Raise your hand if you believe that your kids need time and space to play outdoors!

Here’s the sad truth: There is a Play Deficit in our country, and it’s harming our children. Too many families don’t have a playground within walking distance of their home. Paranoia is trumping common sense, resulting in sterile, uninspired play environments and fewer opportunities for kids to play. Recess is being eliminated from our nation’s schools. Kids are overscheduled, and in their free time, many choose to stay indoors, lulled by television, computers and video games.

At the national nonprofit I work for, KaBOOM!, we believe that play is absolutely essential to a child’s health, development, and well-being. We’re seeking mom bloggers to enter our “Parents & Play” blog contest by answering the following question in 300-500 words:

As a parent, how have you personally witnessed the growing Play Deficit in your child’s life?

Tell us a specific story from your own experience that touches on one of the following themes:

• School recess
• Play opportunities in your neighborhood
• Helicopter parents
• Structured after-school activities
• Indoor screen time

So put your hand down now and start writing! Ten winners and runners-up will receive Amazon gift cards. Plus, we’ll share your story with 80,000 monthly unique visitors on our Play Today blog, as well as our 40,000+ Facebook fans and Twitter followers!

Here’s more information on what we’re looking for and how to enter.