Active Kids Are Healthy Kids

KaBOOM! is helping more kids be active

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that empowers communities to build playgrounds, is fighting the epidemic of childhood obesity by helping to build playgrounds where they’re needed most.

It's no secret: active kids are healthier, are less likely to become overweight, do better in school, and learn better social skills than kids who are less active.

But sadly, opportunities for kids to be active are on the decline, as unstructured play becomes less and less a priority in our society.

Fewer kids spend time every day at a park or playground, recess is disappearing from curriculums, and playgrounds are missing from community and neighborhood development plans. This is one of the contributing factors to the increase in childhood obesity in recent years.

Benefits of active play

As many studies have shown, active play is crucial to the well-being of children.

Kids who play are healthier. Kids who play are less likely to be obese and develop obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week.

Kids who play do better in school. Kids who play develop the cognitive skills that are positively linked to learning and academic performance.

Kids who play, play well as adults. Kids who play build their confidence and learn the social skills that help them become happy, well-adjusted adults.

Why aren't kids playing as much as they used to?
Why have today's kids been pronounced the most inactive generation in history? There are at least four big reasons why.

1. Kids are spending more and more time in front of the television or computer.
2. The number of accessible and safe play spaces is decreasing.
3. "Structured" activities such as organized sports are replacing free,"unstructured" play.
4. Under pressure to deliver certain academic assessments, schools are cutting down on the frequency and time kids spend in recess.

If we want a world full of healthy, happy and successful adults, we need to be sure we create a world where kids can play.

You can help!

Helping keep kids active can be as easy as taking a picture or picking up a newspaper. Check out these easy action ideas - some of which only take a few minutes!

Learn more

Read recent studies that have found links between outdoor play and children's overall health.

Check out a comprehensive list of websites related to play and children's health.

Watch a video about how KaBOOM! is fighting the epidemic of childhood obesity.