A cultural shift is needed to incorporate exercise into our children's daily lives. — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
When given age-appropriate challenges, children tend to take them very seriously; in fact, the more obvious the risk is, the more cautiously… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
The national nonprofit I founded, 'KaBOOM!,' is on a mission to save play for America's children, and has long been championing the… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Only one in five children in the U.S. lives within walking distance of a park. Many more lack access to a quality… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Our country's growing obsession with organized sports isn't just hurting our children, but also our communities. As play is siphoned off to… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
No child wants to fall off a jungle gym or slide. Accidents are an unfortunate fact of life, but to lower every… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Public swimming pools, recreation centers, summer reading programs, youth jobs programs - they are all shutting their doors. And they are all… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Play is the best natural resource in a creative economy. Kids need more of it. It is the work of childhood. We… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Increased physical activity during the school day can help children's attention, classroom behavior, and achievement test scores. Meanwhile, the decline of play… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Toddlers need to get off the soccer field and onto the playground. Children need to get out of the gym and into… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
If there's one thing that 'No Child Left Behind' has proven, it's that more academics don't make for smarter children - or… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
We know when children have a place to play they live healthier, happier lives. — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
In neighborhoods without a usable park or playground, the incidence of childhood obesity increases by 29 percent. — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
It's absolutely crucial that every child-serving organization - be it an elementary school, daycare, or community center - provide its children with… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
By providing our young children with opportunities for free, child-directed play, along with proper nutrition, we are setting them up for a… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Given that the biggest rise in childhood obesity rates are occurring in children ages 3 to 5 years, we must modify our… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
I hope my organization will not be around in 10 years, because at a national, state, and community level, we will have… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
The lack of free, child-directed play time for our kids today will have dire consequences for these future leaders, making them less… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
During the year, our schools are busy slashing P.E. and recess to make more time for math. During the summer, we get… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
In an era of parental paranoia, lawsuit mania and testing frenzy, we are failing to inspire our children's curiosity, creativity, and imagination.… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Sendak's 1963 classic 'Where The Wild Things Are' has long been a favorite of mine because of the creative imagery, fantastic adventures… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
We are raising today's children in sterile, risk-averse and highly structured environments. In so doing, we are failing to cultivate artists, pioneers… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
We all have a natural instinct to protect children from harm. It's never fun to see a child hurt, even if it's… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Increased physical activity during the school day can help children's attention, classroom behavior, and achievement test scores. Meanwhile, the decline of play is closely… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
As parents, we need to send our kids back to 'old-fashioned' outdoor summer camps, which have been on the decline as the demand for… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Just as playgrounds didn't even make the priority list of most of those responding to Katrina, they all too often slip off the radar… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Growing up in a group home, and with an undiagnosed learning disability to boot, the odds of success were not on my side. But… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Our country's growing obsession with organized sports isn't just hurting our children, but also our communities. As play is siphoned off to gyms and… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
If there's one thing that 'No Child Left Behind' has proven, it's that more academics don't make for smarter children - or even higher… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Only one in five children in the U.S. lives within walking distance of a park. Many more lack access to a quality early childhood… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Public swimming pools, recreation centers, summer reading programs, youth jobs programs - they are all shutting their doors. And they are all facilities and… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
This summer, we need to let our kids go play and we need to stop worrying about whether or not it's going to ruin… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Play is the best natural resource in a creative economy. Kids need more of it. It is the work of childhood. We hope to… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
As I see it, the debate between summer vacation vs. year-round school glosses over the most important questions. Namely, how can we bring play… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing to integrate… — Darell Hammond Copy Share Image
