With childhood obesity on the rise around the world, parents are finding it increasingly harder to get their kids outside to play. Czech designer Pavel Tuma and his team are looking to change that with a new 5D playground in the works. While coercing children into physical activity, the playground combines online favorites, video games, and other interactive features for a complete experience that is fun, educational, and merges the old with the new.

The team of designers spent two years coming up with the specifics for this otherworldly playground. They describe it as a playground the size of a tennis court, with a 5D box right next to it. The box is a sort of mini-computer center, with a touchpad and sensors relating to the five senses. Each child would have a chip to enter the game, which is a series of physical and mental challenges that have to be overcome.  The playground itself is very attractive visually, with numerous hurdles of different kinds, a multimedia box, and various surfaces, rubber mulch among them.

The software will have six areas of knowledge – geography, history, natural sciences, entertainment, and general knowledge. Quizzes vary between concentrating on one subject, and across the board knowledge. Pavel envisions a scenario where teachers give his team the test questions a day in advance and they would take care of the rest, allowing the children to take the test through the playground system. On a nice day the test could take place out in the open, and teams of students could even play against each other. By the time they get home from school, they would have received their test results by mail, with photos on Facebook of the kids in the playground.

This playground project is still in the making, but there has been interest from countries all over the world, some looking to fight childhood obesity, with others looking at it as a source of tourism. From the looks of it, computerized playgrounds have a bright future.

February 9 saw the closing of the International Year of Forests 2011, organized by the United Nations. The event celebrated forests for people and featured stories from around the world, summing up the contributions of the international community to a healthier, more sustainable future. The program featured presentations of the five Forest Heroes Awards, screenings of forest films, speakers from international organizations, youth participation by the winners of the 2011 Universal Postal Union letter contest, and the announcement of the 2011 children’s art contest winners. The event also featured the launch of the commemorative Forests for People book with 75 articles from 35 countries.

2011 was named the International Year of Forests by the UN in an effort to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations. Governments, regional and international organizations and civil society organizations were expected to create national committees and designate focal points in their respective countries to facilitate organization of activities in support of the International Year of Forests.

The “Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life.” campaign was the official U.S. celebration. Coordinated by the NASF in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. celebration aimed to elevate awareness and understanding of the value of America’s forests and showcase the connections between healthy forests, people, ecosystems and economies. American citizens were encouraged to organize events nationwide to celebrate America’s trees and forests. From nature walks and trees plantings to hearings on Capitol Hill, families, coworkers and friends were celebrating America’s trees and forests throughout 2011.

The action precipitated by the Year of Forests was closely watched by the Arbor Day Foundation, as well as many other eco-conservationist organizations. They have all been working hard to condemn deforestation, and conserve trees. They are hoping that the International Year of Forests will help shed light on this important cause.

Rubberecycle has worked hard to save trees as well as promote recycling, and they have applauded this move by the UN. Rubberecycle products are made entirely from recycled rubber, and recycling works in tandem with conserving trees.

It has come to the point in society where even do-gooders are criticized.

In response to an alarming rise in childhood obesity and pointed fingers that soft drinks are a large part of the cause, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have launched numerous programs in the recent past that are designed to promote physical activity and movement. As part of the growth of the movement, last year Coca-Cola bestowed on Howe Elementary School of Excellence on Chicago’s West Side a $25,000 grant for a new, safe playground.

After students wrote thank you letters to Coke, critics accused Coke of using this as another advertising tactic. They claim that this move associates in students’ minds the thought that their school approves of Coke, and by extension, their products. This criticism comes even in the face of the Assistant Principal’s statement that Coke did not in any way try to promote their products through the building of the playground.

Bystanders are left to wonder how the purely righteous act of donating a safe playground has become an advertising ploy in the minds of some.

In 2005 and 2006 PepsiCo joined forces with nonprofit organization KaBoom to build 12 new playgrounds across the United States. Last year along Coca-Cola’s Sprite brand invested an estimated $2 million in building and renovating 150 neighborhood parks, playgrounds, basketball courts, and fields. It is estimated that Coca-Cola’s pledges to the program will cost them an estimated $1 million a year for five years.

