The United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which
in Article 7 states, "The child shall have full opportunity to play
and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavor to promote the enjoyment of this right."
SAVE THE DATE
Register your event now!
North Carolina Play Daze
September 23, 24 & 25
Organize or participate in a play event or activity in your community, at your school or child care, in a park, or at your faith center.
EVENTS
August 27, 2011 - Nature Play Day @ Hagen-Stone Park
11:00am - 3:00pm
No registration required. Call 336-879-7710
September 23, 2011 - Episcopal Day School
12:00 -
Southern Pines, NC
September 23, 2011 - Nash Community College Child Development Center
10:00 - 3:00
Rocky Mount, NC
September 23, 2011 - Good Sheperd Day School
9:15 - 11:15
Rocky Mounty, NC
September 23, 2011 - Joyland Preschool
All Day
Nashville, NC
For more information call (252) 459-7841.
September 23, 2011 - Cape Fear Community College
All Day
Wilmington, NC
Open to the Public
September 23, 2011 - Elon Recreation Center
2:00 -
Charlotte, NC
September 23, 2011 - Reidsville High School
2:20 - 3:15
Reidsville, NC
September 23, 2011 - Mallard Creek High School
7:15 - 2:15
Charlotte, NC
September 23, 2011 - Brunswick Community College Early Childhood Education Center
9:30 -
Bolivia, NC
September 23, 2011 - Telamon Corporation, Parkway Head Start
11:00 -
Cary, NC
For more information call (919) 657-0577.
September 24, 2011 - Orange County Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation and Play Every Day
8:3am - 2:30pm
Fairview Park, Hillsborough NC
Open to the Public - Flyer - Call for Volunteers -
September 24, 2011 - Kids Together Family Fun & Fitness Walk
10:00am - 12:00pm
Open to the Public. $5 per individuals and $15 per family. Email kidstogther@nc.rr.com for more information
September 24, 2011 - Marbles Kids Museum
9:00am - 5:00pm
Open to the Public. $5 per individual. Email kburgwyn@marbleskidsmuseum.org for more information
September 24, 2011 - Hickory Parks and Recreation
10:00 - 1:00
Hickory, NC
Open to the Public
September 24, 2011 - Ellington Homeowners Association
2:00 -
Clayton, NC
September 24, 2011 - NC Zoo
11:00 - 2:00
Asheboro, NC
Open to the Public
September 24, 2011 - Halyburton Park
All Day
Wilmington, NC
Open to public
September 24, 2011 - Williamsburg Elementary School
5:30 -
Reidsville, NC
Open to parents and families
September 24, 2011 - Smart Start of Rowan County, Trininty Oaks Retirement Community Center
10:00 -11:30
Salisbury, NC
Open to the public
September 24-30, 2011 - Take A Child Outside Week
Brought to you by the North Carolina Musum of Natural Sciences
Make the pledge to take a child outside!
September 25, 2011 - Haw River State Park
1:00 - 4:00
Brown Summit, NC
Open to the Public
September 30, 2011 - Tom Syke Recreation Center
Charlotte, NC
Open to the Public
October 29, 2011 - Nature Play Day @ Bur-Mil Park
11:00am - 3:00pm
No registration required. Call 336-879-7710
June 25, 2011 - Nature Play Day @ Hagan-Stone Park
11:00am - 3:00pm
July 4-7, 2011 - International Play Association Conference in Cardiff, Wales
Photo Set 1 - Photo Set 2 - Photo Set 3
BACKGROUND
Need for Play:
- North Carolina has the 11th highest rate of childhood obesity in the country.
- Children are missing out on the benefits of play that were enjoyed by many generations before, with so many of today’s children being much more structured, supervised and constrained, with few opportunities for free play.
- Adults’ attitudes towards children’s play range from ignoring it, to dismissing it as trivial or a waste of time, to curbing it as something dangerous or subversive, through to appropriating it as a mechanism for learning or socialization.
What is Play:
- PLAY is communication and expression, combining thought and action; it gives satisfaction and a feeling of achievement.
- PLAY is instinctive, voluntary, and spontaneous.
- PLAY helps children develop physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.
- PLAY is a means of learning to live, not a mere passing of time.
- PLAY, along with the basic needs of nutrition, health, shelter and education, is vital to develop the potential of all children.
Benefits of Play: Barriers to Play:
- Health benefits from physical activity - Lack of time - Pleasure and enjoyment - Lack of informal places to play - Emotional regulation - Uninteresting playgrounds - Stress response systems - Lack of inclusion - Attachments - Fear of risk, injury, litigation & social ridicule - Learning and creativity
2011 Outcomes:
1,000 young children more actively engaged through play experiences.
A Call to Action:
Increase awareness in educators, parents and community members for and about the importance of children’s play while increasing the opportunities and time children spend engaged in play.
The Active Play Alliance is made possible by a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation in partnership with Be Active North Carolina. The Early Childhood Active Play Alliance will bring together international, national, and statewide experts to focus on practical efforts for improving the health of young children in North Carolina through playful experiences and opportunities.