September Blog_2020

Blue's Blog September 2020

#bluesblog

September 1, 2020 - pdf version

 

 Hey Friends!

 

Happy September!  Did you know that every year in September Be Active Kids and the Active Play Alliance hold a grassroots campaign to increase active play opportunities for young children.   This campaign is called PlayDaze and it is a day dedicated to playing for the sake of play, without competition, simply to play.  This year, with COVID, PlayDaze may look a little different; no big community events or schoolwide celebration, but my friends at Be Active Kids hope that schools, childcare centers, churches, and families take time to play in a safe way.   It can be for an hour or all day, it can be with your siblings and pets, or maybe with a few friends.    PlayDaze can be in nature or in our own back yard, the ideas is to have the opportunity to be physical active, to be challenged, to be creative, to take risk, to connect and to share in the joy of discovery.     

We know that play is a great for our health.  During the stressful and unprecedented time, play offers children of all ages a means of pleasure and enjoyment.  It helps to provide stress relief and emotional regulation.  Additionally, through play children can learn and be creative.  So let’s play, all of us!

Here are some great ideas to incorporate into a PlayDaze this year (with social distancing in mind):

  • Fort Building

  • Nature Hikes

  • Tree Climbing

  • Loose parts play

  • Creek play

  • Dance Parties

  • Bike rodeos

  • Bubble play

For more information on active play ideas, check out our Be Active Kids Pocket Playcards and our daily posts on our Be Active Kids Facebook page.   

Spread the word and Share pictures, videos, and stories with Be Active Kids on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or through email. We want to see how you are keeping your playful spirit alive and present for all of us to see! The more you share the more chances you have to win a $100 gift card! Share a picture = 1 entry, share a story = 2 entries, share a video = 3 entries, and share two or more of these = 4 entries. We will select one PlayChampion each week throughout September. Use hashtags and labels:  #caughtbeingactive, #wheresblue, and @beactivekids. 

My friends at Be Active Kids will be offering another online Be Active Kids Provider Training.  Be Active Kids offers the only comprehensive physical activity, motor skills, and active play professional development in North Carolina aimed at improving the health of children birth to five.  These fun and interactive opportunities will prepare you to improve the development of the whole child through movement.

Enjoy your September and we look forward to seeing you in October for Farm to School Month and celebrating the beginning of fall! 

 

Blue the Caring Cub

Testimonials

  • Preservice Teachers Learn to Use Be Active Kids in Limited Spaces

    I really enjoyed our class meeting. It was interesting to discover that you can do just about anything with children in the classroom where there may not be much space to encourage them to be active.  A change that I will make in my own life is to be more active, as well as my daughter. I will share this information with my friends that have children such as yoga animals, or Simon Says.

    Cathy Sesta, Parent & Child Care Provider
  • Early Childhood Physical Activity Institute

    Thank you for inviting me to be part of this year’s Institute. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the experience. You’re doing amazing work and I hope I’ll be able to continue contributing to it a bunch in the future.

    Rae Pica, www.movingandlearning.com
  • Plenty of Resources That I Can Use and Share

    This class was informative, and I look forward to being physically active with young children. On Friday, I volunteered at a Parents Night Out through my daughter's school. When I got there the kids were watching a movie. I got them up to play Simon Says and Red Light Green Light, however, after that I was stuck on what to do. I wish I had the knowledge I gained from this class, to have made it more exciting.

    I enjoyed your Land and Lake Activity.

    Venessa Wright, Parent & Child Care Provider
  • Be Active Kids Trainers Rock!

    I loved the training.  I would have loved it more if I had the other teachers from my center there also.  I am really looking forward to taking my kit to work and sharing it with my staff.  I liked Brittney, she reminded me of myself as far as being very active and motivated.  When I am at work with my little ones we stay busy all day.  I feel like singing my instructions and dancing my actions helps them to focus better on what I need for them to do.  Britney was great and I learned a lot from her. I am always trying to find new little ways to get the kids moving.

    Tiffany Daniel, Sandhill Community College
  • ECPAI

    The Early Childhood Physical Activity Institute was just wonderful!  Thank you again for including me in such an important effort to create and sustain leaders in EC physical activity. I would love to return to NC anytime that you think I can help. I enjoyed meeting the folks who work with you and hearing about all of the great things that are planned. 

    Linda Carson, Choosy Kids
  • Be Active Kids has Much to Offer

    Congratulations to you and everyone who has been promoting PA for young
    children in NC. You have much to be proud of here. Be Active Kids is an excellent source of ideas for promoting active play in unstructured settings. The Be Active Kids website also has resources on promoting unstructured active play. I encourage folks to review these resources. 

    Diane Craft, SUNY Cortland & Active Play Books