor game each day of the week or enjoy several games on one day. From water games to group games, everyone can participate in National Backyard Games Week.

There are so many outdoor activities at all age and ability levels. Think back to your childhood. What were the games you loved to play? Do you remember kick-the-can? Red rover? Red light, green light? One of the many versions of tag? Or did you prefer to climb trees, chase butterflies and build forts with lawn chairs and blankets? Whatever you loved to do as a child, help instill a love and appreciation of movement and togetherness. Celebrate National Backyard Games Week. You’ll become a child again.

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America's children.

Their mission is to create great play spaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, they envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Play is on the decline throughout America. Not enough play spaces are being built, and those that exist are often in disrepair. Fears surrounding lawsuits and safety are trumping common sense, resulting in sterile, uninspired play environments. Recess is being eliminated from our nation’s schools. Kids are overscheduled, and in their free time, many choose to stay indoors, lulled by television, computers and video games.

The deficit of child’s play is sad, since it means a world with less laughter and joy. And it has grave implications for our society and our future. KaBOOM! fights this troubling play deficit, and its many related problems, through three central strategies:

• Constructing innovative, kid-inspired play spaces, using a community-build model that improves the well-being of the children we serve as well as the neighborhoods in which they live.
• Sharing the knowledge and tools needed for anyone to find, improve, and/or build playgrounds on their own.
• Building a broad movement driven by research, analysis, policy, and community engagement.

To date, KaBOOM! has built over 1,900 playgrounds, saving play for over 3.5 million children.

Donation $5

To support KaBOOM!, please visit:  http://kaboom.org/