5 ms·

Much better than a private garden is access to public parks and playgrounds. This is where they socialize and make friends, where they learn to interact with ot

Much better than a private garden is access to public parks and playgrounds. This is where they socialize and make friends, where they learn to interact with others in a group context. To you it may be "noise and chaos", to many others it's life and excitement. No matter if you live in a dense inner city or a small village, open public spaces where they can meet other children are vital to children's growth and development.

ojame 6y ago
I'm not sure they're _much better_ but in my experience (both as a kid and a dad) they serve different purposes. Parks and playgrounds are great, as you've mentioned (but you can also get socialisation through play groups, activity groups like swimming, school, the beach etc). My kids do lots of stuff they couldn't do in a public space and I likely wouldn't let them do inside. They have outdoor baths in summer, grow sunflowers and herbs, collect eggs from the chickens, have 'outdoor movie nights', run around naked for hours etc. There's also social things, being in a playground or park means my kids often go and find things to do by themselves, which is great (they're great at independence). Being in our backyard forces them, most of the time, to work together to solve whatever problem they have. Those problems are often far different from what happens _inside_ the house and are just as critical to their development. Last week I saw my 2.5yo up our apricot tree throwing apricots into a bucket being held by our ~5yo because they wanted to make dessert. Could probably do that in a park, but yeah.
- zemvpferreira 6y ago
  These experiences are all commmon in certain public parks in Lisbon. If there's political will, having meaningful natural experiences in community is easy, cheap and I'd say even more rewarding. The problem is in the communities. I remember a sunny day back in 2015 - I was living in a suburb near Redwood City with lovely, expansive parks. Naively I decided to take my shirt off while I was lying in the grass and get some sun. It took less than 5 minutes for a group of concerned mothers (whose group was yards away from me) to come berate me for "exposing myself to children". What sort of education is this?
- IG_Semmelweiss 6y ago
  i visualized that last bit in my head. It made me smile. Obviously there is an element that will connect with some, and definitely not with others, here. If you have it, you know. It can't be explained. For me, that's the best part of your writing. Thank you
patja 6y ago
That works until your city decides to allow unhoused people to take over the parks with tents and generators as has happened in some cities in the US.
- burnthrow 6y ago
  Or when emotional politicians decide that wrapping your mostly unused park with CAUTION tape is a good idea (it stops the virus, and my dance starts the rain).
anewaccount2021 6y ago
In most cities, urban parks are now covered in tents. No parent is taking a four year old into a public needle exchange
- sgt 6y ago
  Thought that was just SF?
  - DC1350 6y ago
    Also an issue in Toronto, and I’ve heard Seattle is awful too.
    - kridsdale1 6y ago
      Yup. Bring your kid and your dog to a mud pit with used and un-capped needles sticking out of it.

ojame 6y ago

I'm not sure they're _much better_ but in my experience (both as a kid and a dad) they serve different purposes. Parks and playgrounds are great, as you've mentioned (but you can also get socialisation through play groups, activity groups like swimming, school, the beach etc). My kids do lots of stuff they couldn't do in a public space and I likely wouldn't let them do inside. They have outdoor baths in summer, grow sunflowers and herbs, collect eggs from the chickens, have 'outdoor movie nights', run around naked for hours etc. There's also social things, being in a playground or park means my kids often go and find things to do by themselves, which is great (they're great at independence). Being in our backyard forces them, most of the time, to work together to solve whatever problem they have. Those problems are often far different from what happens _inside_ the house and are just as critical to their development. Last week I saw my 2.5yo up our apricot tree throwing apricots into a bucket being held by our ~5yo because they wanted to make dessert. Could probably do that in a park, but yeah.

zemvpferreira 6y ago
These experiences are all commmon in certain public parks in Lisbon. If there's political will, having meaningful natural experiences in community is easy, cheap and I'd say even more rewarding. The problem is in the communities. I remember a sunny day back in 2015 - I was living in a suburb near Redwood City with lovely, expansive parks. Naively I decided to take my shirt off while I was lying in the grass and get some sun. It took less than 5 minutes for a group of concerned mothers (whose group was yards away from me) to come berate me for "exposing myself to children". What sort of education is this?
IG_Semmelweiss 6y ago
i visualized that last bit in my head. It made me smile. Obviously there is an element that will connect with some, and definitely not with others, here. If you have it, you know. It can't be explained. For me, that's the best part of your writing. Thank you

patja 6y ago

That works until your city decides to allow unhoused people to take over the parks with tents and generators as has happened in some cities in the US.

burnthrow 6y ago
Or when emotional politicians decide that wrapping your mostly unused park with CAUTION tape is a good idea (it stops the virus, and my dance starts the rain).

anewaccount2021 6y ago

In most cities, urban parks are now covered in tents. No parent is taking a four year old into a public needle exchange

sgt 6y ago
Thought that was just SF?
- DC1350 6y ago
  Also an issue in Toronto, and I’ve heard Seattle is awful too.
  - kridsdale1 6y ago
    Yup. Bring your kid and your dog to a mud pit with used and un-capped needles sticking out of it.