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Take a look back on 20 years of vital play and playground information with us.
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Contents
Play and Playground Magazine | Volume 20 No. 4 | Winter 2020
8
Features 8
Be the Playground Hero by Tim McNamara
12 Playground Memories by Pat Rumbaugh
14 Third Annual Voice of Play Survey
12
16 Parks, The Pandemic & Social Media by Joann Robertson
18 Embrace the Chill by Peter Dargatz
18
After nearly 20 years, Play & Playground Magazine is entering a new paradigm. Details on page 6. 4 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE WINTER 2020
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CPSI Course Calendar All courses are virtual
January 13-14
Maryland
301-352-7203
15
California
916-665-2777
27
Utah
urpa.org
February 8
Wisconsin
414-423-1210
9-11
Tennessee
615-790-0041
17-19
Florida
850.878.3221
25
Texas
swprti.org
Georgia
770-760-1403
March 1-3
MAKE A
SPLASH
WITH A PLAYGROUND
PUMP!
www.CadronCreekPlay.com
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WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 5
Magazine Publisher | Webmaster | Design
Message From Our Staff
Jake Amen
Jake Amen
Editor Sara Bowersox
Accounting Brad Smith
Contributing Authors Peter Dargatz IPEMA Tim McNamara Joann Robertson Pat Rumbaugh
Copyright, 2020 published by Playground Professionals, LLC, 4 issues per year, sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for content of ads and submitted materials, mail permits.
20 Years of Play It's time to celebrate! 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of Today’s Playground magazine, the former moniker of Play and Playground Magazine. Over the years this publication established itself as "the authority on play structures, amenities, and industry trends" during a time of monumental changes in the way everyone consumes media. Since the web and social media now dominate, it's common to hear the phrase "print is dead." While that may not be the absolute truth, Play and Playground Magazine has been grappling with the best way to exist in the current media ecosystem for quite some time. In order to direct our resources towards the most effective methods of publishing for our cherished advertisers, authors, and readers we have made the decision to merge the quarterly Play and Playground Magazine with our weekly newsletter. This will free up time and dollars to invest in the digital
promotion of content and advertisements. We have been preparing for this big shake up with an upgrade to our website, making it easy on the eyes and very engaging.
Improvements to our website's directory search feature acts as an effective on-line buyers guide for your prospective clients. The great content that appeared in our magazine will continue to be delivered via email to thousands of subscribers each week. Don't worry. We aren't going anywhere. With luck, we'll continue to publish playful content for another 20 years.
Celebrate with us in 2021 Joann Robertson's
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WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 7
Be the Playground
by Tim McNamara YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY completed the playground design process. Now it’s time for the vision to come to life!
Finalize the Design and Budget
Now is the time to make sure that everything you want and expect to be done is included within the established budget. • Play equipment. Remember to account for shipping and freight costs of the equipment. • Site amenities. This includes trash receptacles, bike racks, benches, and shade. • Safety surface. Surfacing material can have a big impact on the cost of a playground but there are several options available from rubber and wood mulch to poured-in-place rubber to artificial turf. Different surface options provide different benefits and one of these options should fit in the budget. • Site Preparation. Construction costs can often be overlooked, and you want to make sure you’ve budgeted for permits, lighting, sidewalks, and installing or repairing drainage. Over Budget? Here are some options to consider: • Phasing the project over a period of time rather than reducing the scope of the playground. • Planning for a community build installation.
• Examining the play equipment choices to see if cost savings can be found without losing play value. • Reducing open space areas to save on safety surfacing costs.
Order the Equipment
• Colors should be reviewed and finalized by the owner/representative and play equipment consultant. • All the equipment is ordered, and lead times are provided by the manufacturers.
Preconstruction Meeting
Once the play equipment is ordered, a preconstruction meeting should be
scheduled. If possible, this meeting should take place on-site. The first step is to bring all key parties together – the play equipment consultant, installers, and the owner/representative – in a pre-construction meeting to discuss the logistics and sequencing of work. A lot is happening during the playground construction and installation, so this is a critical step to make the project run smoothly. • Level Set. Lay out all the parameters. Identify anything that needs to be done prior to playground installation. Scraping, grading, installing or repairing drainage, public and private utility location and marking, removing existing non-compliant play
With successful planning completed, it’s time to bring the playground to life.
