The Importance of Children Playing Outside

In a recent commentary in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, Medford (MA) writer and editor Phil Primack wrote about the importance of children having opportunities for unstructured outside play time.

To access his essay, please visit:

Boston Globe Magazine: The unused playground (12 SEP 10)

A growing concern is being raised about children and other people spending too much time away from the outdoors. Sentiments of this nature have come from the President of the United States; from national, state, and local recreation and park agencies and associations; and from other people of a variety of different backgrounds.

A number of federal agencies are working together to promote the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, an effort to promote and support innovative community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces and to reconnect Americans to the outdoors. This initiative includes a 21st century conservation agenda designed to build on successes in communities across the country and to start a national dialogue about conservation that supports the efforts of private citizens and local communities.

For more information about this initiative and other resources related to connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors, please visit:

America's Great Outdoors Initiative

Outdoors Alliance for Kids

Children & Nature Network

Outdoor Foundation

Outdoor Nation