Play Today

Playable 2010, a brand-new international design competition, invites designers of all types from around the world to design playground equipment and spaces that will "give a sense of place, wonder and fun so strong that they will entice children outdoors to play." You may remember the launch last month, and now they need kids to show the designers what "fun" is all about!

As the kickoff for Playable 2010, Playable Kids is a contest that asks children around the world to draw pictures of what fun looks like to them. Their drawings will serve to educate and inspire the architects, artists, designers, landscape architects and others who will enter the Playable 2010 International Design Competition later this year. It is a great opportunity for kids to use their creativity to help others. The winning "kid designers" will even have the opportunity to be interviewed to explain their "philosophy of play" to the pros! 

The deadline for kids to enter has been extended to Feb. 26 (or Feb. 12 for entries coming from outside the United States). You can download the entry form here (pdf) and instruction sheet here (pdf). More details and entry information can be found on the Playable Kids website.

The competition is presented by the Atlanta Task Force on Play (founded by KaBOOM! Playmaker Cynthia Gentry) and Georgia Tech in partnership with the City of Atlanta, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs; Park Pride; and the Atlanta Beltline.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who put his city on a diet to combat childhood and adult obesity, will be sitting with First Lady Michelle Obama in her box at the State of the Union address tonight.

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting last week, Mrs. Obama discussed the importance of cities getting involved in combating childhood obesity, with, among other things, an emphasis on play. She praised Mayor Cornett specifically for the website he launched - thiscityisgoingonadiet.com - where people can learn how to lose weight and track their weight loss. 

"That's what Mayor Cornett did, when he started talking about the problem of obesity and lost 40 pounds himself to get down to his target weight," she said. "And the people of his city took notice. When he goes to restaurants now, everyone watches what he orders. And a reporter quoted one of his constituents saying, 'When the mayor pushes you to lose weight, that says something.'" 

Mayor Cornett's inclusion at the State of the Union tonight demonstrates the importance of sharing city-wide best practices in combating obesity. If you want your city to get involved in combating obesity by putting greater emphasis on play and outdoor activities, consider getting your city to become a Playful City USA and check our Play Matters report for success stories from cities who made play and the health of their communities a priority.

YMCA's new "Healthy Family Home" resource kit is based around three key principles: play time every day, healthy eating, and family time.

What I love about the way this kit is written is that it not only includes some fun activity ideas, but it emphasizes that play isn't just for kids. Grownups and older siblings should participate, too.

"All family members should be effective role models by participating in all of the guidelines below," it says, and those guidelines include:

• Moderate, fun, physical activity: try for at least a total of 60 minutes every day (which can be spread out in 10 to 15 minute intervals), and include outdoor activity whenever possible.
• Vigorous, fun, physical activity three days a week: aim for 20 minutes total on these days and include outdoor activity whenever possible.
• Bring adults and kids together in physical activities in order to provide opportunities for connecting and modeling positive behavior.
• Limit screen time to less than two hours per day (television, video games, computer). Meals should not be consumed in front of a screen.

You can download the resource kit here (YMCA).