When you have kids, something miraculous happens. Even the most devoted couch potato around becomes a fierce devotee of the outdoors.
Or, at the very least, you become a lover of sending the KIDS out to play outside.
I'm kidding. I think. (It's spring break here. Don't judge.)
All jokes aside, I'm a huge believer in getting kids outside to play. Fresh air seem to have a wonderful, and exhausting, effect on kids, and no one sleeps better than a 7 year old who has run her buns off all day. Play helps children to increase their problem solving abilities, helps to foster creativity (my kids come up with some crazy scenarios when they are outside), and helps them stay active while still having fun.
Getting them outside to play helps children to learn to love to run, to kick the ball and to be active in a way that doesn't seem like the work that exercise becomes as you get older. Kid who are active have a higher probability of remaining active as they grow up.
Sprite has created an initiative in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. From the Sprite Press Releae:
Sprite is giving consumers an easy and inexpensive way to give back to communities through the "Sprite Tabs for Habitat" program. During the month of May, look for specially marked Sprite or Sprite Zero™ multipacks or 12-oz single cans with a unique green tab and Habitat for Humanity logo. For each green tab consumers collect and mail in by May 30, 2010, Sprite will donate 10 cents to Habitat for Humanity, up to $500,000. It’s that easy. Enjoy your Sprite, recycle your can and send in the green tab.
The coolest thing ever? I'm giving away a $100 Shutterfly.com gift card to those who participate in this. Take pictures of your tabs, put them on your own blogs or facebook and leave a link. You may also enter by leaving me a comment telling me what you would do with the tabs, or even by simply sharing what you family likes to do outdoors!
Visit the Blogher Round up page for even more chances to win!
Official Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
This sweepstakes ends on 5/31 at 11:59 p.m. EST. If your name is drawn, you have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
I plan on keeping my family busy by going on trips! I also want to get my son interested in volunteering this year when he's not busy working!!!!
thanks also for a chance to win!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
Posted by: Kelly Massman | May 07, 2011 at 01:35 AM
My kids do swim team and we train together for running events and family triathlons.
Posted by: Adrienne gordon | May 08, 2011 at 04:17 PM
We like to keep in motion by doing volunteering and playing outside games!
ekieuuu@gmail.com
Posted by: eva kieu | May 08, 2011 at 06:59 PM
We have an above groud pool and spend most of the summer swimming. We also like to go bike riding and for walks during the late afternoon. When it rains, we usually go bowling or walk in the mall.
Thanks so much
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Posted by: Margaret Smith | May 08, 2011 at 07:41 PM
http://twitter.com/?status=http%3A%2F%2Fmomtothescreamingmasses.typepad.com%2Fscrutiny_by_the_masses%2F2011%2F05%2Fsprite-tabs-for-humanity.html#!/mom4everandever/status/67405371349798912
Posted by: SA | May 08, 2011 at 09:48 PM
walking all over..gardening
Posted by: SA | May 08, 2011 at 09:49 PM
playing at the park and gardening
nickieisis3atgmaildotcom
Posted by: nickie | May 08, 2011 at 11:50 PM
We are outside to work in the yard, attend baseball and softball games, and to go for walks.
Posted by: Paige | May 09, 2011 at 09:33 AM
We love to be outside. Riding bikes, walking by the lake, enjoying a cool drink on the back patio. As long as we are outside its all good.
Posted by: addy | May 10, 2011 at 11:35 PM
we will be playing lots of sports this summer
luckygiveaways@gmail.com
Posted by: Trey | May 13, 2011 at 11:26 PM
we will volunteer at the soup kitchen this summer
meikocoolcat@gmail.com
Posted by: meiko | May 13, 2011 at 11:27 PM
camping, hiking and biking!!
Posted by: Tina M | May 15, 2011 at 10:54 PM
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/69959005874819073
Posted by: Tina M | May 15, 2011 at 10:55 PM
I run and my son plays tennis ... always tennis!
Posted by: Leigh Ann Azlin | May 16, 2011 at 08:44 AM
Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/70664185746440192
Posted by: Jill L | May 17, 2011 at 09:37 PM
I don't have kids of my own, but as a youth director, I love to plan things that get the kids outside and moving. We do everything from Watermelon Olympics to hikes and flag football.
lindsey(dot)marcus(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted by: Lindsey @ I Run in Heels | May 20, 2011 at 03:10 AM
WE NO LONGER HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA THAT "WORKS" LOL BUT OTHERIWSE WE'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE. MY SON ACTUALLY STARTED COLLECTING POP TABS BEFORE WE EVEN LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROMOTION- CRAZY kytah00@yahoo.com
Posted by: ANGEL JACKLYN | May 20, 2011 at 01:47 PM
2ND ENTRY TWEET @ http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/71632713332957184 kytah00@yahoo.com
Posted by: ANGEL JACKLYN | May 20, 2011 at 01:48 PM
My family likes to camp and hike outdoors.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
Posted by: Denise S | May 22, 2011 at 05:53 PM
we love to hike!!
