With the first snowfall of the season comes lots of excitement. Our yards become covered in a glistening white blanket of fresh powder as children rush outside to build snowmen and launch snowballs through the air. There are endless possibilities for outdoor adventure. It is always fun to take a more creative approach to outdoor play by putting a twist on typical winter activities. Follow the leader, a classic children’s game, can be spiced up, making it the perfect activity

As a child, one of the most exciting parts of Halloween is getting to run around the neighborhood and play with friends, both old and new. It’s also the perfect time to encourage children to go explore and engage in creative play outdoors, before the weather turns cold. Halloween is when children’s imaginations will be running wild as they think of creative costumes, spooky stories, and excuses as to why they need “just one more” piece of candy. Channeling this already flowin

For those of us in the north, we have grown accustomed to below freezing temperatures. We are no stranger to seven thermal layers, the sound of heaters blasting, and the need to keep close to the fireplace between the months of November and March. Even though the weather outside might not be the best, the mission of keeping our children’s creative juices flowing throughout winter is still a priority. Free play is proven to have a large impact on child development. It helps th

As much as playing outside benefits your children physically, it also helps them find their voice. Outdoor play improves kids’ communications and academic skills, especially reading and writing. The play-worlds created by children have an important role in language and literacy development. They are worlds of stories, conflict, negotiation and experimentation. What opportunities does outdoor-play offer for literacy development? Exploring words and print in the environment. Fo

While kids nowadays are technology experts, they are also missing out on a huge part of their childhood. Yes, some video games might improve kids’ hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and even teach them basic technical skills that will reap rewards down the road— but something seems to be missing. What happened to pure child-like freedom where anything is possible and imaginations run wild? Do kids still experience the same joy, connection and carefree laughter as

The days of families being represented by “Cheaper By The Dozen” and “18 kids and counting” are over. In 1930, the ideal number of children per household was at least five kids. Those large families could go outside and start a game of kick the can, or ghost in the graveyard, very easily. “The bigger the family, the better” was a way of life, and kids were always seen outside running, playing, and having fun. Today according to Gallup, an analytics organization, the ideal n

Get up and get active! Here’s why Project Play believes in reintroducing backyard games to this generation of children. A Cost-Free Solution Being active is essential to living a healthier life. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Project Play’s mission is to reintroduce the simple nature traditional outdoor games provide. No high-level equipment or monthly fees are needed, just some creativity and fun is all it takes. No Technology Required In t