This was the first question my two-year-old asked me after getting out of bed this morning (she’s a big fan of the word “tomorrow” – though she says it more like “taaaamorrow”). I expect her to ask this question about eight more times before she goes to bed (even after she goes to the park today).
We are fortunate enough to live in an area where there are a ton of great parks around (though they are all more driving distance than walking, unfortunately). If we ever move, this will be high on our list of evaluation criteria for our new home base.
Parks are great because they are:
- Free! Okay, not free, your taxes are paying for them whether you use them or not – so consider them free entertainment rather than paying to do something else.
- Great for building life skills.
- My two-year-old daughter says “Hiiiiii” and introduces herself to almost everyone she meets.
- She has also learned tremendous hand-eye coordination and dexterity from things like climbing rock walls and cargo ropes.
That’s not spider-man – That’s my kid!
- Finally, she’s built a pretty impressive level of courage from climbing, swinging, jumping and (sometimes) falling.
- Healthy. Kids seem to never lack for opportunities to get in front of a screen (mine learned to navigate youtube on her grandmother’s cell phone… argh). Take as many opportunities as you can to get them running, jumping, climbing, playing and socializing.
- Give you an excuse to explore your city / county / state. We (kids and adults alike) have a lot of fun going to new places. Most times we pick a new park out on a map and don’t do much investigation before hitting the road. Sometimes it is a bust and we swing by a known winner on the way home. Most times, even if we’d never go out of our way to go back, a new park is fun for at least one trip. But sometimes… it is aweseome. New playground, new trails, whoa – a bridge! Of course we can go swimming in the river! Okay – next time, we didn’t bring swim gear this time.
Look Daddy!
- Bedtime will go better. You know what I’m saying.
When your family finds their fun doing healthy, free activities you are setting yourself (and them) up for success.
What are your greatest park successes and epic fails? Comment below!