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equipment. Agree on location(s) for construction access. • Who and when? Identify who is responsible for each item and where it falls within the sequence of the project. The order of the workflow will help build the project timeline. For example, what happens if the equipment installers realize a layout change must be made to ensure the playground is compliant with ASTM and CPSC guidelines? Who should be involved in the discussion to revise and resolve the layout issue? Who needs to give final approval? This is the time to address the proper chain of command and all responsible parties. Good, open communication is a must throughout the project. It is crucial to have a chain of command and points of contact established upfront.
Building a Timeline for your Project
Building out a timeline is critical and should outline who needs to do what,
when, and where. The goal is to have a smooth transition of workflow with as little downtime as possible. Of course, that smooth workflow can be interrupted with scheduling issues and delays. For example: Utilities. Public utilities are only required to locate the infrastructure they own. Therefore, there may be private and consumer-owned subsurface utilities that will not be located and marked. If these private utilities get cut, the time to fix them could impact your schedule. (Identifying these private utilities during the preconstruction meeting will help avoid this issue.) Play equipment lead time. All equipment is custom made to the customer’s expectations and equipment manufacturers typically have different lead times. Play equipment lead times vary from 4 to 16 weeks and possibly longer for custom pieces. When multiple manufacturers are involved, the ordering and delivery of the equipment need to be coordinated and arrive at the playground for a timely install. If it arrives too early, a storage lo-
Access to the playground for installation is imperative.
Some play pieces are quite large and require bringing in larger equipment for installation. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 9
Some play structures are very spread out with many footings. Drainage lines and private utilities in the playground area must be well planned and located.
cation will need to be identified. Inclement weather. How do you handle inclement weather days? What is the process for getting the project back on track? An experienced play equipment consultant typically has processes to address most scheduling hiccups.
Site Preparation
How much site preparation is needed depends on the condition of the space and whether it is a new playground or a playground renovation. Things to consider: • Make sure everything is in order for zoning and required permits. • Contact a utility-locating service to mark any underground lines before digging begins. Remember that all private assets/utilities must be located. • The playground site must be graded to 1 – 2% of level if possible. • Make sure your timeline accounts for all prep work. For instance, major site renovations may require the removal of existing play equipment, fixing drainage issues, or leveling the site because the slope is too steep for ADA compliance.
Installation
What kind of installation is the best fit for your project? • Professional. A turn-key service that will take care of every aspect of installation using certified professionals. • Supervised Community Build. Led by a certified, well-trained installer working with a group of volunteers to install the play equipment. This method has become popular be-
cause the community feels more invested in the playground having been involved in its creation and construction. It also costs less than a turnkey professional installation.
Opening the Playground
Celebrate all the hard work that has gone into your project! Here are some ideas: • Park Playground. The city or mu-
It’s time to celebrate all the hard work that’s been done for the playground!
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Playground construction includes a lot of activity done within a smaller space and utilizes many trades. A successful project requires planning, coordination, and good communication.
nicipality should be proud of a new playground. Take the time to engage the community and celebrate the achievement with an opening event. • School Playground. The kids at a school with a new playground are always excited about new play opportunities. An opening event can also be combined with some orientation of the new equipment and how it should be used. • HOAs and Private Daycares. An achievement to be proud of but also a major selling point for the neighborhood or daycare. When creating the plan for your playground, a best practice is to work with a play equipment consultant to help guide you in the design, layout, planning, and installation process. He or she can help make things flow smoother and lead to a successful outcome.
