Mark Your Calendar

16 Sep 2009

by Anne Keisman

in Benefits, Play, Health Issues, Policy, Education, Resources

Fall is a great season for quality outdoor time: The temperature mellows, leaves change color, birds migrate, and acorns and pine cones litter the ground. There's so much to do and observe!

The movement is growing, as more and more parents realize that time outside is key to health and happiness. Mark your calendars for these three "outdoor" days coming up, organized by like-minded groups:

• Take a Child Outside Week: On Sept. 24-30, take a pledge to go outside with a child. The website has activities and a map of participating organizations in your area. It's a national event sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
• Walk To School Day: On Oct. 7, leave the car keys at home, ignore the bus stop, and have your kids walk to school. The National Center for Safe Routes To School has tips on how to make this happen.
• Take It Outside Week: On Oct. 19-23, day care centers are invited to join Head Start Centers across the country to "take it outside." Check out these downloadable activities from Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play.

Check it out: There's great article in the New York Times about the "walk-to-school" movement.