KaBOOM! News • page 8

Over the summer, we challenged parents across the country to visit as many playgrounds as they could -- and to document them on our Map of Play. Sixty-five moms and dads rose to the Challenge with gusto (and earned some cool prizes along the way)! See the impressive results below. 

Inspired to join? The summer may be over, but the Challenge goes on! Visit our Map of Play for details. 

Over the past few weeks, two Ohio parents have become Internet celebrities for the 12-foot-high roller coaster they built for their kids out of PVC pipe. We are duly impressed. Though we build nearly 200 playgrounds a year, we have yet to build a roller coaster. 

Do you know what's even more impressive? In California, a group of tweens and teens are building their own roller coaster at Gever Tulley's Tinkering School. That means they not only get to experience the thrill of the ride, but are also learning valuable construction and engineering lessons along the way.

See more photos here.

This summer, sidewalk chalk has been under attack. A neighborhood HOA in Colorado tried to ban chalk art from its common spaces, and a 29-year-old mom in Richmond, Va., was sentenced for letting her four-year-old daughter draw with chalk on some park rocks.

It's time to stand up for sidewalk chalk! On Tuesday, August 21, join Chalk the Walks, a national annual event, to spread joy through this wonderful, whimsical -- and did we mention, washable?! -- medium.

Chalk the walks with your neighbors and friends -- and remember, sidewalk chalk isn't just for kids! Here's some inspiration to get your juices flowing:

Our Summer Playground Challenge just drew to a close, during which over 60 parents explored local playgrounds with their kids, adding over 4,000 new photos to our Map of Play! We asked our newly minted play experts what it is that distinguishes a good playground from a great one.

From their many thoughtful responses, we’ve culled the 5 C’s of a great playground:

1. Creative

Many post-and-platform playgrounds offer the same play options over and over again. A great playground offers something new.

“I like playgrounds that offer interesting options to play on. Clambering up huge tires versus a wall or having a four person teeter-totter as opposed to two changes things up a little.” – Fezeka Saige

2. Comfortable

A great playground offers simple amenities that keep parents and kids playing longer.

“Shade and water fountains are a must! Children usually want to play during the afternoon but with the sun many times it’s not possible. Clean water fountains are also extremely important since kids finish exhausted after so much play.” – Alicia Vazquez

3. Communal

A great playground isn’t just for kids. It’s a gathering space for an entire community, from tots to teens to grandparents.

“I look for a sense of community in a playground. I also like seeing people of all ages... from older people practicing tai chi or playing chess and answering questions from my kids, to the teenagers, to the parents of kids like myself.” – Alex Nguyen

4. Conspicuous

A playground that’s hard to find risks being underutilized. A visible playground teeming with children inspires passersby to stop and play! 

I think [playgrounds] are best when people can see that they are there and that people are playing there. – Dana Wheatley

5. Connected

We know that play is not limited to the playground! A great playground is connected to other play opportunities, particularly green space or other natural elements. 

“My favorites have always been those with lots of trees… and trails for riding bikes. Bonus: if the playground has great view!! We have some here on top of the hill or on higher parts of the city, and it's such a pleasure to be at those playgrounds.”  - Annie

Photos from to bottom: Angelika Paul, KT, torbakhopper (cc), Sasha Yetter.

Waterparks are tons of fun, but often expensive and out-of-the-way. Why not cool off downtown, for free? Everyone loves the hypnotic aesthetic appeal of a fountain, but what's even better than admiring a fountain is playing in one!

Here are some of our favorite shots of downtown summer fun:

“When you are a kid you get to ride bikes, scooters, play with toys and use your imagination. You don’t have to go to work or do all the things old people do.” These are wise words from Caine, the boy who became an Internet sensation for his cardboard arcade and who recently reflected on growing older for his 10th birthday.