TIM MCNAMARA Tim McNamara is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) and a design consultant for ABcreative, a company focused on creating the perfect park and playground for your school and community. Visit ABcreative.net for more playground solutions. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
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WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 11
Playground Memories
DO YOU HAVE fond memories of playing in playgrounds from when you were a child? I sure do. Maybe you have a favorite playground, a neighborhood playground you walked to as a child, maybe a playground that your family drove to for special occasions, or a playground far away near a relative’s house. Since you became an adult do you still visit playgrounds? I bet if you are a childcare provider, a parent, or a grandparent you still do. The first playground I can remember is when I was around six years old. There was an elementary school that had a playground two blocks from my grandparents’ home in Mahoningtown, Pennsyl-
vania. My brother and sisters and I were allowed to go there on our own to play. I can visualize the tall straight slide that I loved to go down over and over. There were swings and a half basketball court. I think there was a merry-go-round, but I am not sure. I loved the freedom of being able to walk to that playground and play. When I was nine-years-old, my family lived in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. My father was a teacher and football coach during the school year and helped run the playground program in the summer. In the summer of 1968, I remember having my one and only tennis lesson as a child. There was a tennis court next to a playground and a tennis instructor offered to give me a tennis lesson. I hit the ball over the fence and into a creek. I took off my shoes and socks to go in the creek to pick up the ball and a piece of glass cut the side of my foot. Next thing I knew blood was squirting everywhere. My father tied his belt around my leg to try to stop the bleeding, borrowed someone’s motor scooter, and drove me to the hospital. From the age of ten, my family regularly visited my Aunt Phil in Washington, DC. The Hearst playground was about five blocks from my aunt’s house. There is still an elementary school next to the now renovated playground. Hearst had basketball hoops that were somewhere between six and eight feet tall. I remember trying to jump up and touch the rim and trying to dunk basketballs and ten-
12 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE WINTER 2020
nis balls. There is still a large field and three tennis courts there. On several visits, I would hit tennis balls with my dad. Years later when I became a physical education teacher and tennis coach for the Washington International School I would use these same tennis courts for teaching students and for practice with my tennis teams. I always loved the setting of these courts. Three sides of the fence are surrounded by large trees and the fourth side had a backboard. The traffic is minimal there, so it can be a relaxing quiet setting to play. I recently drove by the Hearst playground and saw they are rebuilding the tennis courts. I look forward to going to play there once they are finished. Dr. Marcy Guddemi is one of my play heroes. Marcy wrote the article, “The Healing Powers of Play” I love this quote by Marcy, “Play is the means to healing both for your child and you.” Tom and I became parents when Alex was born in 1985. We were then living at graduate housing for the University of Maryland. Tom was working on his Ph.D. and I had just completed my MA from George Washington University two months before. Graduate housing had two playgrounds. Both had swings for children and a covered swing adults could sit on and face each other. Alex loved swings as a young child. One of the playgrounds had a sandbox where he spent hours playing in the sand. One benefit of the graduate housing playgrounds www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
was the number of children that were around. You could almost always count on other children coming out to play. A couple of years later in 1988, our daughter Sarah was born. We had moved to Takoma Park, Maryland, and had plenty of playgrounds to visit. We were also very lucky because my father-in-law offered to build the children a playground in the backyard. The kids loved playing on their own there. We had two swings and a climbing area. I could look out the kitchen window and watch them play. In 1992 we moved into the house where we live now. We dug up the playground set and put it in our backyard until the kids outgrew it. The swing part still stands in my mother-in-law’s yard. The swings have been replaced by a porch swing. Our children sure we're fortunate to have their own playground built by their grandfather Jack. There was a playground called Jequie Park (renamed Belle Ziegler Park) within walking distance of our house when the children were young. When Alex turned seven years old he wanted to have a baseball birthday party. So we got a permit for the park since there are a small baseball field and a pavilion with picnic tables. Alex’s love for baseball is still with him today. He is a baseball coach for the Maret School in Washington, DC, and plays on a men’s baseball team. Alex also has a huge collection of baseball cards. Sarah wanted to do whatever her brother was doing when she was young. She wanted to go down a swirly slide when she was around the age of two. I went with her several times and realized she could do it by herself. I was standing off to the side when Sarah was going down the swirly slide when a lady yelled, “who is watching that baby?” I answered, “me.” I told the lady I had gone down with Sar-