While critics knock Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, the two companies have helped prevent numerous injuries by installing rubber mulch flooring in their playgrounds. When they build a playground, they do it all the way. The playgrounds built by these corporate giants feature the latest technology to help improve playground safety, and they know that is starts with rubber mulch flooring.

The critics can keep up their complaints while Coke and Pepsi work to promote exercise in children in a safe manner, with rubber mulch playground flooring.

As with any industry, a big part of the business is networking between companies and learning about the latest industry technology and innovation. Nowhere is this as prevalent as it is in green products. With constant progress being made in production techniques and inventions, it is vital to keep a finger on the pulse of things. Rubberecycle is at the forefront of industry progress, with revolutionary Playsafer mulch and rubber mulch for landscaping and horse arenas.

Trade shows are a great place for green companies from all corners of the U.S. to meet and exchange ideas. The New England Grows show is a major trade show that Rubberecycle is now attending. It is kicking off today, and will run between Feb.1 and Feb. 3. The show is based on horticulture products and services. With over 13,000 horticulture professionals and more than 1,100 exhibitors, it generates lots of buzz.

Aside for wholesale and retail exhibitors, the show hosts horticulture seminars that cover a range of relevant topics. Some of the major exhibitors at the New England Grows show include John Deer, Bobcat, TechoBloc, and others.

Rubber mulch and its prime manufacturer, Rubberecycle, is always the topic of much discussion at the show, because of its excellent use in landscaping and its extreme eco-friendliness. Tire mulch is used for landscaping around plants, in permanent walkways, and rubber curbs are used to divide flower beds and for landscaping aesthetics. Many landscapers also prefer rubber mulch because it comes in many colors that don’t fade.

As it becomes more popular, more landscapers are learning to employ rubber mulch’s many uses in their work, and Rubberecycle’s representatives are very sought after at the show.

Rubberecycle is looking forward to a productive New England Grows trade show, where they will learn about new techniques and ways to go green, and hopefully incorporate them into Rubberecycle products, making them better than ever. Rubberecycle’s constant improvement of their product is just one more reason why consumers return time and again.

Many parents agree that raising children in an eco-conscious environment keeps them healthy and teaches them to live responsibly. Having a playground with rubber mulch flooring is just one more way to show children how important it is to live safely and responsibly. Actions speak louder than words; there are many ways to incorporate green and healthy living into daily routines that will infuse children with the importance of this concept.

Recycle

It sounds so simple, but many people don’t do it. In order to teach children to recycle it is important to have a separate trash can for recyclable objects, with different colored bags or some other obvious differentiation. One of the milestones that are part of growing up is learning to throw garbage into the trash can. In the same vein, children can be taught to differentiate between regular garbage and recyclable objects, and place them in the right can. Children should also be taught to throw out less and try to reuse more. Using recycled rubber mulch in playgrounds is a great way to show them that parents practice what they preach.

Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

Using wrapping paper that gets torn and thrown away is a great way to practice in conspicuous consumption. There are many other options that are inexpensive and practical. Reusable shopping bags, like the ChicoBag is one alternative, as well as a new product by Cascades, of Canada. The new wrapping paper is 100% recycled and comes in a variety of colors and designs. One of its best features is that the paper is not rolled around a cardboard tube in the center, making it entirely eco-friendly. Due to the absence of the tube the roll looks smaller, but it provides the same amount of paper as a regular roll. The wrapping paper sells for $12 for three rolls, a fair price.

Eco-Friendly Toys

The eco-friendly toy industry is an entire entity, with many companies vying for parents’ attention, but it’s often hard to distinguish between toys that sound eco-conscious and the ones that really are. Plan Toys is one of the few companies that are trustworthy. The toys are made in Thailand, out of kiln-dried rubberwood. They may not be as fancy as the generic toy brands, but they aren’t plastic, and they offer the same educational value.

