Let Them Play
Photos by Cheriss May | Ndemay Media Group
Washington, DC — On Tuesday, May 17 at the Newseum, First Lady Michelle Obama was joined by her brother, Craig Robinson, ESPN college basketball analyst, As part of her Let’s Move! initiative, for the Aspen Institute’s 2016 Project Play Summit. Mrs. Obama and Mr. Robinson participated in a keynote conversation moderated by Michael Wilbon, host of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption.
Because of the violence today, Craig Robinson said he thought the days of playing outside for kids was over. Mrs. Obama replied:
“So I hope it’s not dead. There’s a lot of things we can do to put it back in -- number one, making sure kids have recess at school. That’s where they’re spending most of their time. That is just as important as math and science to kids. If you’re a teacher and you’re working with boys in particular, they can’t sit still for an entire school day. They can’t physically do it.
So I feel for people with boys in today’s school systems where you don’t let them move. So how are we expecting them to be successful academically if the other part of their brain, that part that is movement and music and creativity, is not being exercised?”
— First Lady Michelle Obama
The day-long event also featured a panel with Billie Jean King and physical activity breaks led by Donna Richardson, and Cornell McClellan, members, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The summit brought together leaders in youth sports, and health and assessed the progress made in the past year in expanding access to quality sports activity. | ©2016 Photos by Cheriss May, www.cherissmay.com
