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How One Man's Passion for Play Inspired a Movement to Save It

Griffin Mitchell

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Published in KaBOOM : How One Man Built A Movement To Save Play

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In a world where children are increasingly pressured to succeed academically and spend more time on screens, one man is on a mission to save play.

KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play

by Darell Hammond

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Richard Louv, author of the influential book Last Child in the Woods, has dedicated his life to promoting the importance of play for children's physical, mental, and emotional health. Louv believes that play is essential for children to develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and a sense of wonder about the world.

Louv's work has inspired a movement to save play. In 2005, he founded the Children & Nature Network, a non-profit organization that works to connect children with nature and promote the importance of play. The network has over 1,000 member organizations in 45 countries, and it has helped to create hundreds of new play spaces for children.

Louv's work has also helped to raise awareness of the importance of play in schools. In 2013, the National Education Association released a report on the importance of play in early childhood education. The report found that play helps children to develop language skills, social skills, and problem-solving skills. It also found that play can help to reduce stress and anxiety in children.

Thanks to Louv's work, there is a growing movement to save play. More schools are incorporating play into their curriculum, and more parents are making time for their children to play. Louv's work is helping to ensure that future generations of children will have the opportunity to experience the benefits of play.

The Importance of Play

Play is essential for children's development. It helps them to learn, grow, and thrive. Play allows children to develop their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social skills. It also helps them to reduce stress and anxiety, and it can even improve their physical health.

There are many different types of play, and each type has its own benefits. Active play, such as running, jumping, and playing sports, helps children to develop their physical fitness. Creative play, such as drawing, painting, and building with blocks, helps children to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. Social play, such as playing with friends and family, helps children to develop their social skills.

All types of play are important for children's development. However, in recent years, children have been spending less and less time playing. This is due in part to the increasing pressure to succeed academically, as well as the rise of screen time.

The decline in play is having a negative impact on children's development. Children who do not play enough are more likely to have problems with attention, behavior, and social skills. They are also more likely to be overweight and obese.

The Movement to Save Play

Richard Louv's work has helped to raise awareness of the importance of play, and it has inspired a movement to save play. This movement is working to promote the importance of play in schools, communities, and families.

There are many different ways to get involved in the movement to save play. You can advocate for more play spaces in your community, you can volunteer at a local after-school program, or you can simply make more time for your children to play.

By getting involved in the movement to save play, you can help to ensure that future generations of children will have the opportunity to experience the benefits of play.

What You Can Do

There are many things that you can do to help save play. Here are a few ideas:

Advocate for more play spaces in your community.
Volunteer at a local after-school program.
Make more time for your children to play.
Talk to your friends and family about the importance of play.
Support organizations that are working to promote play.

By taking action, you can help to ensure that future generations of children will have the opportunity to experience the benefits of play.

Play is essential for children's development. It helps them to learn, grow, and thrive. The movement to save play is working to promote the importance of play in schools, communities, and families. By getting involved in this movement, you can help to ensure that future generations of children will have the opportunity to experience the benefits of play.

KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play

by Darell Hammond

4.4 out of 5