Outdoor Play

It is a good idea to get eco-friendly toys for the kids, but an even better method is to let them play outside. Rather than sitting with computers and video games, the healthiest way for kids to play is by enjoying the outdoors and mulch-floored playgrounds in a truly natural and healthy fashion.

Governments around the world are becoming aware and, in turn, making others aware of the necessity of recycling and going green. A large push is made annually in the weeks after Christmas, when thousands of homes house dying Christmas trees. In days of old, people just left their trees out with the trash. In today’s day and age, however, local and state governments are urging homeowners to recycle their trees and keep the planet healthy.

Right after Christmas New York held their annual Mulchfest, where people were able to drop their trees off at numerous parks around the city and have them ground into mulch chips. Other states and counties are following suit. The Coloradoan reports that January 17 is the deadline for homeowners to recycle trees. Residents are asked to remove all ornaments, lights, strings, wires, fake snow etc. before taking the tree to one of the drop-off points. The city will process the trees into mulch for gardening and landscaping purposes, which will be free for the public in the spring at Larimer County Landfill. At the Hamilton-Wenham Green, one dollar from each tree recycled will go to help local charities, a way to pass on the goodwill.

Old Christmas trees are turned into wood mulch for gardening, but using rubber mulch is also an eco-friendly way to garden and floor playgrounds. Rubber tire mulch is made from tires that have breathed their last breaths. Another form of recycling, rubber mulch has many excellent uses, and is just as eco-friendly as the wood chips that are made out of Christmas trees.

While the majority of the government sponsored programs that recycle used Christmas trees turn them into mulch, some cities have other ideas. In St. Louis, for example, the trees are drowned in marked areas of lakes. The trees on the bottoms of the lakes become homes for thousands of fish for years to come, providing protection from predators and a gathering place for fish to feed and spawn. Since state laws a few years back prohibited counties from throwing trees into landfills, different municipalities have come up with creative solutions. Like other cities, the trees that are not thrown into lakes are turned into landscape mulch.

On a whole the number of recycled trees has dipped over the years, but some counties say that the worsened economy may have attributed to the figures because as the prices of fresh-cut trees rise, more people turn to artificial trees.

By recycling their Christmas trees, people have a chance to let Christmas live on, by giving the gifts of health and life to planet earth.

There are some parents who are fans of vitamins and some who aren’t. It is something that lies with personal preference. Even those who are skeptical of vitamins give their child the necessary vitamin D and other supplements, but then there are mothers who refuse vaccines and reach for herbal remedies at every turn. This becomes a problem when information is withheld from the child’s pediatrician. Recent studies have shown a problem specifically with Melatonin, a supplement given to help children sleep.

Many parents struggle with bedtimes, as children plead to stay up. Children with ADHD or other behavioral issues who are on medication may require Melatonin to help them sleep at night. However, the average child does not need sleep supplements. Many parents think that melatonin is harmless because it is a natural hormone secreted by the body to establish sleep patterns, so the supplement is just that, a supplement. However, many physicians think otherwise, and are concerned with its use. Very little research has been done as of yet on melatonin tablets, and it is being sold without approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Some children have complained of constant nightmares while on Melatonin, while others wake up feeling hungover, with slower reaction times.

It is every parent’s responsibility to okay with their pediatrician anything they give to their children. While doctors are not sure about the benefits of melatonin, there is a sure way to keep kids safe – rubber mulch. Rubber mulch provides optimum playground safety, and will reduce the severity of injuries even if your child does stumble due to drowsiness. You can think of the rubber mulch flooring as the safety net for tired, clumsy children. The rubber material has a bounce and shock absorbency that makes playtime fun and safer than ever. This is a fact that has been proven.

Any mother of an infant knows that babies grow at an extremely fast pace. You’ve finally finished putting together their wardrobe for the season, when nothing fits anymore, and you have to start again. With crawling babies that job is even harder, as everything is always dirty, and the knees of pants are always worn out. A small consolation is that a baby who crawls in the winter is indoors. Babies who crawl in the summer will be even dirtier, and tear their pants even more. When choosing playground flooring, rubber mulch is a great option in this situation.

