Take advantage of warm spring weather and head to the park for some budget-easy entertainment, fresh air, and exercise! My family lives in Fairfax, Virginia, and we love to go to Burke Lake Park and Clemyjontri Park in Langley, Virginia. Last weekend it was 70+ degrees and sunny–a perfect park day. We put my 1 year-old, Sydney, in a hiking backpack and with my 2 1/2 year-old Tyler on foot, took a short walk, rode the mini-choo-choo-train, and played at the playground. Tyler loved “marching,” and got up the courage to go down the twisty slide. Sydney loves the wind blowing her hair, but was a little freaked out by the train ride. She looked like a deer in headlights the whole time. The kids had a great time and after ate dinner well and went to sleep early! A good afternoon was had by all. (The slideshow above are pics from our recent Clemyjontri Park trip! Enjoy!)
Here is a list of Park Outing items parents will want to keep handy in a small backpack or shoulder pack all summer. Just grab it and head out into the sunshine and enjoy!
Park Pack
- Backpack/shoulder pack
- Baby backpack/front pack (for great exercise) or a stroller
- Diapers and wipes if your children need these, and little baggies for dirties (take them with you!)
- Small plastic bag for trash (a grocery bag will do)
- Water/juice and healthy snacks
- Sunglasses/sunscreen (for face and body)/sunhat
- Insect repellant
- Camera/film/video camera
- Cash – for that train ride, or ice cream cone!
- Your parenting skills, eyes in the back of your head are helpful as well as encouragement
- Hand sanitizer, first-aid kit
- Blanket for sitting on
- Ball and a glove/frisbee/kite
A couple more tips!
- Bring grandparents, or another trusted adult for another pair of hands and eyes!
- Go after nap time and not during meal time, little ones are a lot less cranky.
- Wear activity-appropriate footwear. (I like socks and sneakers for ultimate protection and support but we put on sandals or Crocs when we get back to the car.)
- Bring an extra outfit and a small towel if someone sweats a lot.
- Stay for a set period of time that is appropriate for your child’s age. (Shorter play times are better for younger children; after 3 hours or so my 2 1/2 year old is sweaty and tired.)
My Scary Park Experience
I am not one to discipline other people’s children, but when they are doing something that is potentially harmful to my child, and their parents are not present, I feel I must speak up. Tyler is 2 and he can’t quickly get out of the way of a 80 lb 10 year-old rip-roaring down the twisty slide. Thank goodness his grandfather was there to jerk him up by his arm before he got flattened. I had a stern word with this boy and his friends who were running races around the play structure, nearly clipping or running over smaller children. To my relieve, they subsequently stopped their game and sat aside. My feelings: if you are old enough to be at the playground by yourself, you are too old to be playing there. Especially if the play structures are for 2 year-olds.
Have you had a harrowing play-ground experience? How did you solve it? Leave a comment–I’d love to be more prepared for a next park trip!
Suz,
Thank you for raising this point that is unclear. I meant to convey that I believe parents should be present at the playground area, aware of their child’s play, and ready to discipline if needed. I certainly would want to be present and at the side of my 10 year old if he/she were to hurt him/herself, or hurt another child while playing.
Thank you again for comment,
Abbie
I’ve had a similar experience where my young one, about 18 mos old at the time, got flattened by a 10-yr old who fell off of a play structure (meant for 5-yrs and younger – based off of a sign that stated maximum height/age restrictions). The 10-yr old was too big to play at this play structure in the mall, and his parents were nowhere to be found.
I think what the author was trying to say is that parents, no matter what age their children are, should be cognizant of what their kids are doing, and should be there to supervise them and interject where needed. If a child is truly old enough where they don’t need to be supervised, they would have the werewithal to know that they should be careful of younger chldren who are playing in the same area. Younger children do not have the same reflex capabilities to move out of the way of a child 2-3 times their size, heading straight for them, and out of control.
10 year olds shouldn’t be allowed to play at parks ???