As we reach the mid-way point of summer vacation, some of us may be running out of things to do to keep the kids busy. But never fear, the easiest and best idea is right in front of you (or within walking distance anyway): the local park.
Whether you live in a big city or a quiet suburb, there is a good chance that you have a great park nearby to keep your kids entertained. Visit your local Parks ands Recreation website and print out a list of all the parks in your city and start at the top.
Here’s a list of ten reasons why visiting your local parks is one of the best things you can do this summer.
1. It’s Free
Times are tough and fun is expensive. Visiting your local neighborhood parks is FREE. A little sunblock, a few snacks from the pantry and you’re good to go!
2. It’s Healthy
When kids are at the park, they do the healthiest thing kids can do: play! Running and climbing for an hour or two will not only keep your kids healthy, but it will tire them (planning your park trip before nap time is a smart move, Mom). But it’s not just healthy for them; it’s healthy for you too. Take advantage of any walking paths surrounding the park and while the kids are swinging away, you can walk yourself toward a healthier you.
3. It’s Good For The City
Have you seen the show Parks & Recreation? Though it may be exaggerated, the truth is that there is whole staff of people in your local Parks & Recreation department who put their heart and soul into taking care of your local parks. Appreciating their hard work is just good citizenship!
4. It’s Good For The Community
The more parks you visit, the more people you meet. Many of us parents can recall vividly the days we spent at neighborhood parks playing with and getting to know other kids in the neighborhood. Times may have changed, but there is still a need for that sense of community. Frequenting the neighborhood parks is a great way to do that.
5. It Introduces Your Kids to New Parts of Town
Whether it’s the suburbs or the city, chances are there are plenty of neighborhoods your kids don’t know very well. By making it a point to visit new neighborhood parks throughout the city/town you live in can help introduce your kids to other parts of their hometown that they may not get to visit very often.
6. It’s Good for the Environment
Especially if you can skip the car and walk to come of the parks in your area. You save the gas and carbon emissions and stay local. You can also make the trip a learning experience for the kids by packing some garbage bags and spending a few minutes cleaning up any garbage you may find at the park. Teach your kids that it’s their neighborhood and their park, so they should help take care of it too.
7. The City is Putting on a Show For You
During the summer many cities and towns put on special events at local parks. Visit your city’s website to see when the next concert or Shakespeare in the Park is happening near you. These kind of events need attendance to keep going, so help your city out!
8. It’s Good For You
This especially goes for when your kids reach the age when they don’t need to be completely shadowed anymore. Take the opportunity to relax. Bring a blanket and lay on the grass or your lawn chair and favorite book. There are few chances for a mom to simply chill, and the park is a great chance to do that. Or invite a friend that you haven’t hung out with in a while and catch up while the kids play.
9. It Can Be an Adventure
Make a little scrapbook for your children. Every time you visit a new park, let them draw a picture and write about the park. They can even glue pictures you took while there. This is a great way to make the summer trips to the park a real adventure and a way to help keep your school age child writing and using their thinking skills while they’re on vacation.
10. Did I Mention its Free?
What your favorite thing about going to your neighborhood park?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Nothing better than fresh air…and free activities. We love going to the park.
We just went to the park! we walked there, my son played on the toys and we had a great time! We are so lucky to have a lot of parks nearby!
love all the parks we have in our city. the best are the shaded ones.
Oh I love going to the park! It's so nice to get out and get some sunshine, even if it is 90 degrees out!!
We went to two parks today! One at our local Farmer’s Market which I had not been to for a long time. I was happily surprised to see it has been redone and I will definitely make it part of our routine. Then this afternoon we went to our favorite park in our elementary school neighborhood. Within five minutes my kids found playmates. Free and guaranteed fun. We love a park outing!
We all agree on loving parks!
We have a new park near us that is wonderful! In addition to the regular things for children, there is a walking trail, places to run and work out;……a great place to take our grandkids. However, during the hot part of the day, we take them to the air conditioned playground at our local McDonald…we get them a drink or a kid cone and then let them play. Not as nice as the neighborhood park but it works with active kids who need to expend that energy
On nice Sunday afternoons,hubby and I will grab some KFC and our little dog(kids are grown and gone) and go to Caters Lake for a picnic. There are ducks and geese and its fun to watch our little guys reaction to them while we enjoy our chicken and fresh air. The lake is really a pond but its the only "park" near us.There are picnic tables and a small play area.The lake is really a pond but it is so pretty and fll of fish that will come to the surface andeat bread crumbs.
Another good reason is the old use it or lose it principle. Underused facilities tend to be the first on the shut-down list when hard times come along. It's a lot easier to go to city hall and say that a park should stay open or be expanded because hundreds of families use it than if it's just a few. It may even help to get new parks added it the existing ones are truly appreciated. Take a moment to send a thank you note to the powers that be and let them know these parks are important to your community.
My neighborhood park is cool. I go all the time.
parks, the lake , and the ymca
I don't have any kids and don't go to parks. I sooo would if I had kids though. That would be a lot of fun I think!
We love going to the park! I love to go there and just relax, read a book, hubby and I take walks, cook out on their grills – there's nothing like being in the fresh air surrounded by nature. sammiejanL40 at aol dot com
I think part of the issue with disease today is that we are bringing up a generation of kids that don't get dirty. When I was a kid, we played outside all day and only washed our hands to eat. Today, if a child gets the least bit dirty, they are given a prompt bath. I am not saying that our kids should be dirty, mine certainly isn't, but in order for our immune systems to work properly, they have to be given a chance to fight off bacteria. When I was in school I do not remember of hearing of one allergy to peanuts. Today, my child cannot bring any nut products into the school. There has to be something that has changed in the past couple of generations. If we can figure out exactly what has changed in the last 30 years then maybe we can stop this epidemic of childhood diseases.
I think sometimes parents don't think of the local park as an exciting place to take the kids, but they really do love it. They really like it as well as an elaborate expensive outing and it's so good for them in terms of fresh air and exercise. They also learn social skills playing with the others there.
I go to the park several times a week. It's great for the kids. I get some exercise done too. While he plays, I lay out the blanket and do some cardio and muscle toning exercises.
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