The world is your playground

Get out, and take your kid

By Jesse Cottle

Summer is quickly approaching, and it is time to quit telling my child to calm down and color, and time to get him outside to run. With a plethora of options for outside play and activities in and around Lexington, we are on the hunt for the place that suits us best. Recently, we took a trip out to Jacobson Park (along with at least half the city it seemed) for a bit of a frolic on the huge playground.

We arrived with the intent of enjoying the first beautiful day in several weeks, and after about an hour of intense playground frolicking, I basked in the realization of a most enjoyable outcome. Not only was my son exhausted and ready for bed an entire half hour earlier that night, but his appetite had doubled.

I was also excited to discover my son’s newfound courage when it came to heights and his command of the layout of the playground (never leaving my sight of course). Within that wooden fence, he was the master of his own destiny, and there was no stopping him. The park had stimulated his creativity and his energy.

Needless to say, I was quite satisfied that night; not only had my boy had a great time, but my purse was not worse for the wear.

Physical activity is the single easiest and cheapest way to improve your child’s mood. The American Heart Association suggests promoting physical activity, and have conducted numerous studies which show that increased physical activity helps control weight, reduce blood pressure, raise HDL “good” blood pressure, reduce diabetes and some kinds of cancer, and my personal favorite, improves psychological well-being, which includes gaining more self-confidence and building higher self-esteem.

Setting a play date, frequenting a park with children of a similar age or playing with them yourself (childlike doofs similar to myself excel at this) for a little play time gives children more incentive to run. While I am a hearty supporter of sending children to the backyard to entertain themselves in an unobstructed environment, one should never underestimate the benefits of one on one interaction with others. Have you ever tried to play cops and robbers by yourself? Playgrounds are a great outlet for the need to interact. They are place where you can pretend and exert energy at the same time. Even I felt better after playing “see if mom can squeeze under that beam to get up to the top.”

The world is your playground

That being said, I also think that physical activity doesn’t just involve playgrounds.

When you take a child outside, their first instinct is to run; so take them with you, everywhere. Go downtown; park a few blocks away, and take your children to the Farmers Market or Thursday Night Live. Walk around the fountains in front of the Courthouse. In the walk from the car to your destination, you are giving your child quality time with you and giving them a new perspective and view of a place you have seen and been to before.

If you have children that aren’t so great about sticking with you, take them for a walk at the arboretum. Those tree stumps and logs can be a surprisingly great time and, as it happens, located far away from a street or road. There are several walking and shared trails throughout Lexington that do not allow motorized vehicles, giving way for you and the young ones to enjoy a leisurely stroll without as much fear. You can find a complete list of parks, playgrounds, and trails at www.lexingtonky.gov, under the Parks and Recreations link on the bottom right corner of the home page. They list all trails managed by the City, as well as a description of the suggested uses for each. No matter where you prefer to walk, and no matter where you would like your destination (or lack thereof) it’s the process they will remember.

I don’t remember the last band that I saw at Thursday Night Live, and I’m pretty sure that I never saw a single thing that came down the street during the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade we attended a few weeks ago; however, I remember exactly the route we walked to get to the old courthouse, and the crowd we had to trudge through to get to the hot dog stand for a milkshake. We weren’t just there for the event. Being together and bonding on that beautiful day was the event. So go out, play hard, and take your kids with you.