Play Outdoors: First the Oscars… Now Watch us on YouTube!

By Heidi Drake

If you weren’t among the lucky attendees at Global Green’s pre-Oscar party this year, you haven’t seen the most hilarious YouTube webisode on the planet!

Now you can. Play Outdoors is super stoked to bring you Lance Armstrong Can Ride Circles Around My Dad, the first installment in our new YouTube series at PlayOutdoorsTV. Sick of watching the teaser over and over? The full version is here for your viewing pleasure!

We’re so sure you’re gonna pee your pants laughing at this family’s cycling antics, we’ve got more webisodes on the way to help us spread the ruckus and bust your guts. Can you imagine a family camping trip with this crew?

Kids Suck at Riding Bikes: a Video Teaser

Announcing PlayOutdoorsTV on YouTube!

By Heidi Drake

It’s true—kids aren’t born knowing how to do stuff like surf and ride bikes. We parents are entrusted with the job of introducing our offspring to outdoor family adventures, which doesn’t necessarily mean we’re actually qualified to do so.

Like the dad in Lance Armstrong Can Ride Circles Around My Dad, the first installment in our new mini series. Head on over to check out the teaser, and get ready for the full version world premiering on March 15, 2011!

Movie Review: Toy Story 3

We know you can't Play Outdoors ALL the time, so stay tuned for more ways to raise a ruckus and have fun with your kids--we've got movie reviews, art that will inspire your family, smartphone apps, and more, all coming up on the Campfire Blog.

By Angela Shatting

It’s true that Disney/Pixar’s phenomenal Toy Story 3 instantly falls into the “family friendly” category because of its G rating; however, I call it a family film because my husband, daughter and I all completely enjoyed the movie.  And now it’s out on DVD, just in time for the Holidays--it’s a great film to pop in during a party or to kill an evening with the in-laws (who haven’t said how long they’re staying…).

Even though we knew the toys would be enthralling, we weren’t sure about two-year-old Olive’s attention span and reaction to “bad guys” she might find scary, but when a local theatre ran TS3 for $3 and free admission for kids, we gave it a try. Olive sat through the whole thing—not even a potty break!  And Lotso, the bully of the film, didn’t seem to bother her.  She wasn’t the exception either; the 4-foot-and-under crowd was completely focused on the screen, with occasional outbursts of giggles, shouts of encouragement and cheers of excitement.  I’d expected meltdowns, children escaping under the cover of darkness and wreaking havoc in the aisles, and other mishaps during the 2-hour movie—it never happened!  The only parental disciplinary action I heard was directed at a savvy boy who commented on Barbie and Ken’s relationship...I’ll leave that one to your imagination.

Keep the TV Off This Winter!

Finding healthy ways to spend time away from the tube.

By Meredith Russell

What would you do with 32 extra hours a week? Sleep? Exercise? Sounds like a lot of extra time, doesn’t it? A new study from Nielsen reveals that children from age two to five spend 32 hours per week in front of the television! And it’s no wonder: the results also show that more than one third of children under age seven have a TV in their bedroom.

Study after study has shown negative associations with children watching television, from decreased language skills to sleep problems to difficulties in school. Even Disney has gotten in on the controversy:  Disney is now offering refunds for its Baby Einstein videos. After the Federal Trade Commission received complaints regarding Disney’s “unsubstantiated claims” that their videos were educational for babies, Disney changed its advertising and is providing refunds. 

In fact, there is not one negative sited behind removing or time-limiting the TV in your home. Some argue that kids will feel left out when their peers begin discussing shows, TV characters or video games. The bottom line is that while this is true, there are ways to bridge this gap and expose your kids in some capacity, either through certain movies, shows or sports, to participate and feel included without the negatives.

So, how do we improve our family’s TV habits, especially as it gets colder and darker and harder to convince our children to play outside? Following guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, families can take control of the tube and change their watching patterns. 

Talk It Through

Depending on your child’s age, talk as a family about making some changes. Write down your plan for when, what, and how much television will be watched on a weekly basis. Brainstorm together on how to spend more time outside enjoying winter sports. Everyone can list some indoor activities to enjoy on those yucky days: games, crafts, looking at old photos. Be a role model and let your children know specific ways you will be changing your TV habits also.

Connect With Your Community and Help Save Play!

Play Outdoors is proud to feature guest author Bethe Almeras!

“Play is the work of children.” - Friedrich Froebel

If play is the work of children, then today’s kids have been laid-off – pink-slipped, like countless adults in this country. In today’s society, children spend 50% less time outside than they did just 20 years ago. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids spend 6.5 hours a day on electronic media. Astonishing, isn’t it? That is A LOT of time spent sitting interacting with a screen.

Afternoons spent playing outdoors are quickly becoming a thing of the past. And that’s not good news – for anybody. Play is linked to physical, mental, and emotional health benefits, as well as educational and learning readiness for children. Yet despite all the evidence on the benefits of and need for play, and the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and other health problems, play continues to lose footing in society.

It’s time for that to change. Let’s bring the cry to, “Go outside and play!” back, and show this generation how fun it can be!