By Amy Baskin

Austin Schools Community Education Director

Spring is here and we are blessed with wonderful weather. Many people are outside working in the yard, walking, riding bikes and generally enjoying being outside. This is great for our mental health as well as our physical health. This is especially healthy for our children as they explore the world around them through play.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is essential to a child’s development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being. Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents and grandparents to engage fully with their children.

Today’s children don’t have the same opportunities to engage in free play as in years past. Hurried lifestyles, changes in family structures and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities have reduced the amount of time spent at free child-centered play. Today’s children spend more time in front of a television or video game than they do outside. Their lives are scheduled and structured with adult coordinated activities. All of these factors have left today’s children less prepared to deal with the pressures of adolescent and adult life.

You can change that for your children, grandchildren and family by taking some time to play. Encourage your children to get outside and explore. Go outside with them. Go to the park, nature center or wander around the neighborhood. Listen and look at the world around you. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell?

To encourage family play, Early Childhood Family Education is sponsoring three family park nights this spring. Come out and enjoy an evening of networking, free play and family together time. Families are responsible for bringing their own dinner if they wish to eat at the park. Before and after dinner children are free to play with each other or with their parents in a play area that is safe and specially designed for family play. ECFE staff will be on hand with games and play activities for all ages. Families have an opportunity to meet new friends, connect with old friends and explore something new and exciting. Best of all, children will be learning and developing new skills.

Please join us at one of our family park nights this spring. Each park night begins at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the event is canceled. For more details, call 507-460-1700. Park events will occur:

• Thursday, April 19 — Lions Park, Eighth St. and Oakland Place NE

• Monday, April 30 — Bandshell Community Park, Fourth St. and Ninth Place SW

• Wednesday, May 16 — Mill Pond Park, N Main St. and Fourth Ave. NE

Whether you join ECFE at a park night or plan family play on your own, take time to enjoy your children and grandchildren. You will be glad you did.