Parks, COVID-19, and Parents

By Amanda Stockwell

As COVID-19 continues to spread and affect our daily lives, parents continue the race of finding places to visit that not only their children but also themselves can enjoy. In some states, entertainment related activities are shut down. In others, places are open but are taking extra precautions toward sanitization and requiring face masks to enter. Perhaps you don’t wish to take your child(ren) to an indoor place even if it is as exciting and educational as say an aquarium. So where to go? Parks are a great option. This isn’t a recent find of ours, nor is it probably yours, but I have come to realize a deeper appreciation of them during this tumultuous time.

Parks are an invaluable resource right now. Not only do they provide parents and kids with much needed outdoor time, but as parents are learning the ins and outs of homeschooling, parks could be a wonderful place to provide a lesson on any of the four main subjects: science, math, english, and history. In fact, if you’re struggling to come up with your own lesson plans in regard to parks, the National Park Service website (nps.gov) has lesson plans, student activities, and videos that you can easily access. PBS.org also has a section dedicated to national parks and numerous lesson plans to take advantage of (http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/for-educators/lesson-plans/). Don’t limit yourself to online, however. The whole point is so you and your kids can leave the house for a bit, embrace the fresh air, and partake in nature. Get out and visit your local park, state park, or national park. With or without lesson plans or activities for your kids, simply exploring is an educational adventure in itself.

What is a park exactly? Is it the big grassy area with a space set aside for kids to play on the playground equipment? Is it the massive amount of forest acreage found throughout the Midwest? Is it the mountain range you hike that’s just outside the city limits? Or is it the vast, endless desert you drive through in the Southwest? It’s all of the above. PBS also asks this question and answers it for us. “All of us have a ‘mental map’ of what constitutes a park, depending largely on our past experiences and where we live. Students in urban areas may ‘see’ an expanse of green lawn between buildings. Those in more rural areas might describe a park as acres of untouched forest. But a survey of America’s national parks reveals many types of environments, from volcanoes and glaciers to sand dunes and marshlands.” 

My husband and I have been fortunate to live near a variety of parks.  When living in New Mexico, we were near White Sands National Park.  This park is over 200 acres large and consists of white gypsum sand dunes. Throughout the park are trails, signs showcasing the natural wildlife living there, and picnic areas where you can rest and eat if you’ve packed a lunch. The most exciting part of the white sands is the sledding. You buy a sled just like you would for snow, slick it down with a bit of wax, and sail down the dunes! My nephews were able to come visit one summer, and they had a blast! It’s not just for kids, of course. I enjoyed the sledding just as much as they did. Our dogs also enjoyed romping through the massive amount of open area. 

Another park that is less well known that we live near presently is the White Tank Mountains Regional Park. The White Tank Mountains are a mountain range to the northwest of Phoenix; the park provides numerous trails that vary from easy to difficult and can be used by hikers or those on horseback. If you decide to check it out, be sure and grab a map first from the ranger manning the gate. There is a fantastic library and nature center as you enter the park, though unfortunately, it is closed right now due to Covid. My husband and I have always loved to hike, so this is a perfect area to do so. And now we have a not-so-little two year old along that can enjoy our hikes as well. In fact, we just purchased a hiking backpack (Osprey Poco – highly recommend) that my husband carries our son in when his legs get tired or he looks like he’s getting too hot.

What are some of the parks you enjoy with your child/ children? What tips getting outside would you offer to other parents? Have you had a hard time finding places to social distance with your family? Please connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids.

Until next time, agape, be kind, and happy parenting.