Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play and Family Dinner Day!

Why Play? | Fun Play Ideas | Why Family Dinner? | Family Dinner Day Tips |

There are some fun events coming up this week for families and kids! Saturday is Worldwide Day of Play and Monday is Family Day , a day to enjoy family dinner together!

Learn more about the activities,  join others in your local community or take some time to celebrate the events with your family in your own way at home. We will share some ideas on how to participate, so you can have fun and healthy time with your kids on these special days.

Plus, you'll find facts about the importance of play and family dinners and some great resources to support your family to make playtime and family dinner a healthy (and FUN!) part of any week!

Saturday September 24 is the Worldwide Day of Play- Nickelodeon event, with participants/partners; Let's Move, The National Park Service and more great organizations that support being active, healthy and the power of play!

The main event is in Washington DC with activities, organizations and celebrities. You can also watch the Worldwide Day of Play videos: "Why I Play"  to see why these organization and celebrities promote play. On Saturday. you can celebrate in your own area with your children by going out to play in your own backyard, neighborhood or local playground or natural park recreation area. Why Play?

Here's some top resources to learn about the importance of play

Importance of playtime for children neglected- USA Today

Old Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills-  Listen to NPR podcast

The Importance of Play- American Academy of Pediatrics

Less Play-Time = More Troubled Kids US News Health

The Serious Need for Play- Scientific American

Read to get started and have some fun? Here's some ideas to have some fun on Worldwide Day of Play:

The National Park Service - National Public Lands Day, offers free admission on September 24: > find your local National Park

Great list, with  reminders on how to play classic games such as; Hopscotch, Red Rover, Heads up-Seven up, Four Square, Double Dutch Jump Rope,  Freeze Dance and more!

Family Fun Kaboose has a fun kids activity ideas including Get buggy. Look for interesting insects in your own backyard or at the local park.

How to Set up an Obstacle Course for fun outdoor play

Non-Competitive Games Live Strong

Fun indoor and outdoor activities PDF- a handy list from our website Nourish Interactive!

Share your favorite ways to be active and play by leaving a comment below, we love to hear your ideas!

Go Play! Outdoor and Play Resources

Head Start Body Start dedicated to promoting physical activity, outdoor play and healthy lifestyles for young children and their families.

Grass Stain Guru- Videos about importance of play

Find a local playground on Kaboom

Find a local park or forest- from Discover the Forest

Fun Outdoor Activities from the Children and Nature Network

Youth organizations with local chapters to check out for helping kids be healthy and active

Camp Fire USA learn more about this organization, they are a partner of Nourish Interactive

4H empowers young people to reach their full potential

Girl Scouts- Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Boy Scouts- builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness

YMCA- find your local YMCA

Boys and Girls Clubs Monday September 26 is Family Day- A time to celebrate family dinner time! Why Family Dinners? 10 Benefits of Family Dinners

Toting up all the benefits of frequent family dinners:

• Everyone eats healthier meals.
• Kids are less likely to become overweight or obese.
• Kids more likely to stay away from cigarettes.
• They're less likely to drink alcohol.
• They won't likely try marijuana.
• They're less likely to use illicit drugs.
• Friends won't likely abuse prescription drugs.
• School grades will be better.
• You and your kids will talk more.
• You'll be more likely to hear about a serious problem.
• Kids will feel like you're proud of them.
• There will be less stress and tension at home. (source: WEBMD Family Dinners are Important)

Casa Family Day A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children^TMwas launched by Columbia University

"Nourish Healthy Kids" September Newsletter Benefits of Family Dinners- Celebrate Family Day with fun tips, recipes and a fun new dinner table game!

Celebrate Family Day- dinner tips from our blog and 7 easy family ideas and recipes

10 Benefits to Eating Family Dinner Super Healthy Kids

Blog for Family Dinner Features daily blog posts that explore the far-reaching benefits of family dinner. Find some of the best bloggers for family food tips, recipes and facts about family dinners. Join the movement!

Kids Cook Monday A great way spark interest and increase skills in knowledge of eating healthy foods + find easy and delicious recipes to cook with your kids

Our new printable card game for family dinners, classrooms or after-school programs- get the creativity and conversation going with your kids- FUN conversation starter cards about eating healthy and being physically active. View and print your free card game in English or Spanish