The park is a great place to get active with your family. Many parks have playgrounds appropriate for younger children in addition to basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, walking trails and many other opportunities for activity that the whole family can enjoy. You can even play games like hide-and-seek and red rover in an open grassy area. Make a day of it and pack a healthy picnic lunch!
While parks provide great ways to Move More, be aware of potential hazards that may harm your children. The most important way you can prevent park and playground-related injuries is to properly supervise your children. Here are some ways you can keep the park a safe experience for your family:
- Make sure the play area is free of rocks, tree roots, and broken glass. Check equipment to make sure it’s functioning properly before using it. Also, read any posted safety guidelines.
- Check the temperature of playground equipment before using, especially in the summer when the hot sun can make metal equipment hot enough to burn your skin.
- Teach children to use the equipment properly and to make sure no other children are in the way if they’re going down a slide or other equipment. Also, teach them not to roughhouse on the playground.
- Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially on hot days.
For more tips, check out http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/playground.html.
Not sure where to find a park near you? Visit https://mapofplay.kaboom.org and enter your zip code to find locations and details of playspaces to help you plan your next park outing. You can also check with your local faith-based community to see if they have an open-use policy for their playground equipment.
What day will you go to the park with your kids this week?