Posted by: steph | May 22, 2011 at 06:33 PM
http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/72429962082271234
Posted by: steph | May 22, 2011 at 06:34 PM
Swim lessons, aquarium, zoo, and OF COURSE, beach trips!
Posted by: Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith | May 23, 2011 at 05:02 PM
We enjoy all types of water sports like skiing and wake boarding!
Posted by: Annette D | May 24, 2011 at 11:55 AM
We love to play soccer and go bike riding.
Posted by: Erica C. | May 24, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Trips to the beach!!
toddjesslabrum@gmail.com
Posted by: Jessica Labrum | May 25, 2011 at 01:02 AM
We like to take the boys hiking. The boys love to go swimming in the Summer as well.
Posted by: Tari L. | May 26, 2011 at 06:44 AM
We like to hike the trails on our acreage and go to the lake.
Posted by: happi shopr | May 26, 2011 at 04:27 PM
We like to hike!
Posted by: courtney | May 26, 2011 at 06:06 PM
We stay active as a family by exploring the trails and streets here on base. Not only do we get exercise through walking and stopping at the playgrounds along the way, but we also encounter wildlife on the trails. We've seen jackrabbits, coyotes, deer, rattlesnakes, turkeys, and various birds. Also, my almost 3 yr-old has learned to identify many of the plants and grasses native to our area. Our walks are our quality family-time together.
Posted by: Emily R. | May 26, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Keeping my family active my hiking.
Posted by: Kristine | May 27, 2011 at 05:43 PM
We love swimming and water skiing!
Posted by: Kerry | May 29, 2011 at 08:55 AM
tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/74821360299421696
Posted by: Kerry | May 29, 2011 at 08:56 AM
we like to bike
Posted by: sandra | May 29, 2011 at 05:41 PM
Kids are water rats. So it is swimming lessons, diving lessons. swim team partice. swim competitions. I have 6 so it is alot of water and sun screen.
Posted by: Judith | May 29, 2011 at 08:05 PM
blog http://sodahoney.blogspot.com/2011/05/enter-at-these-8-bloggers-ends-may-31.html
Posted by: Judith | May 29, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Our family likes to be outdoors with the animals on our farm.
patrice@everydayruralty.com
Posted by: patrice | May 29, 2011 at 08:53 PM
We love to go on bike rides outdoors as a family. We ride on the local canal path.
Posted by: Anne | May 29, 2011 at 10:59 PM
I blogged
http://lunaj14568.blogspot.com/2011/05/blogher-and-sprite.html
Posted by: Anne | May 29, 2011 at 10:59 PM
tennis keeps on the go.
Posted by: Howell L. | May 30, 2011 at 01:06 AM
hiking keeps us moving.
Posted by: Eugenie W | May 30, 2011 at 01:07 AM
I got my bicycle fixed so now we can all go bike riding.
Posted by: Michele | May 30, 2011 at 12:09 PM
my family loves to spend time outdoors. we love going to the park, spending time at the beach, camping in the mountains, and getting out there and volunteering.
teechbiz at gmail dot com
Posted by: catherine copeland | May 30, 2011 at 01:26 PM
We like to get out and walk, and collect the money we find on the street. It's a great motivator to exercise as we see the Christmas "wish" mug fill up with found change. (Over $17 so far this year!)
Posted by: Anne G | May 30, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Play is very important to our family...we especially love the warmer weather when we can picnic and hike the peaks around our area. It really brings us very close as a family.
Posted by: Debra F | May 30, 2011 at 04:22 PM
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/fairydancer35/status/75296050973384704
Posted by: Debra F | May 30, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Our favorite outdoors thing to do - Walking the track at a local park.
It's by the river so you can see a lot of birds!
Thank you.
barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com
Posted by: Barbara M | May 30, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/JalapenoMama/status/75296844737032192
barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com
Posted by: Barbara M | May 30, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Outdoors as much as possible...some travel, time together!
TY!!
Posted by: elizabethk | May 30, 2011 at 09:45 PM
We farm, so there's never a lack of things to do outside!
Posted by: mickeyfan | May 30, 2011 at 10:29 PM
My granddaughter will have her summer full of volunteer work and swimming.
Posted by: rebecca | May 31, 2011 at 01:48 AM