Letter from Kim

W IL D AN D F R E E

IF YOU’VE BEEN at this parenting thing for more than a minute, you might have noticed an annual summertime trend: a steady stream of articles, studies and opinion pieces extolling the many benefits of unstructured outdoor play.

The experts are pretty unanimous on the topic. They say that unscheduled free play, where kids come up with their own activities (with grown-ups mostly staying the heck out of it), builds maturity, encourages resilience and develops little brains . It gives kids the chance to make their own rules, solve their own problems and nurture crucial social skills.

So why are most parents really bad at it? Why do we work so hard to fill our kids’ time with lessons, sports, camps and parent-directed indoor playdates rather than taking the experts’ advice and sending our kids outside and letting their boredom lead them to fun?

Some of us are just plain scared. The threat of stranger danger, crime, traffic or injury holds us back. I’m still

“When my seven-year-old is climbing a tree, you’re likely to find me holding my breath, trying not to call out ‘be careful!’”

It’s hard not to worry when my kids take li le risks. But I know how important it is.

learning how to relax when my newly minted teenager is out in the world on his own. And when my seven-year-old is climbing a tree, you’re most likely to find me holding my breath, trying not call out “be careful!” Yet the safety experts at Parachute, the non-profit whos e ma ndate i s to help keep Canadians safe, actually e ncourage kids to take age-appropriate risks like climbing a high tree or exploring the neighbourhood with friends. They say the positive impact generally outweighs the potential risks. In fact, their stats show that kids are more likely to get hurt during organized sports than outdoor free play.

Lots of us worry that if we don’t actively fill our kids’ days, they’ll be bored and whine for more iPad time. I can’t argue with that one. This is where setting boundaries and being steadfast will be key. Set strict screen-time parameters, brace yourself for complaints and be prepared to provide suggestions. Offer them open-ended items that help them use their imagination, like rocks, wood, baskets, paintbrushes and water, a rope swing, buckets or sand. It isn’t micromanaging to help make it more fun, and it’ll help them get the hang of playing on their own.

COVID-19 has affected families differently. Some have become more outdoorsy and adventurous, but many others have retreated to their homes and screens. As we slowly emerge from the pandemic and into beautiful summer weather, it’s the perfect time to rethink what “safe” and “healthy” actually look like in our kids’ lives.

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