The Associated Press

Active, outdoor play is fun, exciting - and important to children's development.

A local playground's jungle gym or a tree in the backyard can be great sources to build creativity, imagination, social skills, strong bones and muscles, says Rhonda L. Clements, president of the American Association for the Child's Right to Play.

Clements worked with the manufacturers of Wisk laundry detergent on a recent active-play survey. From those results, which showed children increasingly depend on electronics for entertainment, Clements developed the following guide:

• Whenever possible, let children decide which outdoor play activity they'd like to engage in.

• Read stories that are set in the outdoors.

• Encourage children to create playthings using natural objects and to create their own activities.

• Encourage children to play outdoors with children of different age groups, genders, ethnic backgrounds and physical abilities.

• Suggest outdoor play as a release for children when they are feeling restless or anxious.

• Foster a desire for lifelong physical activity by encouraging running, jumping, climbing and skipping.

• Provide age-appropriate outdoor play items, such as tricycles or bicycles, push toys resembling adult tools, a variety of balls and tumbling mats.