BigToys Selected as 2011 Head Start Body Start Preferred Vendor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympia, Washington, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) April 19, 2011 -- OLYMPIA, WA, (April, 5, 2011) -- Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) today announced that BigToys, a PlayCore company, has been selected as one of 28 playground and plays space companies, equipment manufacturers, and other creators of playground and play space-related resources for inclusion on its 2011 HSBS Preferred Vendor Catalog (PVC).

The elite group of vendors have been vetted by a panel of early childhood movement professionals and selected for their offer of discounts and value-added packages of safe and developmentally appropriate products for recipients of the upcoming HSBS 2011 Play Space Grant Awards. Nearly $2 million in Play Space Grants will be awarded to Head Start Centers across the country this year by HSBS to improve their outdoor play spaces. Grant recipients will be able to purchase uniquely designed value-added packages created by the HSBS Preferred Vendors at a minimum discount of 20% off the retail price.

According to BigToys, “We are pleased to be identified as a 2011 Head Start Body Start Preferred Vendor and to be able to support Head Start programs across the country in developing their outdoor play spaces. Our collection of outdoor play activities and structures for the early childhood market serving children aged six months to five years can be combined with landscaping elements to create a natural outdoor playscape that connects children to nature through play. We hope these beautiful, durable products will inspire imagination and help create outdoor classrooms for the children in Head Start programs.”

BigToys joins HSBS in its efforts to promote healthy lifestyles. Learn more about BigToys’ participation and the Play Space Grants on the HSBS website at www.headstartbodystart.org.

Head Start Body Start Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is a project of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR), which are associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Funding for HSBS is provided by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of HSBS is to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families and staff. HSBS will assist Head Start programs in creating healthy learning environments, both in and outside the classroom, through structured and unstructured physical activity that leads to the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of young children and reduces obesity and its associated costs. HSBS has three main objectives: (1) to inform and assist OHS in setting national priorities and developing policies; (2) to provide resources, training and technical assistance to Head Start and Early Head Start Centers; and (3) to administer and support grants for construction or improvement of outdoor play spaces at Head Start Centers.

BigToys – a PlayCore company, has been building earth-friendly commercial play equipment for nearly 40 years. For more information, visit www.BigToys.com.

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