The Playful Parent™

Park Panic

You may be thinking, “Are they kidding? I go to the park with my kids all the time!” Ah…but are YOU playing too? Just pushing your kids on the swings doesn’t count! This twist on going to the park makes it a crazy blast for everyone—even you!

 

Summary: You’ll tour several parks in a short amount of time.

Best for: Preschool and school-aged kids will think this is the best—but teens might join in too just because it’s out of the ordinary for them.

Supplies: A kitchen timer.

 

Before You Begin

 

Make a list of all the parks in your area, and map out four of them. Older kids can help you with this. Plot your course. Maybe you want to start with parks farther away and move closer to home as you go. It’s up to you and your children.

 

Ready to Go!

 

Hop in the car and head for the first park. When you arrive, set the timer for 15 minutes, put it on a bench or picnic table, and then everyone (yes, that means adults too) has to try out all the equipment. Go high on the swings, take a trip or two down the slides, swing across the monkey bars, hang upside down if you dare, and so on. See if you can do everything in 15 minutes! Because as soon as the bell on that timer dings everyone has to race to the car and head to the next park. Do it again, hitting the equipment that’s different from the last park first so you’re sure to have time to try it out.

If you end up at a park that (disappointingly) doesn’t have much in the way of play equipment, make up a game on the spot! Race around the trees, lie on your backs and tell what you see in the clouds, roll down a hill—whatever your kids think is most fun!

Keep going until you’ve hit all four parks. Then, if you still have energy, you can stay longer at this one. Maybe you’ll want to bring along a picnic to enjoy at this location—or get back in the car and stop for ice cream on the way home.

You can do this again any time with different parks mixed in. Over time your family will be experts at the benefits of every park in the area. Rate them—maybe even making a written list with stars beside your favorites.

--Mike & Amy Nappa

Why We Play

Research has shown that the ability to play is a critical part of maintaining a happy lifestyle, of sustaining social relationships, and fostering a creative and innovative personality.

Play actually shapes the neuron paths in the brain and makes us smarter and more adaptable to life circumstances.

Additionally, a healthy play-life as a child is a surprisingly accurate predictor of career success as an adult. 1

And...it's fun to play. So what are you waiting for? Use this Playful Parent idea to share a little bit of play-life with your children today!

1. Source: Play by Stuart Brown, M.D. (New York: Avery, a member of the Penguin Group USA, 2009.) Pp. 4-13