On the storm-ravaged East Coast, all people want is for things to return to "normal." What does "normal" mean? Adults who remain displaced from their homes no doubt crave the comfort of their own beds, a running refrigerator and a hot shower. But for kids, "normal" might be as simple...

"The people in the Gulf don't need a playground. They need two-by-fours. They need generators."

So I was told when my organization, KaBOOM!, sought financial assistance to build a playground 14 weeks after Hurricane Katrina. With so much devastation, why invest in something so 'superfluous' when residents were still struggling...

An elementary school without a playground? It seems unfathomable, but it is the sad reality for a surprising number of schools today. Playgrounds are becoming an afterthought, a "nice-to-have" school feature, but not one that is considered vital to a student's academic achievement.

In Milwaukee, an ordinance requiring...

Our kids are falling behind in their reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic and the solution, of course, is more school. Whether that takes the form of summer school or year-round school, we have come to believe that more indoor desk time is what our kids need to avoid the "summer slide."

The news of Maurice Sendak's passing has caused an outpouring of tributes from writers, actors, politicians and other public figures across the globe. While they are all touching, the one that struck me the most was from rapper Talib Kweli: "Maurice Sendak. Thank you for your contributions to...

It's National Playground Safety Week, but I'm not celebrating. In fact, I'd like to propose a National Playground Danger Week instead.

Don't get me wrong: I appreciate playground safety. As the CEO of a national nonprofit that has built over 2,000 playgrounds in 15 years, there are certain precautions I'm...

Does a child's zip code determine his or her chances of becoming obese? A new study suggests that the answer is yes.

Published April 10 in a special issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, "Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments, Child and Parent Obesity: The Neighborhood Impact on Kids...

This is a big week for KaBOOM!. The whole team of Boomers -- what we call ourselves -- is gathering for our annual retreat, otherwise known as Play Academy. We put a lot of effort into our time together making sure it is both meaningful and fun, because...

As the leader of KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization committed to helping our kids have fun, be more active, and improve their overall health and well-being, I have been watching Let's Move with great interest since they launched two years ago. I am encouraged by the progress they've made in...

Davos, Switzerland is not an easy place to get to and the weather conditions are pretty extreme this time of year (we saw more snow in Davos this week than they have in 42 years!). The political leaders, corporate CEOs, media and citizens of our world who participate...

Twenty-five hundred citizens from around the world have descended on the snowy ski resort of Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. This year's theme is The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models. I like that it is about 'shaping' new models and not necessarily 'creating' them....

I was humbled and honored to be recognized as a Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year. One of the benefits is an invitation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, being held January 25-29. In considering what a community builder and play advocate brings to...

The holidays are a wondrous time of year, and I can't think of anything more wonderful than the joy brought to a child from a simple toy. With high tech gadgets all around us, it is tempting to rush out and buy the latest electronic games. This holiday season I...

Want to know a frightening fact? In neighborhoods without a usable park or playground, the incidence of childhood obesity increases by 29 percent.

As part of our recent Scary Playgrounds! Let's Find 'Em and Fix 'Em contest, my national nonprofit KaBOOM! asked folks across the country...

Will the next generation have a Steve Jobs?

The forecast doesn't look good. In an era of parental paranoia, lawsuit mania and testing frenzy, we are failing to inspire our children's curiosity, creativity, and imagination. We are denying them opportunities to tinker, discover, and explore -- in short, to...

Football may have saved my life. Growing up in a group home, and with an undiagnosed learning disability to boot, the odds of success were not on my side. But when I joined the high school football team, I learned the value of discipline, focus, persistence, and teamwork -- all...

This week, our Congress will be returning from their August recess -- a yearly tradition that recognizes the human need to take a break from a grueling schedule and spend some time playing.

At the same time, as children across the country return to school, some will find that...

Aaah, summer -- that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It's a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swimming strokes, conquer trees, explore nooks and crannies, and make new friends. In short, summer is a time for unstructured play, bringing...

While children count down the days until summer, one question looms large for their parents: "What are they going to do?" Summer should be a time for roaming, discovering and running outside -- but unfortunately, for all too many kids, more free time means more screen time and more structured...

There is one noticeable difference between childhood and adulthood -- adults aren't really "supposed" to play. Oh, they can play sports or board games, and even occasionally participate in scavenger hunts, but grown-ups can't go run around screaming just because they feel like it, and it's certainly not socially acceptable...