As opposed to grass which leaves grass stains and wood chips which leave splinters and black streaks, rubber mulch flooring leaves no splinters or stains on clothes. Playsafer Rubber mulch comes in a variety of colors, none of which leave marks on clothing. Rubber is also easier on babies’ hands and knees as it is pliable, and it is odor free.

Playgrounds may be floored with rubber mulch chips or rubber bond. The chips are usually in an enclosed area that is surrounded by rubber curbs. Rubber bond is created by spreading a thick layer of mulch chips which is then covered by a layer of rubber that has a high polyurethane bond. The effect is a smooth, clean surface that retains the characteristics of rubber mulch chips. This option will be better for crawling babies, but it is more expensive than rubber mulch chips. Rubber bond also provides a safe surface for kids to play hopscotch, jump rope, ball, or anything that suits their fancy. Each family must weigh the pros and cons for their specific situation.

Rubber playground flooring offers exasperated mothers a simple solution to constant grass and mud stains and splinters. It is the finishing touch on a perfect playground.

Public parks are meant for children to play in, and it’s a real pity when they’re left to rot. The Daily News reports that for the past three years, Community District 18, which consists of Canarsie, Platlands, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, and Marine Park, has earned the distinction of being lowest in cleanliness and general conditions. This data is compiled by the city’s Parks Inspection Program, which rates city parks based on litter, graffiti, playground equipment, and general conditions. Aside for being unsanitary, parks that earn low marks can also pose danger hazards for the children playing in them.

In cities especially, where grass is hard to come by, children spend lots of their time in city parks, and are subject to the conditions there. A growing awareness is being made of the need for rubber mulch flooring. Aside for aesthetics, rubber mulch is a necessary part of any commercial playground that is serious about playground safety.

Playsafer rubber mulch is used in the White House playground, an example that cities should follow. Available in different forms including rubber chips, rubber bond surfacing, rubber wearmats, and rubber curbs, the rubber flooring for playgrounds suits any need. A major consideration in any city or commercial expenditure is budgeting. Rubber mulch shows high returns, with little maintenance required and a long life span. An investment in rubber mulch is an investment for the future.

Rubber surfacing is recommended for city playgrounds because its high shock absorbency makes it a safer option, helping to prevent injuries in children. It is also entirely eco-friendly, made from recycled rubber and other sustainable materials. The use of rubber mulch satisfies all the concerns faced by a city, namely, safety, budget, and eco concerns.

When visiting homes or schools for special children, there is often interesting equipment and apparatus meant to help the children develop. One thing that is universal is rubber mulch flooring in their playgrounds. The reason that rubber mulch is so popular in these areas is because the tire mulch has an extra spring, absorbing the impact from falls and preventing injuries. Children who are uncoordinated and stumble easily are protected with rubber mulch flooring.

While rubber mulch is especially necessary in schools for special children, it can be a safety feature in any home. Even the most coordinated and athletic child can stumble when running and hurt themselves. Rubber mulch should be a main consideration for private and commercial playgrounds.

Schools for special children combine a variety of recycled rubber products for the ultimate in playground safety. The playgrounds are floored in either rubber mulch chips that are surrounded by rubber curbs, or are paved with Playsafer rubber bond. In the case of special children, rubber bond is often the better choice because there are no particles to be thrown around or trip over. The rubber bond is created by spreading a thick layer of Playsafer rubber mulch chips that is then covered with a layer of rubber that is combined with a high quality polyurethane bond. The result is a floor that is soft and springy, yet smooth and sleek.

Another important component of a safe playground are rubber wearmats in areas of high impact. The mats are simply for added absorption at the bottoms of slides or other areas where children tend to land with impact.

While these safety precautions are considered a necessity for special children, they can also help the average child play more easily, and with less risk. Consider a variety of Rubberecycle rubber mulch products for your playground.