Fun Orange County Parks » Simple Play

What to do? What to do?

Michele — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:37:06 +0000

My brain has been working overtime to answer the question of what to do with your kids over this winter break. You know what? The answers are so simple!

#1 – Do Nothing

Guess what?
I give you permission to play. I give you permission to let your kids be BORED! (Don’t worry they will come up with something on their own!) I give you permission to let things go (laundry, dishes, baking) can all wait; time with family and friends cannot.

Places to do nothing:

In your own backyard
Aimless walks around your neighborhood (see what you can see)
At the park

#2 – Explore Winter

Winter in Southern California is still winter. Have your kids take “imaginary memory pictures” of winter, so they can compare it to when you take the same outings in spring. Go to the beach and note the differences. What do the trees look like at the park?

Places to explore winter:

#3 – Watch the sun set over the ocean

We have such the life in Orange County! Take advantage of the incredible views.

Places to see sunsets and inspiration to watch more:

#4 – Spot whales from shore

In California, migration involves more than birds! Grey whales are making their way along the coast. Can you spot them?

Places to spot whales:

Top 12 Whale Watching Parks and Beaches
Dana Wharf (charter boat trips)

#5 – Grab Bag

What are you in the mood to do? Give the kids a choice and let them lead the way:

I am going to sign off until next week, but there should be plenty to keep you busy here!!

Take It Outside Week 2011: Just a Mom

Michele — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:42:20 +0000

“Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is promoting Take it Outside Week October 16 – 22nd, 2011 – to encourage educators, families and caregivers to make time outdoors an important part of young children’s daily lives.” – (from the HSBS website where you’ll find activity ideas and fact sheets)

“I’m just a mom.”
(It’s my answer when I’m asked what I do.)

“I’m just a mom blogging about playgrounds,” I say.
(Hear the crickets?)

Lately, I’ve been having a little pep talk in my head: “You are not just a mom.”

I tell my mom readers that they are my heroes for taking their kids to the park and just letting them play.

I tell my mom friends how spectacular they are for juggling mommyhood with “wifehood” and “jobhood.” They each have amazing talents that they underestimate and put in the “I’m just a mom, but I also . . .” category.

I thank my own mother for every ounce of mom she is and was to me. It would be an insult to call her “just a mom.”

How can I persuade my friends and readers that they are more than “just” a mom when I hear those very words coming out of my mouth?

I can’t.

So I’m going to stop saying it.

I am a mom! I make a difference in the lives of two incredible kids every day.

Some days are hard and some days I’m tired, but I make a difference on those days, too.

I’m also a play advocate. I promote unstructured play. I think the best way to connect families to play is to start by telling them where to find playgrounds. From there, the bridge to making nature connections and enjoying a slower lifestyle is easier to cross.

If you are a mom, or a dad, or any caregiver – I want you to take pride your very important job. Part of that very important job is giving your kids time to play every day. I’m talking about FREE PLAY. Remember? Like when we were kids?

KaBOOM.org is the national non-profit campaigning for play. They first sent me this video by email. Their website is full of research and strategies to bring back play. Bethe Almeras, a.k.a, The Grass Stain Guru, covered this video in a well-written post restating the same thing she’s been saying for years about “Super Kids.”

This twelve minute video is worth watching. I’d go so far as to say it’s a landmark piece on the topic of unstructured play. When I watch it, I think “I’m a mom!” and I have the power to do something about this in the lives of at least my own children.

I am a mom who promotes play as a service to my community.

Who are you? What do you think?

Photo credit: Mali Workman Photography and Bosh Images
Post originally appeared on my OCFamily.com “Play Mom Blog.”

Guess the Game: Odds and Ends

Michele — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:34:41 +0000

I’m seeing signs of fall! Are you? Cooler nights and warm days make the leaves change color. We’ve got a nice little drizzle going this morning. LOVE fall! My friend over at TravelingMel.com is getting ready for winter in Montana and embarked on canning projects – looks DELICIOUS. I bought a whole flat of peaches this week just because of her photos!

Guess the Game: Odds and Ends

What would your child do with this pile of odds & ends (considering they are old enough to even have these in their possession)?

My 6 year old daughter kept herself occupied for an hour with this strange assortment.

Can you guess what she played? Hint: Ask your kids what they would play with these items.

Leave your guess in the comments and I’ll respond with the real game after I get some guesses. (I might even randomly pick one of you for a giveaway or reward!)

Summer Family Schedule Filled with Yes Days

Michele — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:27:01 +0000

Have you ever seen that look? The look on your child’s face when you say “Yes!” when they expect to hear “No.” I love that look! I get it more during the summer than any other time of year. Summer reminds me of my “Ask Yourself Why Not?” post. Our summer family schedule is filled with “Yes” Days. I try to play more in my role as parent and lead by example.

It was almost comical to see my daughter at the beach asking:

“Mommy, can I go get some water for my pail?” Of course, you can.

“Mommy, can I keep this sand crab for a while?” Sure.

“Mommy, can we play a little longer?” Yes!

When I’m well-rested and pad lots of extra TIME in our schedule, then I’m the Mommy who says “Yes!” I try to plan lots more Yes Days than No Days. I think that’s why we decided not to travel or make ANY plans for our 4th of July weekend. No barbecues with friends. No get-togethers with family. I didn’t even do any menu planning.

I switched off from my work and switched my focus completely on family. I kept a mental journal of my days off. I filled my time with: gardening, reading library books to my youngest, watching my oldest create charcoal drawings, helping with origami projects (or trying to help), cooking, reading a novel, playing at the beach, eating almost every meal outdoors, observing and exploring our own yard, bringing the kids to the community pool every day, taking turns taking naps (the parents, not the kids), telling stories and lots of listening.

I felt refreshed and I know the kids benefited from the extra focus. I’m so glad I said, “Yes!” when my daughter picked this particular flower during our outing for gardening supplies:

It may not be the smartest choice, because sunflowers grow fast and don’t last long. However, my daughter fell a little bit in love with their bright petals and I didn’t really feel like saying “No.”

Besides, watching them grow makes me happy.

Read “How to Plan Your Monthly OC Play Calendar” for more ideas on squeezing in Yes Days!

*This post originally appeared on my OCFamily.com “Play Mom” blog.

Making a Connection

Michele — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:07:15 +0000

I think yesterday’s post and the responses it brought to the surface deserve a little debrief. I wouldn’t own a book called “Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles” by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka if I didn’t have my own parenting challenges. We all have challenges. Just like all the parenting books I’ve purchased or checked out from the library, I never read Kurcinka’s book all the way through. I found what I needed in Chapter 2 and put it down.

In Chapter 2, Kurcinka explains “Emotion Coaching: The Decision to Connect” in the context of getting your child through a patch of misbehavior by choosing to make a connection instead of stopping the behavior with a parental disconnect. I’d like to think this idea can be generalized to the choice between plugging in to screen time vs. any other activity.

Listen to what Fun Orange County Parks readers suggested as alternatives to screen time yesterday:

Do a puzzle with your child
Include your child in the salon experience (bang trim, manicure)
Provide drawing materials (Magna Doodle, blank paper, coloring books, crayons, markers)
“I’d rather they read if we’re not having a passionate talk about whatever has entered their head.”
Finger weaving
Cancel the appointment
Games of “I Spy” and ABC games
Singing songs together
“I usually have my little girl sit in the chair next to me so we can talk”

Without realizing it, the commenters on yesterday’s post offered up suggestions on how to CONNECT over a DISCONNECT.

As parents, we have this choice every day and in every interaction. Which choice will set them up better for success in life? Connect or disconnect?