Playground Tag
We just got back from our local playground. It has four main sections of play equipment with a plethora of slides, monkey bars, bridges, ladders and fireman poles. We invited some friends to come with us so there were seven kids and myself as the… ahem, responsible adult.
My few attempts at being the pretend playground monster quickly turned into an hour long game of tag. Unfortunately I was the one who was “It” the majority of that hour. Those little guys are fast! And I can’t fit through the bars, under the bridges or zip down the slide like I used to.
I believe during that hour of tag I burned more calories than any aerobic exercise that I usually do. The boys didn’t even realize they were exercising. It was amazing to see how we got so lost in our fun.
I realized that I miss that as an adult. The spontaneous play outside. You meet some kid in the park and automatically become best friends and then begin chasing each other full speed around in circles.
Luckily this still exists for children. Playing outside on the playground surrounded by trees, grass and shrubs. It’s essential Nature For Kids and it’s the type of exercise children need. The type that’s not actually called exercise, but play. When did my play turn into exercise?…Deep thoughts by Mystical Batwoman
exercise, playground, tag, playing outside, kids, nature, activities for kids, activities for children
School Is Out!
Well school is officially out and Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. The two combined create a buzz in the air. Soon our communities will have kids roaming up, down and all around town; riding bikes, exploring hillsides with stick in hand, and baking on warm sidewalks after running through the sprinklers.
And mothers around the world are wondering…what am I going to do with these kids all summer long?! This will be my second summer dealing with my three kids home all day. I’m sure there are mothers out there with more experience. But I’ll refer you to some great information I found during my research on this subject. Keep in mind; the links I’m providing are actual links that I use:
- Job Charts - Just as important as playing with your kids is working with them. Keep their lives balanced during the summer with a little responsibility and hard work. Handipoints is a great website to get you organized. And it’s free. It also helps with encouraging education and recreation time.
- Educational Time - Have a specific time during the day set aside for reading, workbooks or art activities. During the hottest part of the day is advisable. Your local library will most likely have great activities and book suggestions for the summer as well.
- Unstructured Play Time - Surely your child will come to you at some point during the summer and say, “I’m bored”. Don’t feel bad and don’t take the role of “camp director”. Simply nudge them in the direction of constructive activities. Experts say boredom is the springboard for creative play, which is vital for their development.
- Outdoor Play - Because direct exposure to nature is essential for physical and emotional health, plan some outdoor activities. Wonderful resources for outdoor fun include your local Recreation Department or your newspaper’s summer event guide. One day a week throughout the summer Nature For Kids will be hosting an outdoor activity for kids in our local area. So keep a look out for posts including pictures and information about what we do.
Do you know of any great resources for summer fun? Leave a comment.
