Do your kids like to go to the park?

[HardyGirl]

Yes, there is a reason I'm asking this question. I used to work w/ the after school group at my day care center. I noticed even then, (6 years ago), whenever we would take a field trip to the park, a half hour after we got there the kids would start asking "When are we leaving?" Today I was told that the after school group wouldn't be coming back to the center right after school, 'cos they'd be going to the local park. (which BTW, is a real treat on a school day). They came back early, and I wondered why. The kids told their teachers they didn't wanna go to the park, they just wanted to get some ice-cream. They never get to go anywhere w/ the program on school days, b/c the kids all go to different schools, and have after school classes they get picked up from so it's hard to coordinate. For once they were offered to go somewhere and didn't wanna go. Are kids really that plugged in these days that something like playing in the park is so bad? Even when I was in charge, I noticed that the kids wouldn't want to play or run around, unless I organized something like kickball, and even then the interest waned.

Do you notice this w/ your own kids?

[jwyblejr]

Don't have that problem with my nephew. He's a park freak. Even in the winter he wants to go to the park. I gotta steer clear of any fast food place that has an indoor play area. He'd rather spend all of his time in there than eat.

[Iron Mego]

My daughter loves to go the park.

[apes3978]

The parks around here seem to always have kids in them, especially in nicer weather...

[Earth 2 Chris]

My kids would stay at a park all day if we let them. My dad still lives in my childhood home, which is right next to the park. Even when the weather is crappy, the kids ask to go there when we visit.

Needless to say, I practically lived at that park!

Chris

[mego maniac mark]

I live next to a park. My daughter loves to go. I'm getting a little old to slide and climb, but still do.

[kerowack]

I know tons of kids that like the park, but usually the ones who play sports or love the playground. I also know tons of kids who would be begging to leave within two minutes because of video games or tv......

I'm very conscious of this now that I have a ten month old....no way she's becoming a zombie to devices. Not until she chooses to...that blood won't be on my hands!

[kerowack]

Last post written using an ipad from bed.

[Mikey]

The parks around these parts are basically huge forests.

They offer climbing, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and camping.

Nothing like the typical city park

[4NDR01D]

Yep, my daughter loves them. On my days off in summer I'll take her "park hopping" and hit as many different parks as we can (driving to all the different places also gives me a chance to do some yardsailing if it's a weekend).

We also have a brand new skateboard park / kiddie park that has concessions so that's pretty cool.