The Voice of Play effort formed from a growing consensus among IPEMA members that we need to send a stronger message promoting play opportunities in our communities. IPEMA, with its 123 playground equipment and surfacing manufacturers as members, has traditionally been known as a leader in playground safety, based on our third-party playground testing and certification program. In recent years, however, many IPEMA members have begun to see the association?EUR??,,????'???s role as a broader one, focused on increased advocacy for fun playgrounds that lead to healthier and smarter children.

We have also seen an increase in other group and individual involvement in promoting and protecting children?EUR??,,????'???s play time and playgrounds. People have taken note of the disturbing trend of decreasing time for play and have begun to speak up about the many benefits of play.

These efforts are widely varied, on both subject and method, but they all have the same goal in mind?EUR??,,????'??+making sure kids have the time and space to play. For example, this year the Cartoon Network hosted the first National Recess Week as part of their Rescue Recess campaign to raise awareness about recess as an essential element of the school day. The goal of National Recess Week was to begin the school year with fun events to encourage parents and community members to become volunteer recess monitors, while reinforcing the importance of recess in the child?EUR??,,????'???s school day.

This year was also the grand opening of the first and only museum dedicated to children?EUR??,,????'???s play, the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. The museum?EUR??,,????'???s features include an indoor garden shaped like butterfly wings in flight, a gigantic caterpillar-like structure connecting old and new buildings, and a structure resembling a pile of children?EUR??,,????'???s blocks that houses an exhibit on the importance of play.

The children?EUR??,,????'???s television station Nickelodeon is also speaking out, continuing their ?EUR??,,????'??Let?EUR??,,????'???s Just Play?EUR??,,????'?? campaign with the third annual ?EUR??,,????'??Worldwide Day of Play?EUR??,,????'??, Sept. 30, a celebration that included a three-hour programming black-out on the channel, to encourage kids to go outside and play.

While these are just a few of the fantastic activities towards society better understanding the value of play in the full development our children, we look to continuing to improve and increase opportunities for play for children of all abilities.

Next year, when we look back at 2007, we are certain to have many more examples of milestones to celebrate for kids?EUR??,,????'??? sake.

IPEMA is a nonprofit, membership trade association. You can contact IPEMA headquarters at 1-888-944-7362, info@ipema.org or visit www.voiceofplay.com