Play together Stay together!
December 20th, 2010 12:42 PM
On an outdoor adventure website I recently read the slogan “Play Together Stay Together.” It struck a chord with me because a little earlier a friend had mentioned the book Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers, by Gordon Neufeld.
For me, both seemed to fit together and I have not been able to get this out of my mind: How do you create an atmosphere where your kids actually want to be involved with the family as they get older?
We as parents put our children into every imaginable activity. We encourage them to be socially active, make friends and build lasting relationships. I catch myself being drawn back to the slogan and book title wondering if I am “building lasting relationships” with my kids or am I just playing social coordinator and chauffeur?
Being intrigued by this I continued my research to find out what it takes to become a “play together stay together” family. Everything I came across pretty much described the same methods – and the same benefits – even if the activities are completely different:
1. Conversation. When you are involved in an activity with your family it opens doors of conversation. You are sharing things about the activity – like what you have just learned, how you can improve, what worked and what didn’t. Now conversation opens up about what happened at recess the other day and how soccer would be better played with two balls!
2. Equality. As opposed to other aspects of your relationship where you are usually the teacher, playing together means being on an equal level. When you are participating in an activity together you have an opportunity to take tips and advice from your child. Watch the confidence and pride radiate when he or she is able to help you.
3. Support and encouragement. When the family pulls together it’s easy to support each other. It can become harder when one loses focus. Remember to keep it light and fun!
4. Shared goals. Set a goal you and your kids would like to achieve. How amazing is it for yourself when you set a goal to run 5k and you achieve that milestone together? Imagine how great it would be for your family. Involve your kids every step of the way. Plan together, play/train together, achieve together. Seriously, how cool would it be to do a Family Adventure Race?!
What’s Your Goal?
A Family Outdoor Adventure Race. Ultimate Outdoor Adventures is currently planning a family adventure race in April on the North Shore with proceeds going to charity. Contact Yasmeen@Yvb.ca or Jackie at info@uoa.ca.
Walk Cedar Mill Trail (9.5K) www.gvrd.bc.ca/parks/maps/LynnHeadmap.pdf. At the park entrance cross the bridge and turn left on Lynn Loop Trail which will turn into Cedar Mill Trail. Follow to the debris chute and turn right up the chute to meet Lynn Head Waters Trail. Turn right to start the loop back. You will pass the switchbacks, past the big boulders and continue on until you end up on a gravel trail/road. Turn right to come back to your starting point.
Bike the Seymour Demonstration Forest (22K)
Run a race. Running is inexpensive and fun. The whole family can do it. Check www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries/event_list.htm and www.events.runningroom.com (click on BC) has a list of races in the Lower Mainland that range from 1k, 5k, 10k and up.
Walk the Stanley Park Seawall (10K)
Train with the kids for a “Kids of Steel” Triathlon or Duathlon. This is a program of the National Youth Development Program of Triathlon Canada. It is aimed at kids from 7 to 19 years with increasing opportunities for athletes with a disability (AWAD) to participate. Distances vary and are according to age. Your next race is March 11 at UBC! Contact info@tribc.org or phone 604-736-3176.
Remember that kids will generally enjoy what you show enthusiasm about. If you like art, try SuperSunday at the Vancouver Art Gallery every third Sunday of each month.
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation,” according to Plato.
Which brings me back again to “families that play together stay together.”
North Shore realtor and mother Yasmeen van Bylandt has been growing a catalogue of kids’ activities on the North Shore. www.YvB.ca Yasmeen@macrealty.com
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Feb - Mar 08
For me, both seemed to fit together and I have not been able to get this out of my mind: How do you create an atmosphere where your kids actually want to be involved with the family as they get older?
We as parents put our children into every imaginable activity. We encourage them to be socially active, make friends and build lasting relationships. I catch myself being drawn back to the slogan and book title wondering if I am “building lasting relationships” with my kids or am I just playing social coordinator and chauffeur?
Being intrigued by this I continued my research to find out what it takes to become a “play together stay together” family. Everything I came across pretty much described the same methods – and the same benefits – even if the activities are completely different:
1. Conversation. When you are involved in an activity with your family it opens doors of conversation. You are sharing things about the activity – like what you have just learned, how you can improve, what worked and what didn’t. Now conversation opens up about what happened at recess the other day and how soccer would be better played with two balls!
2. Equality. As opposed to other aspects of your relationship where you are usually the teacher, playing together means being on an equal level. When you are participating in an activity together you have an opportunity to take tips and advice from your child. Watch the confidence and pride radiate when he or she is able to help you.
3. Support and encouragement. When the family pulls together it’s easy to support each other. It can become harder when one loses focus. Remember to keep it light and fun!
4. Shared goals. Set a goal you and your kids would like to achieve. How amazing is it for yourself when you set a goal to run 5k and you achieve that milestone together? Imagine how great it would be for your family. Involve your kids every step of the way. Plan together, play/train together, achieve together. Seriously, how cool would it be to do a Family Adventure Race?!
What’s Your Goal?
A Family Outdoor Adventure Race. Ultimate Outdoor Adventures is currently planning a family adventure race in April on the North Shore with proceeds going to charity. Contact Yasmeen@Yvb.ca or Jackie at info@uoa.ca.
Walk Cedar Mill Trail (9.5K) www.gvrd.bc.ca/parks/maps/LynnHeadmap.pdf. At the park entrance cross the bridge and turn left on Lynn Loop Trail which will turn into Cedar Mill Trail. Follow to the debris chute and turn right up the chute to meet Lynn Head Waters Trail. Turn right to start the loop back. You will pass the switchbacks, past the big boulders and continue on until you end up on a gravel trail/road. Turn right to come back to your starting point.
Bike the Seymour Demonstration Forest (22K)
Run a race. Running is inexpensive and fun. The whole family can do it. Check www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries/event_list.htm and www.events.runningroom.com (click on BC) has a list of races in the Lower Mainland that range from 1k, 5k, 10k and up.
Walk the Stanley Park Seawall (10K)
Train with the kids for a “Kids of Steel” Triathlon or Duathlon. This is a program of the National Youth Development Program of Triathlon Canada. It is aimed at kids from 7 to 19 years with increasing opportunities for athletes with a disability (AWAD) to participate. Distances vary and are according to age. Your next race is March 11 at UBC! Contact info@tribc.org or phone 604-736-3176.
Remember that kids will generally enjoy what you show enthusiasm about. If you like art, try SuperSunday at the Vancouver Art Gallery every third Sunday of each month.
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation,” according to Plato.
Which brings me back again to “families that play together stay together.”
North Shore realtor and mother Yasmeen van Bylandt has been growing a catalogue of kids’ activities on the North Shore. www.YvB.ca Yasmeen@macrealty.com
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Feb - Mar 08
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