Playground

Playgrounds and parks always give excitement to kids. A lot of people love to swing, a lot love to climb. A lot love to run, some love to hide! Some just like to play on the play-set, and some just like to play soccer. I've even seen kids sitting in the shade, imagining the possibilities.

Play-set:

A lot of children will run for the play-set as soon as they step foot on the playground. It's a good place to play games. One of these games is called "Lava Monster". A child is chosen to be 'It'. It must stay on the ground, trying to catch someone a few feet above where it's physically possible for It to reach. The other players will run around, knowing It can't catch them, and have fun by laughing at It.

Tire Swing:

Kids have strange reactions to tire swings. Some will love it, and some hate it. Some will get so dizzy they barf, and some will get so dizzy they barf, and they ask to swing them again! Older children will set a goal to barf at least once while on the swing. Younger kids will spin, cry, giggle, cry, laugh, barf, then do it all again! I don't think that most kids realize that a tire swing is actually a tire on chain or rope. They just find it a circular decorative ride which makes you barf; it's like a roller-coaster! This is why kids love the "ride"!

Slide:

Lots of children, although it's mostly younger children, love to play on the slide! They will see the slide, run to it, climb to the top, and feel the wind in their face. They go back around to the top, and they slide again! They will start to get ideas of how to slide down, including: face first, backwards, sideways, on their feet, and spinning. After they slide about as many ways as possible, they discover they can climb up the slide! Expect injuries when they start to climb up the slide.

The slide also acts as refuge when they hear the words "Time to go home!". They climb up the slide, and spy on you from the top.

Trees:

Most children will go through a phase when the playground is not good enough for them. This is why the playground has trees! The child will walk over to the largest tree, sit in the shade, and sleep while listening to their iPod.

Field:

When they grow out of the "trees" phase, they still will not play on the play-set very much. Most boys, and some girls, will bring balls of all shapes and sizes to the field, and they play sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, kickball, basketball, capture the flag, and softball. Every once and a while, the balls will deflate and the child lets out their inner-maniac trying to blow up the ball again.

The whole playground:

When the child realizes that they will not find a pump to blow up their ball during that trip to the park, they get bored. Most girls will walk around the playground talking to each other, talking lots of nonsense to each other. Most boys will lay on the grass and yell "I'M BORED!" Eventually, they will start talking too. If the boy's little sister is present, he will pull her ponytails and get grounded for the rest of the day.

As you can see, the playground is a very exciting experience. I encourage you to bring your families to the playground, but expect trouble! And always call your family home an hour early, so they can get home somewhat on time to what you originally planned!