ah several times and I felt she was capable of going down on her own. When I take my playful walks around Takoma Park I smile and think of Sarah going down that swirly slide and Alex having fun at his baseball birthday party. Rae Pica, an early childhood play advocate I highly admire, is known for this quote: “I shouldn’t have to defend play for children any more than I should have to defend they're eating, sleeping, and breathing.” Check out Rae’s website raepica.com October 9, 2020, Adele Chapin wrote for the Washington Post, Child's play requires adult work. Cooped-up kids can return to playgrounds — with the right precautions. Several of the playgrounds Adele mentions I visited with my children. In the Maryland/Virginia/Washington, DC area there are numerous playgrounds to visit. I would love to hear from you about your memories at playgrounds. Where was your favorite playground? What did you enjoy playing when you went to the playground? Who did you play with when you went to the playground? During the summer of 2018, my husband Tom and I traveled to California. I recall looking up playgrounds in the San Jose area and we ended up walking to Rotary PlayGarden (see photo). I have fond memories of this playground. Children were enjoying many of the latest playground activities that have been designed in the last couple of years. Also, this playground was handicapped accessible, spacious, and fun for all ages. Takoma Park, Maryland has several playgrounds half of which are maintained by our City’s Public Works Department and the other half by Montgomery County. Our nonprofit Let’s Play America created a Guide to Takoma Park
Let’s Play America’s digital Play Day Handbook is available for the donation of $20.20 on our website www.letsplayamerica.org. If you are looking for ways to add play in your community or maybe just for you and your family then this handbook is for you. You can also learn from our 11th Annual Mid-Winter Play Day (All Virtual) February 14, 2021. People can sign-up on our website in late January The photographs for my first children’s book, “Let’s Play at the Playground,” were taken at the Washington International School Primary www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Playgrounds, which can be found on our website (www.letsplayamerica.org). If your community does not have a map of playgrounds with a description of equipment I urge you to create one or contact your city government to encourage having a guide made. Many parents and adults have thanked me for creating this guide. Several people have told me they would not have known about some of the playgrounds without this guide. Readers, I hope you continue to visit and play at playgrounds. Give yourself some more playful memories. I often stop and swing when I am out for a walk when I pass through a playground. My daughter and I still go down the slides. Remember you are never too old to play.
campus playground. My good friend Daniel Nakamura, a talented photographer, took the photos. If you are interested in a signed copy of the book feel free to reach out to me, theplaylady@gmail.com You can see the cover of the book on our website www.letsplayamerica.org Daniel and I have a second children’s book coming out spring 2021, “Let’s Play Outside.” STAR BRIGHT BOOKS is publishing this book. The nonprofit Let’s Play America is now offering a Shop & Play section on their website. Click here to shop.
WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 13
Third Annual Voice of Play Survey BACK TO SCHOOL and playtime have looked completely different this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—and that’s why the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), the playground industry’s leading playground safety certification organization, and its public awareness initiative, the Voice of Play, wanted to hear what’s on parents’ minds when it comes to their children’s outdoor playtime. For its third annual Voice of Play survey, IPEMA heard from a diverse group of 1,000 parents to understand how COVID-19 and other events of the year impacted play.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Play
Our survey found that 50 percent of parents say they do not feel comfortable allowing their children to play on playgrounds during the pandemic. Despite that, however, 52 percent of parents said they value the public playground environment now more than ever. Even though play spaces and group play may be limited, it’s important for children to continue to find creative, unique ways to play in order to develop important
social, physical, emotional, and cognitive skills. Additionally, if playgrounds or parks are still closed in your area, there are many benefits to encouraging your child to play with immediate family members and possibly close friends to assure the psychological positive lift associated with playful activity.
IPEMA Survey: U.S. Parents Say Play Can Foster Inclusiveness and Play Equity
Parents Finding Ways to Prioritize Play
When asked what type of outdoor activities children are participating in instead of going to public playgrounds, which may be closed due to the pandemic, most parents responded and said that their children are engaging in backyard play. The backyard is a great place to use the imagination to create fun and exciting new games to keep children entertained. Other parents responded and said that they’ve taken up nature walks with their children or are participating in more physical activities and sports like bike riding and swimming.
The Importance of Play and Social Equity While parents also shared that their kids may be getting less social interaction and physical activity as a result of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to encourage creativity and imagination in children by managing the time they spend in front of a screen. Find ways to entertain them otherwise, like teaching them how to bake, playing board games, playing hide and seek, or even setting up their own treasure hunt.
