We are LOVING this cooler fall weather, which means lots of opportunities to get our Bunches outside to play hard in the fresh air (which translates into better naps and earlier bedtimes). But we bet that if you're six or more months into Baby Bunching, you've realized that ironically, playgrounds are actually not always the most kid-friendly place spaces when you've got a crawler who prefers wood chips to goldfish crackers and a toddler who's learned how to sprint and wants to explore the big-kid equipment.
No, not all playgrounds are created equal, but over the years we've learned how to scope out the most Buncher-friendly ones. Here are a few evaluation criteria for you to use when sussing out play places.
-Ground cover. Few playgrounds have concrete anymore - if you find one that does, skip it. Steer clear of gravel, which is a giant pit of choking hazards when your kids are very young. Wood chips are OK until your baby is old enough to shove them in her mouth. Sand is usually fine and could possibly entertain older toddlers more than the play equipment. Rubber surfacing is great - just be sure the day is not too sunny so your little ones don't burn themselves crawling on the surface.
-Age-appropriate playscapes. If your baby and toddler are both on the move, we really recommend that you stick to playgrounds that only have toddler playscapes. Toddlers are curious and adventurous creatures, and will likely gravitate towards scaling the most advanced equipment in sight. If you've got a crawler to spot as well, then stick to the little kid's playgrounds.
-Proximity to street. Our city has an awesome playground with rubber surfacing and age appropriate equipment. Too bad it is literally yards from the city's busiest street and only half of it is fenced in. Clearly, none of the city's Parks and Rec planners have children. Your Bunch can probably run faster than you can. Save yourself the stress and find a park set a good bit back from the road.
-Crowds. Is the park frequented by other people with small children or are there lots of school-aged big kids that will run roughshod over your kids? Is the park typically very crowded? Is it easy to keep track of your kids? Which brings us to a related point...
-Visibility. Is the equipment laid out so that you can see your kids at all times? Or is the playground so big that they can slip from play area to play area without you really seeing them and get lost?
-Water hazards. Kids are drawn to water like moths are to flames. If you're on your own with the kiddos, might want to steer clear of that park with the sweet little creek running through it.
-Restrooms. Available? Clean? Potty training toddler - need we say more?
-Shade patterns. Babies and toddlers get overheated fast. Look for shaded playgrounds or unshaded ones for the winter months, which may give you a bit more warmth in the cool late afternoon.
-Remoteness. As a mom with very young children, you do not want to be in a remote area alone with your kids. Our city has an awesome toddler park set back in the woods. And they use county prisoners to do trash pickup there. Again, someone in the city left their thinking cap at home. We prefer to visit this park in groups and steer clear of it on days we are playing by ourselves.
There are a few pieces of gear you need to have on hand for your playground visit, especially if you come with a baby who is not yet mobile. Make sure you always have a blanket (so you can spread out over the mulch, sand, gravel so your baby can sit/lay and watch), a stroller and some kind of carrier. You need your hands free to supervise your toddler as he tries to leap off some ledge or in case he needs to be rescued from a slide. The best accessory, of course, is a friend. With multiple adults, you can fan out around the playground and collectively supervise all of your children in "zones" without breaking stride in conversation. Happy playtime to all!
Great topic! My friends wonder why I rarely want to meet-up for play dates at the park, but with a crawler and a sprinter, it is impossible to keep up. When I have the baby in the ergo it is still difficult to help my toddler navigate the jungle gym.
Posted by: Amanda | Oct 05, 2010 at 09:04 PM
The baby swings in the park can be your best friend. I put my toddler and my 4 month old in each. My almost 2 yr old likes to fly high, while her little brother gets gentle rocking.
Posted by: AZ | Oct 05, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
Posted by: mulberry alexa bags | Nov 26, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Its always fun to watch the kids playing on playground, specially for there parents.
Posted by: Kids Playground Equipment | Jun 21, 2012 at 06:46 AM