The Importance of Taking Kids to the Park

Fresh Air and Exercise

• Kids need fresh air, exercise and sunshine in order to thrive. Taking them to the park to play gets their blood flowing and oxygen pumping; the exposure to sunshine also provides much-needed vitamin D. The activity can be especially helpful for parents too, because kids who play hard typically come home ready for a good meal and a long, peaceful sleep.

Social Hour

• A visit to the park provides a safe setting for your kids to interact with other children their own age. As an added benefit, they will learn skills that will serve them beyond the playground, such as sharing and taking turns, consideration for others, establishing their own rules and boundaries, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution and leadership.

Independence and Confidence

• Kids who go to the park also get the chance to assert their independence, which assists their mental growth and development. Although they̵7;re supervised at a distance, being in the park allows them to run and play freely and to make their own choices about which activities to get involved in. Through running, jumping, playing and climbing, kids also gain confidence in their physical abilities, which can lead to healthy self-esteem.

Learning and Problem-Solving

• Through careful observation of their peers, kids often learn new skills at the park, which include becoming more adept at solving their own problems. When they fall, they learn to get back up and keep playing. If they want to swing, they learn the skill by watching other kids pump their legs back and forth. Rather than running back to Mommy for every little issue, kids learn to rely on their newfound resourcefulness.

Adult Interaction

• Caring for young children can be lonely work, which is why going to the park can also benefit parents, because it allows them time to socialize with other caregivers. Whether trading stories, tips, recipes or ideas, speaking with other adults helps parents feel less isolated in their labor of love.