Nearly nine in ten parents that were surveyed agree that right now, play is more important than ever. In fact, 88 percent of parents agree that outdoor play alone can help children cope with the mental impacts of social injustice in the U.S – and it’s true. Most parents said that their child’s spontaneous play with other kids on the playground shapes their view of equality for all, regardless of race and ability levels. What matters is that they’re having fun, getting creative, and developing social skills by playing with other children. “Play is the great equalizer and allows children to develop empathy,” said Tom Norquist, IPEMA’s immediate past president. “It allows children to readily accept differences, genuinely feel harmonious, and learn that others may have different feelings and perspectives—and that’s okay. It’s great to confirm from our survey research that parents observe this across the country.”
Playing on the playground gives children the chance to be inclusive and learn how others play. 92 percent of parents agree that playing on the playground helps children be inclusive of others who may have different abilities and backgrounds than their own. Parents feel the most positive things to come out of playing on a playground for children are playing with children of all abilities, improved physical fitness, less screen time, confidence-boosting, and increased motivation. 14 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE WINTER 2020
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“We need to view play as what it has been for years: an essential part of childhood and a child’s development. There is power in play and it has so many valuable benefits for kids that help them develop skills they need for life,” says Norquist.
Family Time
Family time is extremely important, and the pandemic has impacted the way families spend time together. In fact, 60 percent of parents said they are playing together as a family more than before the pandemic. What’s even better is that 94 percent of parents are engaging with their children in outdoor play! This includes games (such as hide and seek or tag), running, hangout (on a bench/play space), swinging, jumping, sliding, climbing, crawling, and other additional activities.
Different Playgrounds, Different Benefits
One of the most popular playgrounds on the list of favorites, where about two in ten parents agreed, were destination playgrounds, which are typically larger playgrounds set in a location that may require a drive to reach. Generally speaking, destination playgrounds include theming and lots of diverse play activities for all to enjoy. The location of play is generally located at a park with open green space and play equipment. Open green space, at a playground or in your backyard, allows for kids to participate in free and imaginative play, which is one of the best types of play as it allows children can get more creative with what activities or games they’d like to play (or make up on their own!).
Looking Forward
Unfortunately, many communities still do not have proper access to public playgrounds that can help kids learn, grow, and develop. According to the third annual Voice of Play Survey, many parents agree that more funding needs to go towards community playgrounds. More importantly, play equipment at public playgrounds needs to be inclusive by design, exceeding the ADA requirements so that all children can take part in this important time of personal development. To learn more about meeting important ADA minimum requirements, visit IPEMA.org.
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WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 15
Parks, The Pandemic & Social Media by Joann Robertson
My experience… DURING THE PANDEMIC, many things have been turned upside down. As a safety professional, who focuses mainly on the public sector, the COVID crisis has greatly changed my typical workday. No longer am I out and about for meetings, lunches, or safety conferences. Instead, I am busy trying to keep track of my online events while working from home and staying in touch with my clients via e-mail or Zoom. My leisure time has also dramatically changed. I no longer “pencil in” any concerts, parties, or sporting events. Instead, I take photos while walking at the local park and share my best pictures on my favorite social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn).
Follow for Safety Updates
Since accurate safety information is so critical at this time, as a safety professional I suggest that your agency consider following these agencies: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on social media.
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Parks and recreational facilities have been upended by the pandemic in a variety of ways. For example, who would have predicted that playgrounds would ever become off-limits, or that individuals would suddenly prioritize being outdoors more than ever? Some other recent operational changes and challenges have included: • Cleaning/Disinfection • Obtaining supplies • Arranging more virtual programming • Changing facility capacity • Managing your work-from-home staff • Closing areas/Limiting activities • Increasing technology needs Another major development is that social media has become more important than ever. With everyone spending more time at home (and on their devices), this method of communication is now having a greater impact. I hope to inspire your agency to step up its social media presence by sharing some fun and creative ideas: www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Encourage Beginners
Invite and Welcome New Visitors to Your Facilities
Pretend you have never been to your site before and instruct visitors about the basics: What to bring and wear? What is the best time to arrive? Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
Let the public see, through your posts, that there is plenty of room to be spread out and socially distanced while visiting. Make your posts fun by including photos of socially distanced wildlife, such as birds or turtles.
Alert The Public About Changes & Cancellations
Social media is the fastest way to send alerts to the general public.
