Community playgrounds help promote social, mental, and physical development in kids, but don't take our word for it.....
Experts agree that "...children's spontaneous, self-generated play has tremendous potential to actually enhance brain development and increase kids' intelligence and academic ability..." (http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20021001childsplay1001fnp3.asp)
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "free, unstructured play is essential for keeping children healthy, and for helping them reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones. Unstructured play also helps kids manage stress and become resilient." (http://www.playworks.org/why-play-matters)
"Scientists who study play... are developing a consensus view that play is... a central part of neurological growth and development — one important way that children build complex, skilled, responsive, socially adept and cognitively flexible brains." (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/magazine/17play.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1)
...and the Federal government says kids need at least 60 minutes of play everyday! (http://www.letsmove.gov/getactive.php)
Your donation will help give children in Southwest DC a safe, fun place to get the unstructured activity they need!
