I remember when I was my daughters age I would be begging my parents for more time to play outside. In the summertime it seemed we would be out playing sports, kick the can, hide and seek, and riding bikes until the street lights came on. Now it is different. Tablets, video games, and apps are consuming our children’s time.
We need to get out there with our kids like we did when we were their age. It is all about leading by example. I had the great opportunity to speak with former US Men’s National Team and Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team player and current sports analyst Cobi Jones about the Let’s Play movement. Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. By 2017, DPS will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play. In partnership with the nonprofit organizations KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is working to eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving play spaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear.
Studies indicate that our children should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. I know that our days are hectic, but we need to get out there with our kids. It is good for them and good for us.
Even Cobi has found it hard to get his sons out of the house and be active. He tells me that he has to be stern with his kids to make sure that they get outdoors and run around together. We also got to chat about fatherhood and what he looks to teach his kids as they grow up.
Art Eddy: First off let’s talk about the great work you are doing with the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group for the Let’s Play movement. Tell me about the work that you are doing with them. 
Cobi Jones: It is about getting kids active. Getting them outside and off the couch. I have a five year old right now and I am going through this process of finding ways of getting him outside and having him be physically active. Having him interact with kids his age. Getting him to be more of an outdoors kid. There are things that are pulling kids to sit on the couch. When you get down to it the Let’s Play initiative has all the right things going for it. It is about kids getting involved in sports and activities.
AE: You are a dad. What are some of the ways you and your family get active to support the Let’s Play program?
CJ: It is a little bit of sternness. We got to put the iPad down. We got to go outside a little bit. It takes the parents to get involved. Yes parents, you actually got to out and participate in those sports with your kids. You got to show the involvement of you having fun inspires your kids to have fun. All of a sudden you are having fun together as a family.
Those are the good things. If you can get outside and just start interacting with your kids a little bit and you start showing them what you like in the way of sports. They might start to get involved. You are not going to do the organized sports for the young kids, but just get them out there and expose them. If it is just playing catch it could lead them into baseball. If it is just kicking the ball, which I prefer (Both laugh), it might lead to soccer.
The CDC says kids should be active for 60 minutes a day. As a parent I am finding it hard to get my kids active for 60 minutes. Do you remember as a kid 60 minutes being tough to get.
AE: No!
CJ: (Laughs.) No, you don’t. It was easy to get, but now that is an issue now. We as parents have get active and be the ones to push to make sure our kids get 60 minutes of activity. For me I am willing to sacrifice a little bit to make sure my sons have those opportunities.
AE: You played in the Olympics for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Tell me about your favorite memories on the Olympic team.
CJ: Wow, there are quite a few memories. There are a couple that I could mention off hand. One of the major ones that the people of my era will remember was the first Dream Team. When we were walking out as the opening ceremonies were about to begin the Olympics are special just in of itself. When you are lined up in the tunnel you are lined up with all the other athletes from around the world. They are the best athletes from all these different countries. You are like wow this is an amazing moment. You are about to go out and represent your country and your flag.
We started going out. I remember to this day that some of the security coming up stopping and splitting our team in two. Right behind me stopping my teammates from following me out. As we were walking out they put the Dream Team right in between us. So I am looking back and I am seeing (Karl) Malone and all these guys. I was like whoa! I mean what an honor to make a moment like that for myself and my team. For a young 21 year old that was something special.
The other moment for me was actually pre-opening ceremony. Soccer actually starts before the opening ceremony. Do you know what the mascot was in the 1992 Olympics?
AE: Ah, was it a torch?
CJ: Nope. It was a dog and bear like creature named Cobi. It was spelled the exact same way as me. That was something special to have a few moments where they brought us together. We did the picture with the Cobi mascot. It was one of those things that was meant to be. Those two moments really stood out for me.
AE: Do you like the evolution of soccer in the United States?
CJ: I do because it is growing. That is important for me. There is more emphasis on the sport. I love that the game is growing so much. It ties into the Let’s Play initiative in the fact that we have to have such structured outlets for kids. It is so difficult to get them outside and play.
The growth of the sport is excellent. The formality of it? It is good to a degree. I love just having the opportunity that we did to just go out and play. Just to go out and have creative play where the kids figure it out by themselves. That is an important part for me. That helps develop the kids. Figure it out on your own. How many times do you want to tell your kids, ‘Hey go and figure it out.’ Got out in the backyard and play.
AE: Switching to fatherhood now, what were some of the first few thoughts that popped into your mind when you found out that you were going to be a dad?
CJ: A little bit of fear. A little bit of what am I doing? Am I ready for this? Let’s be honest everybody has that to some degree. Some people are more scared than others. I was like this is an amazing, scary thing that is going to be happening.
Then you kind of get over that and think oh yeah everyone is doing it. I can be a dad. It will be no problem until those first few moments when you see life really happening. (Both laugh.) Then you realize it is not an abstract moment. You are actually a dad and this child is yours. That was something special. As most dads would know it kind of hits you even more is when you leave the hospital and bring your baby to your house. I sat down with my wife and we were like okay what do we do now? (Both laugh.) That was the biggest revelation. It was like this is it. It is really happening.
AE: What are some of the core values you look to instill in your kids as they grow up?
CJ: Being a good person. That is very important to me. Being able to interact with others around you. Being a good part in your community. As a soccer player the physical fitness part of it is huge with me. Being active. Participating in sports. That is one of the things that will be very important for my kids. I think it teaches so much of what their future is going to be.
Sports is a microcosm of life. It teaches you how to win and be a good winner and how to be a good loser. It teaches you how to interact with people and even interact with people you don’t always like. You find a way to come together, focus and reach your common goal. Those are all the things that sports teaches you. Active play in a young age and participating in sports in an older age. These are the things that are focused on and I want my kids to be a part of because it will make them better people in the long run.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads?
CJ: Don’t be too scared. (Both laugh.) People have been having kids for thousands of years. One important piece of advice that was passed down to me that I will pass onto everyone is don’t be concerned about how everyone else does it. There is no one right way. That is so important to realize. Just because someone’s kid goes to bed at seven and wakes up at seven doesn’t mean yours is. I know mine don’t. (Both laugh.) There is no one right way. Do 
your best and it will work out.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie you guys like to watch together?
CJ: Finding Nemo.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing and dance to as a family?
CJ: Bubble Butt with Pitbull. The kids love it. It gets annoying after a while, but it goes over and over again. Got it on that Amazon Echo and it goes on over and over again.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
CJ: We go to Mammoth every year. That is our winter getaway. It is something that my wife and I want to establish as a tradition. When they are older they will have that vacation where they will say we used to go to Mammoth every year. That for us is the perfect family vacation.
AE: What was your favorite venue to play soccer in your career?
CJ: I have had wonderful memories at the Rose Bowl. I am an LA guy. That is where the Galaxy started playing. I will have those sentimental moments that will always be attached to the Rose Bowl. I played the World Cup matches there. That place will always hold a special place for me.
AE: Who is your favorite player to watch now?
CJ: I like watching my five year old son and two year old son kick the ball around.
Visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay and follow Cobi on Twitter at @cobijones