National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play

Bethe's Blog (83)

12 Fun Ways to Get Young Children Moving

rake baby

Did You Know?

Physical activity for young children is an important component of early brain development and learning. And for children that means one…

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Added by Bethe on January 2, 2013 at 2:58pm — No Comments

To all of our early childhood educators...

Added by Bethe on May 8, 2012 at 2:04pm — 1 Comment

outdoor play: when benefits outweigh the risks

These three intrepid 3 year old master builders solved the problem of how to make a tower of milk crates tall enough to reach the sandpit shade cloth by cleverly creating a system of steps:

Read more of this great post by Jenny Kable on her terrific blog,…

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Added by Bethe on March 6, 2012 at 9:06am — No Comments

Happy Holidays!

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney…

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Added by Bethe on December 23, 2011 at 11:29am — No Comments

Help HSBS Raise Program Awareness!

On Facebook? So are we!

Please take a minute to "Like" us on Facebook to help us raise awareness about HSBS and all the great work that is going on across the country. And tell your…

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Added by Bethe on December 16, 2011 at 11:48am — No Comments

Whether you have snow on the ground where you live or not, winter is a great time to play outdoors! Though many of us have the urge to hibernate during the coldest months of the year, Mother Nature has a so much beauty and wonder in store.

Forget about cabin fever! If you dress…

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Added by Bethe on November 29, 2011 at 12:23pm — No Comments

Heads Up! Get Your November eNews from HSBS

Each month, HSBS puts out our Heads Up! eNewsletter which is chock full of useful information for the early childhood community.

Check out the November issue today.…

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Added by Bethe on November 17, 2011 at 10:50am — No Comments

Head Start Body Start Intervention Has Increased Physical Activity Levels For More Than 28,000 Children

RESTON, VA , November 9, 2011 — More than 1,500 grants to improve Head Start centers' outdoor play spaces and educate staff, children and their families about the value of physical activity and playing outdoors, have led to a dramatic increase in the outdoor activity levels of more than 28,000…

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Added by Bethe on November 10, 2011 at 12:01pm — No Comments

Teacher Tom on Outdoor Learning

One of my favorite bloggers is Tom Hobson, better known as Teacher Tom. I loved his recent post on outdoor learning and hope that you find it inspirational as well.

From his post Learning at Full Capacity:

There are few things that get under my skin more than the common knowledge that children need to spend time outside to "blow off steam." I know it's well intended, and the result is that children do get to be outside, but implied…

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Added by Bethe on October 27, 2011 at 7:52am — 1 Comment

If We Don't Let Our Children Play, Who Will Be the Next Steve Jobs?

In his latest piece in the Huffington Post, KaBOOM! CEO Darell Hammond asks, Will the next generation have a Steve Jobs?

The forecast doesn't look good. In an era of parental paranoia, lawsuit mania and testing frenzy, we are failing to inspire our children's curiosity, creativity, and imagination. We are denying them opportunities to tinker, discover, and explore -- in short, to play.…

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Added by Bethe on October 24, 2011 at 10:01am — No Comments

Happy Take it Outside Week!!

Added by Bethe on October 17, 2011 at 8:43am — No Comments

Head Start families encouraged to promote exercise, healthy eating

From the State-Journal Register:

Games to promote exercise and healthy eating were on the menu during Thursday's health fair for Head Start families and teachers. The event was sponsored by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Springfield Urban League Head Start and coincided with National Childhood Obesity Month, which ends today. The event was held at St.… Continue

Added by Bethe on September 30, 2011 at 3:22pm — No Comments

CVS Caremark Inclusive Play $5,000 Grant -- Deadline Oct 31st!

CVS Caremark Inclusive Play $5,000 Grant

Deadline Oct. 31, 2011

Grants to support Children with Disabilities

We support programs targeting children under age 21 with disabilities that address any of the following:

Enabling and Encouraging Physical Movement and Play – We believe that play is essential to healthy…

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Added by Bethe on September 28, 2011 at 7:29am — No Comments

Head Start: Making a Good Thing Better

This week, OHS National Direct Yvette Sanchez Fuentes took to Huffington Post to talk about today's Head Start. Here is an excerpt for the article:

It takes a lot more than the ABC's and a working knowledge of colors to get ready for kindergarten. As 1 million low-income…

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Added by Bethe on September 16, 2011 at 12:35pm — No Comments

City Enacting New Preschool Health Goals

Kudos to Chicago for taking positive steps for their preschoolers. It's so good to hear some good news for a change -- and EXTRA applause for limiting screen time! The importance of this strategy for caregivers, educators and especially families cannot be understated. …

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Added by Bethe on September 15, 2011 at 9:32am — No Comments

Celebrate Take it Outside Week!

Join Head Start Body Start and early childhood educators & caretakers across the country (and globe!) as we celebrate Take it Outside Week October 16 - 22nd, 2011! Help us raise awareness of the benefits of outdoor play and learning for all children -- and have a lot of FUN in the…

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Added by Bethe on September 7, 2011 at 11:52am — No Comments

Join the Conversation -- Getting the Most out of Our Online Community

With so many new folks joining, I thought this was worth a re-post!

I like to think of our online community as a big sandbox. Everyone is welcome -- and we are all happy to share our…

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Added by Bethe on August 16, 2011 at 7:33am — No Comments

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!

…

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Added by Bethe on July 1, 2011 at 11:30am — No Comments

My Go To Early Childhood Blogs

Hi all! I thought I would take a minute and share some of my favorite blogs out there for folks interested in early childhood education, outdoor play and related topics. There are some amazing bloggers that offer lots of inspiration and ideas to help young children move, play and learn both inside and…

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Added by Bethe on June 28, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

2011 HSBS Play Space Grant Winners Announced!

Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the country are jumping for joy, and we can't blame them! 436 programs have been awarded the 2011 Play Space grants to enhance existing outdoor play spaces -- or create new ones.

We couldn't be more excited, and look forward to…

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Added by Bethe on June 13, 2011 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments