Olympic Gold Medalist Dan O’Brien Jumpstarts Initiative with Guinness World Record Attempt for Fastest Game of Hopscotch
EASTON, Pa. --(Business Wire)-- May 05, 2009 This summer, Crayola is encouraging children to let their imaginations run wild with a nationwide wellness campaign called the “Crayola Outdoor Challenge.” The initiative is aimed at inspiring families to spend more time outside exercising their bodies and minds. To coincide with National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, Crayola is asking families to take the “Crayola Outdoor Challenge” and pledge time each day to outdoor creative play this summer. The national goal is to reach one million hours of pledged outdoor play time for the campaign. Beginning May 5 and running through the end of the summer, parents can take the pledge at Crayola.com and find dozens of outdoor games and activities that keep kids’ imaginations and bodies active.
“Outdoor creative play is great for kids’ bodies and their minds because it reduces stress, builds confidence and teaches creative thinking skills,” said Vicky Lozano, Vice President Marketing, Crayola. “Getting creative outdoors lets kids make their own fun, and when their imaginations are involved, the fun is endless.”
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that children have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. However, recent research from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that kids ages 8-10 spend an average of six hours a day in front of a screen watching television, playing video games and using computers.
To help jumpstart the campaign, Crayola has teamed up with Olympic gold medal decathlete Dan O’Brien, who will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest game of hopscotch, which currently stands at 1 minute and 23 seconds.
“I am honored to help spread the word about the importance of outdoor creative play by making an attempt at a hopscotch world record,” said Dan O’Brien, who in addition to his Olympic gold medal also won three consecutive world titles. “Whether it’s drawing new ways to play hopscotch or putting a creative twist on other outdoor activities, getting outdoors and creative is fun and good for a child’s overall well-being.”
To provide families with ways to get outside and have fun, Crayola has introduced new additions to its line of outdoor creativity tools. With each item priced below $10 dollars, the outdoor collection offers parents products that are not only a great price, but also provide fun, limitless play for their children.
New Crayola Sidewalk Crayons offer the richest, brightest, boldest colors for creating extraordinary outdoor artwork. Kids can really color outside the lines with the first crayons made to turn driveways, playgrounds and sidewalks into colossal coloring books. The difference is striking, as the smooth, creamy colors lay down with unmatched brightness.
The new Crayola Airbrush Painter lets kids “pump out” airbrushed designs using Crayola Washable Sidewalk paint and a special hand-held airbrush. Just pump, point and spray; driveways and playgrounds will be the talk of the town.
For more information, tips on outdoor fun and to take the Crayola Outdoor Challenge pledge, visit www.crayola.com.
