Create Lasting Memories With Fall Play! #YearRoundPlay

As I sit on my patio, watching the leaves fall to the ground, I can't help but think back to all the wonderful autumns I spent playing as a child. My parents lived on several acres in the Pacific Northwest with trees as abundant as the wildlife that lived among them. Every fall, my siblings and I would throw on our heavy coats, each grab a rake, then gather together as many leaves as we could muster in an afternoon. Starting with several smaller piles, we'd combine our efforts into one massive pile - a pile so large, the three of us had no trouble getting lost inside. Of course back then, we had very little else to do with our time so it was all in a day's fun. However, kids today seem to be less involved in such grandiose plans and would rather find some electronic device with which to entertain themselves. That is exactly why IPEMA started the Voice of Play initiative.

Now, as some of you may recall I published a post in June of this year titled, "How To Make The Most Of Your Child's Summer!" in which I talked about IPEMA (The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association) and how they want to promote activities and ideas that get kids – and parents – outside. Well now, I'm here to talk about their Voice of Play initiative which goes a step further by promoting growth in the quality and quantity of children’s free play and the use of playgrounds. By providing information and resources, the Voice of Play’s goal is to increase education and awareness about the many benefits of children’s play, including the development of critical physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills.

So with fond memories of my own childhood, and the mission behind Voice of Play, I bundle myself and my niece Elizabeth in a warm jacket and we head outside! Even though we weren't able to build a leaf pile of epic proportions, we did have a blast at the local playground. Elizabeth's favorite game to play is tag so we spent quite a bit of time chasing each other around and through the play structure. The sound of her laughter, the beautiful autumn colors, and the thought of knowing these were her childhood memories in the making created a moment that will stay with both of us forever. A moment that every child, parent, and grandparent deserves to experience.

I strongly encourage you to read more about Voice of Play and see for yourself how your family can benefit from spending more time playing outdoors. To learn more, please visit Voiceofplay.org. You can also keep up on new activity by following them on Facebook and Twitter!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Voice of Play, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.