Play It Forward

Play It Forward is our playground beautification fundraiser at FLOE Academy.

Engaging children aged birth to five years in gross motor play and outdoor activities is crucial for their overall development and in combating childhood obesity. Here are some statistics and insights highlighting the importance of these activities:

Physical Development and Obesity Prevention:

• Reduced Obesity Risk: A 2006 survey analysis suggests that for every additional minute a child spends outdoors each day, their likelihood of being obese decreases by approximately 1%. Playworld
• Motor Skill Development: Regular outdoor play enhances motor skills, which is essential for physical development. Children who play outside more often are more energetic than their sedentary counterparts, meaning they’re less likely to become obese. Miracle Recreation

Current Trends in Outdoor Playtime:

• Limited Outdoor Activity: Nearly 40% of preschool-aged children play outdoors for one hour or less per day on weekdays, with variations observed across different sociodemographic and neighborhood characteristics. PMC

Health Benefits of Outdoor Play:

• Enhanced Physical Health: Regularly spending time outdoors increases opportunities for infants and toddlers to crawl, toddle, walk, climb, and run freely, contributing to improved large motor skills and overall fitness levels. HeadStart.gov

These findings underscore the critical role of gross motor play and outdoor activities in promoting physical health, enhancing motor skills, and reducing the risk of obesity among young children.

Having a developmentally appropriate outcome is important because children are getting less time outside. This comes from a variety of things including but not limited to, unsafe environments and increased technology. Outside play and gross motor development teaches children how to run, jump, hop, and walk. These donations to help beautify the playground will benefit all of the children of FLOE Academy. It will provide safe turf to help prevent major injuries. It will also provide more developmentally appropriate toys for them.