How to get the most out of playground time with your preschooler
You’ve played princesses, G.I. Joes, and made a puppet show. Kids meals and drinks? You’ve done two rounds. How about a chorus—or 3,000—of “Let It Go”?
Yep, when it comes to raising young kids, some days life feels a little like a hamster wheel. Have no fear. The playground is a parental lifesaver. It’s free, it’s outdoors, there are usually other adults for you, kids for them, and best of all, there are no Wiggles, Dora, or (shudder) Caillou.
But it’s not just a respite for an exasperated parent or a bored kid—it’s a place for your children to work on growing physical skills and increased independence. And though just setting them loose in the playground is a great start, there are ways you can foster this skill development, especially when they are young.
1. Find the parks that work for you
An important thing to consider is the age range of the park. Take a look at several neighbourhood parks to see which ones will work best for your child’s age and stage. Many modern parks try to incorporate activities for a substantial age range, but if, for example, the park is close to a road or parking lot, and your little one is a runner, you’re never going to be able to take your eyes off them for a moment or be unafraid. That’s no good for you or your child.
When my daughter was little, I always took her to parks with lots of greenery and wide spaces to run. This is ideal for developing walking and running skills, playing catch, and stirring the imagination: think like a child and try to create “an enchanted forest.” Let them explore their senses, truly getting engaged in identifying squirrels, pointing out birds, and feeling the rocks, grass, and granite.
2. Choose the right paths
Also great is to look for parks with pathways. You can practice army walking (cue a chorus of the Ants go Marching) with them, encourage tricycle/toy car time, or just let them feel the different terrain.
The more comfortable they are with all the nooks and crannies of the park that they find when exploring, the safer they feel. The less fear, the more fun and skill-enhancing activities they’ll be excited to take on.
3. Set them free
The next thing to do is to take a deep breath, two if you’re the nervous type. Then—and this may be the hard part for some—take a step back. Allow your child to play freely. Put that propeller away, take a sip of your coffee, and watch them try something.
But don’t watch too obviously. Stop yourself from calling out non-stop cautionary advice and running to their side at the first sign of difficulty. Be nearby, but resist the urge to rescue. Now that your child is old enough to play more independently at the park, you probably need to get used to this new phase as much as they do. Don’t worry, you’ll know when you need to be right there, guiding them towards that next exciting new challenge.
4. Be part of the fun
This part may seem obvious, and possibly counter to the “back off” advice above, but try to experience the park with them. It takes a tuned-in parent to see when they need to stand back and when they need to get into the sandbox with their child and play.
Talk to them about what they’re doing, encourage them by asking what it was like to jump that puddle, or climb the jungle gym. It’s helpful for kids to be able to connect their physical experiences with words.
The playground is a wonderful place to create great memories with your child. When they connect those happy times in the park with their parent, both being active, you set a lifelong connection between activity and fun.
So, yes, encourage them to play by themselves and with other kids, too, but if your child wants to play hide and seek, figure out a good spot and count to 10. It’s great for both of you.