As people stay close to home and experience more free time, the influx of visitors who may be starting up new hobbies is also increasing. Use this opportunity to connect by sharing tips for less experienced hikers, gardeners, nature photographers, etc. Post items of interest such as walking trail maps or how to photograph a sunset or bird identification. Suggest useful smartphone applications that will help visitors to identify plants, birds, or insects.
Ask The Public To Report Vandalism
With the increased use of your facilities, more vandalism may result. Inform the public how best to report any problems they observe to reduce your agency’s response time.
Share More Details
What do visitors often miss at your location? Use these ideas to invite them to revisit or return at a different time of the year. Aside from the main historical attraction, at one of my local parks, there is a butterfly garden and a nature trail to the beach which are often overlooked.
Celebrate Special Events
How will you be celebrating this winter at your agency? Did you decorate for the holidays? Share on social media, since not everyone can attend in person this year, but many would enjoy your photos.
Reassure The Public About Safety
Educate the public about your expectations for on-site changes and procedures. Social media is a powerful tool to communicate that other visitors are following the rules and they are enforced.
Demonstrate Virtual Programming
Increase Your Following
Now that virtual programming is common, use social media to share the benefits of participating. Show people joining in and having fun at your events and classes (BINGO winners, etc.).
Thank visitors for following the precautions. Share photos of safety-related items, such as your new safety signage or the additional hand sanitizing stations, to reassure everyone that safety is your top priority. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Acquiring new followers has many benefits, because not only do these individuals become more engaged and promote your agency, they can also help your agency expand its outreach by sharing your content. Ideas to attract additional followers and increase your engagement: • Make frequent posts with original, fun, and informative content • Respond to questions and engage with comments • Indicate your social media presence to visitors while they are on your premises (ex.- signage and brochures/schedules/maps) • Cross-promote with local groups
See Parks, Play and Social Media on page 19 WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 17
Embrace the Chill by Peter Dargatz SNOW DRIFTS. Subzero temperatures. Air that literally hurts your face. Not exactly most people’s idea of a good time, and certainly not what many would consider ideal conditions for nature play. That being said, don’t let winter’s wrath discourage outdoor exploration and nature play. Embrace the chill. Whether it relates to healthier immune systems, increased exposure to Vitamin D, improved mood, or muscle strengthening, the research is irrefutable. Winter play is extremely beneficial for children and adults alike. Yet, for many, it is avoided. Maybe people don't like the monotonous nature and time-consuming process of gearing up. For others, a landscape blanketed in glistening snow doesn't scream beauty and adventure. Many others just despise the cold. Either way, winter play should not be ignored. Winter play is all about mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn't matter. And being able to embrace the chill starts with preparation. To embrace the chill, planning starts well before the flakes fly. This preparation takes many forms. First off is a shift in the mindset. One must understand and accept the mantra, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Even the hardiest of children will struggle in winter without proper gear. The excitement of playing in the snow disappears as fast as a snowball in July once a child’s hands get cold and wet. Two words can minimize this issue. Waterproof gloves. Cold is tolerable. Cold and wet is miserable. Waterproof gloves are a must, but other gear certainly doesn’t hurt. Warm, waterproof boots and/or socks are crucial when there’s more than
a dusting of snow on the ground. Snow pants are a great luxury with or without snow. In fact, I like to call them “warm pants” because they are wonderful for cold weather. Warm coats and a breathable but cozy hat and scarf are also quite helpful accessories. That being said, you want to make sure that you don't “over gear.” You want to be able to move comfortably and avoid overheating, which is something you don't really think about in winter. Secondly, after the aforementioned gear is acquired, it is crucial to get used to wearing it all. It might seem odd to practice gearing up in winter attire while the summer sun still shines and the autumn leaves still cling to the trees, but trust me, repetition and building muscle memory go a long way in embracing the chill. Anyone with experience with young children can painfully attest that the zippering and snapping struggle is real. Getting children familiar with the process of getting the gear on, practic-
18 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE WINTER 2020
