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 fields, fewer kids are playing in our streets, parks, and playgrounds. — 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 cause in high-need communities. — 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
We must make sure that there is recess and P.E. class in every school, getting kids outside for 60 minutes, every day. — Darell Hammond Copy Share
I was raised in a group home for 14 years, so I was a beneficiary of philanthropy. I didn't have a family. The nameless,… — Darell Hammond Copy Share
