It's Time to Go Outside Again!

In partnership with IPEMA/Voice of Play.

Anyone else miss freely enjoying the outdoors? I know I do! For the last year we have been at a standstill! My family had a big trip planned to Disney World in April of 2020 but Covid-19 said otherwise!

March 2020, the entire world stopped- like legit stopped! Everyone felt the effects in some manner and honestly, your race, religion, or economic status played no factor; COVID-19 caused EVERYONE to take a pause. Parents all over the world were left wondering what to do when schools and daycares closed left and right. Needless to say, we were all traumatized.

Now, while we all were affected, I believe children were hit the hardest. They were forced away from their friends, routine and were expected to simply adjust. Our kitchen tables became classrooms and parents were required to juggle school, work and everything in-between.

Personally, I was STRUGGLING! The first few months were the hardest on me and my family. We were stuck in the house with internet issues while attempting to balance virtual school, Zoom meetings and normal everyday family life.

By October 2020, I was comfortable enough for our first park visit. It was awesome to FINALLY go outside again! While it was very different interacting with social distancing guidelines and mandatory masks, it was nice to see my children outside again just being kids. Although we went on daily walks, it just was not the same. They needed their own element to be free and just PLAY!

Voice of Play is a non-profit organization that promotes growth in the quality and quantity of children’s free play and the use of playgrounds. Through unbiased, scientifically-based information and resources, the Voice of Play aims to increase education and awareness about the many benefits of children’s play, including the development of critical physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills. Now more than ever before, the Voice of Play initiative is focused on getting kids (and their families!) back outside so everyone can reap the many benefits of free play. We’re encouraging you and your little ones to sign the Voice of Play “Play Pledge” and commit to at least one hour of outdoor play each and every day.(via https://voiceofplay.org/about/)

How do you plan to spend time outdoors this summer? Here are a few tips to help you get your kids back outside!

Tips for Visiting A Public Park or Playground

If you’re ready to head to your local park or playground, kudos to you! Here are a few things I recommend that you do to remain safe:

1.      Bring Hand Sanitizer

2.      Disposable Masks

3.      Bottled Water or drinks

4.      Snacks

5.      Disinfecting Wipes

6.      Hand soap

That’s it! Do what naturally feels comfortable and follow the guidelines of your local park and community. Allow your children to engage with others! Trust me, they truly miss the interaction! And remember, before you leave, wash your hands with soap and water.

Not so sure about visiting your parks or playgrounds just yet? That’s okay and totally understandable, Everyone has a different comfort level but what matters is your child returning to outside play time! Let’s ditch the electronics and PLAY! You will be surprised where their imagination takes them!

Tips for at Home Play

1.      Go outside! Take a walk or run; fresh air is good for your overall health!

2.      Allow your child to pick an activity for the day.

3.      Purchase outdoor toys and place them in a basket. These will be only used for outdoor play and encourage your littles to go outside.

4.      Have a playdate! Invite friends over with children – this not only gives you a chance to see others but allows your child/ren to play with others.

5.      Plan rainy day activities! (i.e. arts and crafts, dramatic play, reading books)

Getting back to outside play time has done wonders for not only me but also my children’s mental health. I see more smiles and less arguments. This has also taught me to intentionally take “outside timeout breaks” for my house that means we drop everything and go outside. I’ll be the first to admit that work can be overwhelming and with a toddler in tow, television and toys will only have his attention for so long. He’s ready to get in the open air and just run or kick around the ball and I will definitely allow that.

I challenge you to join me in taking the Voice of Play “Play Pledge” to spend more time OUTSIDE playing with your child! Sign the pledge here and be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your pledge!