ing the correct sequencing of gearing up, and getting used to moving around while wintered up helps children gain familiarity with the entire process and potentially identify molehill issues before they spiral into mountains of trouble. A third (and probably most essential) way to embrace the chill is to spend time outside every day, especially as the temperatures begin to dip. Enjoying the outdoors on a bright, sunshine-filled day is easy. Committing to outside time when the weather is not optimal takes a bit more work. As winter approaches, those who shelter inside and avoid the outdoors are destined to struggle when forced to head outside. Just like learning to ride a bike, practice makes progress. Simply put, the best way to master being outside in winter is by being outside in winter. Get acclimated to the falling temperatures by spending time outside each day. You’ll notice that regular trips outside automatically adjust you to the changing temperatures. In doing so, you www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
don't really notice that much of a change, and the bitter cold loses its bitterness. Winter is on the way. You’ve got the gear. You're used to putting on and wearing the gear. Your stamina for the season is strong. You are ready to embrace the chill and enjoy nature play in winter. But how? The winter season provides many unique opportunities for play and exploration. • Search for animal tracks - Grab one of many delightful picture books on winter tracks. Then, find and identify tracks and see what imaginative stories you can create about your observations. • Go snowshoeing - With various kid-friendly models are available, snowshoeing is an excellent opportunity for winter exercise and discovery. Get out there and make your own path! • Build a mouse house - Let your inner architect blossom as you design and build small homes with natural materials. Fill your home with nuts, seeds, and berries and monitor the visitors. Check for nearby tracks or better yet, set up a trail camera and see what winter friends make an appearance. • Go birding - Not all birds migrate. Grab some binoculars, find a comfortable space to observe, and search for our feathered friends. • Create a color castle - Using food coloring, water, and ice cube trays (or other freezerfriendly containers), create color cubes. Then, take the color cubes outside and construct your very own color castle. • Paint in the snow - Hopefully, you still have some food coloring leftover after creating your color castle. Mix it with water in either spray bottles or squeezable water bottles and make a snowy masterpiece. So with winter on the horizon, don’t let the frigid frost and blustery blizzards stop you from heading outside to enjoy the winter wonderland and embrace the chill. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Parks, Play and Social Media from page 17 such as the local library, village, museums, historical groups, etc. • Start a contest – Best photo, artwork, snowman, etc.
• Pose open-ended questions on your posts: What was the best part of your visit? Did you see any wildlife? • Ask the public to tag your agency and do check-ins when on-site
Explanations • Include your social media sites in your advertisements • Provide links on your website • Share quotes about nature, play, or weekends • Provide updates on new projects or construction • Show flashback photos to explain your agency’s history • Introduce staff members and explain their role • Promote artwork or books related to your agency • Share your employees’ favorite locations, similar to how bookstore staff will share their best reads on a store shelf • Conduct a social media “takeover” by asking a local celebrity teen to volunteer to post photos and captions from their unique point of view • Label “photo or selfie spots” at your facilities and suggest the photos be posted on social media
• What does “tagging” in social media mean? This is when visitors mention your agency in a post, not just by name, but by using the @ symbol in front of your profile (ex. @CentralPark). Your agency is then linked to the post and notified that it was tagged. • What does “checking in” on social media mean? When visitors mention they are at your location in a post by using the @ symbol, and as a result, their contacts may ask questions about their visit or discuss their past experiences. People often check into places like a concert or bar to meet up or find their contacts at the event.
Conclusion
This pandemic has increased the importance of social media as a method to engage with the public, so if your agency is creative during this challenging time it will benefit for years to come. Stay safe and keep posting!
WINTER 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 19
PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TRAINING The two-day Playground Maintenance Technician Training focuses on practical playground maintenance activities, inspection principles and best practices in making repairs. This program does not focus on play theory or memorizing standards.
Participant Benefits
• Learn about materials! Learn how to maintain playground equipment made of metal, plastic, wood and concrete • Learn about safety! Understand how to take damaged equipment out of service safely, keep proper records, and identify potential legal issues related to playground maintenance • Learn about surfaces! Learn how best to maintain unitary and loose-fill surfaces as well as fasteners and connectors • Cost effective! Train front-line maintenance staff at an affordable price • Ensure your equipment lasts through its useful life! Improve playground user safety and prolong the useful life of equipment
Upcoming Playground Maintenance Technician Programs • See www.playgroundmaintenance.org for training information
Want to host a PMT program in your area? Contact the Program Coordinator at the Eppley Institute pmt@eppley.org Find out more at
www.playgroundmaintenance.org