Affordable Activity: Explore Your Town’s Playgrounds

If you’re looking for a place to take the kids or grandkids, the playground is always an easy answer and free of charge in most cases. Even if you’re not an outdoor enthusiast, exploring local playgrounds can be quite fun and suitable for all ages.

Here are some ideas to make visiting playgrounds fun for both the adults and the children:

• Swing. Explore different playgrounds to see if they have different types of swings. I’ve seen regular swings, tire swings, and even wheelchair swings.
• Make It a History Lesson. Most playgrounds are attached to parks. If that park has a name, find out who it’s named after and learn a little bit about that person or place.
• Play Tag. This was one of my favorite things to do on the playground because you could go up, down, or through equipment and it added a sense of adventure. See what playgrounds in your area have some of the most tag-worthy equipment to play on.
• HopScotch. Look for a local playground that has a cement or asphalt area where there may be hopscotch pre-drawn or you could take some sidewalk chalk and create your own.
• Make New Friends. Exercise caution in who you or your kids talk to in public places, but it never hurts to say hi to the parent sitting next to you or to let your child play with another child on the playground within your line of vision. Who knows, you might both make new friends!
• Play Simon Says. Simon says, go down that slide. Simon says swing. STOP. oops. Simon didn’t say!
• Use Your Imagination. Head to different playgrounds and see which ones your kids/grandkids want to go to. May they want to stop at the one with a pirate ship so they can pretend they are sailing the open sea.
• Play in the Water. Some playgrounds have what we call a splash pad. An area of the playground where water is squirting up out of the ground or structure and you can play in it. These are great for hotter days and I’ve honestly spent hours at these playgrounds.
• Practice Counting. Head to a playground that has a LOT of swings, slides, etc. and then head to one that doesn’t. Count them and compare which one has more and which one has less.

These are just a few things you can do while exploring your nearby playgrounds. Playgrounds are fun in themselves but sometimes you need that little extra activity to make the trip worth it.