April 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 29

sionals, are a perfect group to advocate for play. We understand the benefits, have the resources to form play groups
and programs and, most importantly, want our residents and
children to use our parks and facilities and be playful in them.
Examples of Play-Oriented Programming
There are many projects and programs we can undertake
to make play a priority in every community. A major concern for parents - and rightfully so - is their child's safety. While past generations were free to roam the playground
without adult supervision, parents today feel safer supervising their child constantly (sometimes to the point of being
" helicopter " parents). The 24/7 media reports and access to
news at our fingertips on our smartphones make us believe
that the world is a less safe place, even though, according to
the FBI, as reported in an April 14, 2015, The Washington
Post Wonkblog, titled " There's never been a safer time to be a
kid in America " (https://tinyurl.com/y744ed94), crime has
decreased since 1997.
To help alleviate these concerns, recreation departments can
host Playground Days, where there will be trained staff supervising children. This allows children to get the free play they
need, with the supervision parents expect.
A second approach a recreation department can implement
is a " Play Ambassador " or " Playologist " program. These
programs teach high-school-age students about the benefits
of play and fun games for younger children to play. Then,
as a play ambassador or playologist, they can help run programs and play events for children and help energize them
with playful activities.
A third program is creating a town-wide scavenger hunt.
For example, departments can distribute a list of tasks for
each family to do at one of their parks, take a picture of
it, and have families send their pictures to the department.
This can be a wonderful way for residents to explore all aspects of the parks. Sometimes, residents are unaware of a
certain park or its amenities. A scavenger hunt is a low-cost,
low-overhead program to encourage families to explore the
parks and play spaces in their community.
As young professionals, we need to work to increase
awareness about the importance of free play to get support
from parents, schools and recreation committees (or commissions, advisory boards, etc.), and elected officials. Because we fondly remember our time playing and know how
it helped us grow, we need to take the lead in advocating for
more time, more space and more opportunity for children
to play.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, " It is a happy talent to know

how to play. " We need to work to ensure that play, as we know
it, does not disappear. Play is a talent every child has. It's our
job to have that talent shine in every child.
Brian VanDongen, CPRP, is the Assistant Director for the Readington
Recreation Department (programsreadington@gmail.com).

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Parks & Recreation

April 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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