While we hope that adults still find time to play, Caine is right that childhood is a particularly opportune time to explore, discover, and create. The good news is that at age 10, he still has a few years before officially making the transition from “child” to “adolescent,” and we hope he makes the most of them!

To help him out, we’ve created a bucket list of things every kid should do before turning 13. Of course, we could go on and on, but here (in no particular order) are 23 things we consider essential. What would you add?

1. Wallow in mud
2. Run down a dune, roll down a hill
3. Swim in an ocean, lake, or river
4. Touch the sky with your toes
5. Climb a tree, scale a boulder
6. Jump off a rope swing
7. Build a fort for a secret club
8. Dig a hole deeper than you are tall
9. Scrape a knee, bruise an elbow, or break an arm
10. Hang upside down
11. Eat dirt
12. Throw a snowball
13. Invent a recipe
14. Sell homemade lemonade from a homemade lemonade stand
15. Make something with a cardboard box
16. Take apart a piece of machinery and put it back together again
17. Crown yourself King or Queen of the forest
18. Catch a bug in your hands
19. Build a fire
20. Plant something
21. Jump in a pile of leaves
22. Bury a treasure and draw a treasure map
23. Wear a cape

Photos (top to bottom) by Rob (cc), Kerala Taylor, David (cc), and chascar (cc).

Let the games begin! Since our brave Playground Challengers are spending quite a bit of time playing this summer, we asked them what Olympic events their kids would rock... if the Olympics were held at the playground.

Here are five of our favorite new Playground Olympic events -- plus one event we hope your kids don't champion!

In which of the following would your kids take home the Gold? Got any new Playground Olympic events to add to our list?

Do you have Olympic fever? We do. After all, the Olympics encapsulates many of the elements that make outdoor play so critical: teamwork, skill development, challenge, and fitness, to name just a few.

This Saturday, July 28, As First Lady Michelle Obama leads the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games, she’s calling on families around the country to support Team USA, not just by cheering on our athletes, but also by organizing their own Olympic Fun Days.

Since we can’t think of any more fitting place to hold your own Olympics than at the playground, here are five Olympic-inspired playground games:

1. Slide shotput: Place a bucket at the bottom of a slide. Competitors must each “put” five tennis balls down the slide. The one who gets the most in the bucket wins the gold.
    
2. Monkey relay: Divide into teams and hold relay races across the monkey bars. To discourage recklessness, competitors must balance something on their heads—may we suggest a stuffed monkey? If the monkey falls off, the contestant must start over.
    
3. Synchronized swinging: Teams swing together for 30 seconds each. A panel of judges determines which team is the most synchronized.
    
4. Long swing jump: This one is already a classic playground favorite—who can jump the farthest off the swing?
    
5. Playground ping-pong: Teams of two volley a ping-pong ball across various pieces of playground equipment, like slides, swingsets, monkey bars, and jungle gyms. The team who can keep the ball going the longest wins. Particularly recommended for teens and tweens!

Find an Olympic Fun Day near you, or organize your own at Meetup.com. What are your ideas for Olympic playground games? Please share in the Comments section below!

Photo by Wayne Silver (cc).
 

As you may know, we at KaBOOM! are big fans of ice cream -- and it's not just because we were the first nonprofit to have its own Ben & Jerry's flavor. Ice cream, in moderation, brings joy to children's lives. And it is best relished outside, after a day full of outdoor play.

So of course we were excited to learn that July is National Ice Cream Month! Why not pay homage to this exquisitlely frosty treat by making your own? You don't need any fancy equipment -- just ice, salt, tape, and a coffee can.

The best part? Your kids can get a healthy dose of outdoor play while they're at it. Here's how:

Are your kids getting enough outdoor play this summer? We wish we could tell you to open your front door and shoo them outside, but sadly, many will find only empty streets, void of other kids to play with.

We can help you fix that. Here are five ways you can save play in your community, by not only getting your kids outside, but also the whole neighborhood. Click on each photo below for instructions on how to get started. Then, go play!