5 Questions & Answers on Outdoor Play

I’m so happy to have enjoyed a nature playdate recently with one of my favorite outdoor pals, Michele Whiteaker of Fun Orange County Parks. She is a big proponent of outdoor play and her blog offers information not only about Orange County Parks (including photos, amenities and other important details), but also simple ways to enjoy playing in the OC and beyond.

I find Michele’s commitment to outdoor play inspiring and I thought you might, too. Here are her answers to five questions I was dying to ask. Enjoy!

What were some of your favorite outdoor activities as a kid?
I remember spending tons of time outside. I adventured everywhere on my bike and rode around our driveway on my Big Wheel, skateboard and roller skates. We also played sports in the driveway. I was lucky to have a younger cousin and sister who were my constant playmates since there weren’t really kids in my neighborhood.

We had a wild blackberry bush near our house. My mom would send us out with a colander to fill and make us a pie with our hard-earned bounty. My aunt grew fruit trees and I remember collecting and eating apples, peaches, plums and citrus. We gardened and got dirty. I never wore shoes. I climbed oak trees. I chased tadpoles in the creek by school. My mom took us to the beach all summer. I think my favorite outdoor activity from childhood is swimming in the ocean.

What are some of your kids’ favorite nature play activities?
I’m thinking sand play is one of their favorites and mine, too. I love to just park myself on a towel at the beach and let them go. I’m ready and willing for them to get covered in sand. They think of something new to do every time we go. For instance, today they wanted to dig in the sand using the shells washed up on the beach. I encourage the spirit of discovery every outdoor adventure brings.

What’s the biggest challenge you face as a parent getting your kids their daily dose of outdoor play time?
I honestly make outdoor time a priority, so it’s not a challenge at all. It’s just a habit. I schedule the time into our day and don’t over-schedule the kids in classes or other activities. It’s okay if they miss computer or TV time, but it’s not okay if they miss out on their unstructured play time.

My husband and I were married for 8 years before having kids, so we had the luxury of planning for me to be a stay-at-home mom. It makes it possible for me to have some flexibility in our schedule. When planning family adventures for the weekend, we always seem to focus on what we can do outdoors.
 
How do you hope your blog will help readers?
I hope it’s inspiring and gives readers useful tools to find places to play … maybe even help them re-visit regular hangouts with a new eye for playing without a plan. I also hope it’s empowering. Sometimes the unknown stops us from trying new experiences, but providing some key information might give them a little push out the door.

What tips would you offer parents to help them connect their kids to the outdoors?
Just give them every opportunity possible to “Be Out There” – to quote the National Wildlife Federation slogan. You don’t have to have big plans or go anywhere special.

We don’t have a big yard, but it’s enough space for them to take an old towel or picnic blanket and lay down to watch the clouds. Or sometimes they pull out excavation tools (a spoon) and dig in the dirt. If you think being outside is important, they’ll think it’s important. The things they think of to entertain themselves are incredible and creative ideas.

Michele Whiteaker is a freelance writer and playground blogger who launched Fun Orange County Parks in April 2008. She promotes play in Orange County and beyond on Twitter, Facebook and her blog.  She was named KaBOOM Playmaker of the Month in December 2008.

Photo courtesy of Bosh Images and Mali Workman Photography.