Today's generation of children play less than any previous generation despite the vast benefits from play activities. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that play is essential to the social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being of children.

Sponsored by the Humana Foundation, Playful City USA is a national program from KaBOOM! that celebrates and promotes local policies that increase play opportunities for children and is a key platform in combating the lack of play among children.

KaBOOM! selected Norfolk for its outstanding dedication to play. Norfolk hosts an annual play day for residents every year. Citizens not only see the event as an opportunity to play and enjoy physical activity, but the play day has become a means to engage residents in meaningful conversations about play, stress reduction, enjoyment and fellowship with neighbors. 

"Norfolk is honored to be selected as a Playful City USA for the seventh consecutive year," says Norfolk City Manager, Marcus D. Jones. "Play is critical to the overall well-being of children. Their quality of life is enhanced by their ability to use their imagination and develop positive social skills. Frankly, play is good for grown-ups too. Events such as Norfolk's Annual Play Day not only promote play, but further support the Healthy Norfolk initiative and the City Council's priority of creating safe, healthy and inclusive communities throughout the City." 

KaBOOM!, the national non-profit organization, is dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most. Created in 2007,  Playful City USA helps local governments address the lack of play through mayors, city council members, parks and recreation departments, school districts and community leaders.

"Kids need to play actively, every day, at home, in school and in their communities, yet play is disappearing," said Darell Hammond, Founder and CEO of KaBOOM! and author of The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: A Movement to Save Play. "Children spend nearly eight hours a day in front of a screen; almost half of all poor students are deprived of recess; and to make matters worse, only one in five children live within walking distance of a park. Playful City USA communities like Norfolk are creating innovative programs and initiatives and deserve recognition because of their efforts to give kids the childhood they deserve and best prepare them for their future."

Each of the 2013 Playful City USA communities demonstrated creative commitments to addressing the lack of play among children. Playful City USA celebrates and highlights these unique initiatives developed by communities across the country. A primary goal of Playful City USA is to encourage cities and towns to share ideas, concepts and programs in an effort to increase play opportunities for children. 

The 217 Playful City USA communities are now eligible for $15,000, $20,000 and $30,000 grants via Let's Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to get kids and families active nationwide. Grant recipients will be announced in the fall.

For more information on the KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, including Let's Play grants and applications for 2014, visit www.playfulcityusa.org.