Pat Rumbaugh Discusses Her New Book and More

Pat Rumbaugh is a co-founder of Let’s Play America (LPA). She resides in Takoma Park, Maryland.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

You’ve recently come out with your second book. What does everybody need to know?

My second book is titled “Let’s Play Outside.” The publisher is Star Bright Books. This was the book I have always wanted to make, because children deserve and need to play outside. There are so many experiences that take place when you are outside; you feel the wind blow through your hair, when you run on the grass you notice the difference than when running on the pavement, your body gets stronger by climbing up the stairs to go down a slide and so much more.

As we ease back outside, adults and children are discovering how much they missed playing outside. I always enjoyed taking my children to a play space, park, playground or just outside to play and they meet new friends and immediately begin playing together. The benefits of playing outside are enormous and my hope is this book will help kickstart caregivers, parents and teachers to bring children outside daily to play.

How long did it take to write?

The text for the book sort of evolved. I wanted to get the message out that there are a variety of ways you play…