It's time to play!

IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT PLAY and playfulness contribute to happier, more joyful lives. What may not be as apparent is that play also contributes to greater physical and emotional health, increased productivity in the workplace, better ability to learn, stronger relationships, and more.

As Americans and others throughout the world have abandoned play for more "constructive" endeavors, our physical, emotional, social, and mental health are suffering. These deficits manifest through drastically increased obesity rates, rampant Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and decreased creativity One group of people recently decided that it is time to address these issues.

A small group of individuals joined with Clemson University's College of Health, Education and Human Performance to plan and host The Summit on the Value of Play. This important meeting was made possible through the commitment and dedication of the planning committee, the support of Clemson University and the generosity of seven sponsors, IPEMA, BCI Burke, Little Tikes Commercial, Vortex International, Landscape Structures, PlayCore/GameTime, and the largest sponsor, The National Recreation and Park Association with the assistance of The National Recreation and Park Foundation.

The Summit on the Value of Play, which was co-chaired by former director of The National Parks Service and former President of The National Recreation and Park Association, Fran P. Mainella and Chair of Clemson University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Dr. Brett Wright, was a think tank-style summit that pulled together 120 of the greatest minds in play including the nation's leading authorities on the role and value of play from the fields of health, education, human development and recreation. Keynote speakers were selected from among the leaders in the play movement. Keynote addresses were given By Joe Frost, often called the contemporary father of play advocacy, Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, Cheryl Charles, President and CEO of the Children and Nature Network, and Hara Estroff-Marano, Author and Editor-at-large for Psychology Today.

The summit brought these and other presenters together to instruct attendees regarding the cognitive, physical and effective benefits of play, and also provided a venue for participants to articulate the latest thinking and information on the measureable benefits of play on the health, physical activity, and well-being of this nation and its citizens. They highlighted the current political, economic, and social barriers that stifle play and worked toward the identification of existing opportunities and new initiatives necessary to overcome these Barriers. Summit attendees articulated five calls to action.

1. Create a coalition to communicate and advocate for a new play movement. As the coalition grows, coalition leaders will seek to enhance the diversity of perspectives, knowledge, and experience base By targeting youth, adults and groups from many different backgrounds.

2. Synthesize existing research on play as it affects a person's lifelong cognitive, physical, and affective development. Identify the costs to society and individuals that result from lack of play This research will Be made available to the public to educate people about play's important role in healthy living.

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3. Develop a robust national communications campaign promoting the play movement. Seek to inspire families and individuals to change their perceptions and Behaviors regarding the essential value of play.

4. Develop the capacity to advocate for legislation in support of play and work to change liability laws to be friendlier to play.

5. Develop national guidelines for healthy play and healthy communities.

An important follow-up meeting to the seminal Summit on the Value of Play will be held during the 2009 NRPA Congress and anyone who is interested is invited to be involved. This meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15th from 4:00-5:30 pm and will provide a synthesis of work that has been clone thus far, as well as offering more information on how people can become involved with the US Play Coalition. We welcome the involvement of individuals as well as nonprofit, for-profit, government and faith-Based organizations. For more information about the movement please visit www.usPLAYcoalition.clemson.edu. If you would like to advance the cause of play please contact Fran Mainella, at [e-mail].

JOEL AGATE is the Administrator of The US Play Coalition and a Ph.D. student in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University.

FRAN MAINELLA is Co-chair of The US Play Coalition, Visiting Scholar at Clemson University, 16th Director of the National Park Service, former President of NRPA, and current Chair of the National Recreation and Park Foundation.