Playborhood Oakville North

You get what you pay for…

2008-12-30T09:38:29-08:00

It’s an adage that we’ve all heard countless times. But what happens when the amount you pay is nothing but a smile, a kind word, a simple gesture? Recently, I experienced two different events that highlight the differences between these two concepts.
Not long ago, our family had the pleasure of taking a weekend getaway. A friend lent us their condo at Blue Mountain. Although the kids are too young to enjoy the skiing, we still had a blast tobogganing on the hills of the snow-covered golf course outside the back door. Then we warmed up by playing games and reading stories in front of the fireplace. It was a much needed break for my wife and I – we both had been very busy at work over the past little while. On our way home, we checked our voice mail and discovered to our horror that the security company that monitors our home had called to let us know there had been an alarm. Thankfully, it was nothing more than a false alarm (maybe a power surge?). But what was truly disturbing was that the expensive service we pay for was not followed up properly. The police were not dispatched to check our house, phone records were incorrect, our emergency contact list ignored and customer service reps couldn’t answer our questions. Needless to say, we were not very impressed by the value we received for our money.

Contrast that story to one that happened just a few days ago. Leading up to the Christmas holidays, we had a series of snow storms and foul weather in our part of the world. When I got the car stuck in a snow drift picking up the kids from school, a complete stranger came out of his warm house, braving the blizzard conditions to help me dig out and get home safely. My next door neighbor got her car stuck at the end of her driveway, so I helped her dig through the foot of snow to get her car into the garage. Returning the favour, her husband came and shoveled out the end of my driveway after the snow plough went by – a fact I only discovered hours later when I went out to do it myself. He never asked or told me about it, and only admitted his good deed when pressed to confess. And, just a couple of days ago, another neighbor ventured out into a terrible wind storm to secure items on our front porch while we were away for the holidays.

It’s these sorts of gestures and goodwill that make for good neighbor. It didn’t cost us a thing, but it is invaluable. I am fortunate to live in a wonderful neighbourhood where people care about and look out for each other. For them, I wish a wonderful and happy new year. I’ll do my best to return the favour.

Failing the Grade

2008-10-23T06:39:52-08:00

Last week, the Community Foundation of Oakville released a report that explored a number of issues deemed important to ensuring a healthy, happy, strong and well-balanced community. Entitled “Vital Signs” the report measures the vitality of our community, identifies significant trends, and assigns grades in 11 areas critical to quality of life. This particular report is part of a series of similar studies coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. The purpose of these studies is to encourage dialogue, increase awareness and, hopefully, develop a desire to deal with these important issues. You can read the whole report here, but let me point out a few things I found particularly disturbing about how we are failing our kids.
First, let’s acknowledge that this study is NOT really scientific or statistically accurate since it reflects the opinions of individuals who voluntarily offered feedback to an informal request, rather than through a controlled study. And, many of the stats focus on adults rather than younger children. However, the results are illuminating none-the-less. It’s also important to note that this isn’t a general study without relevance - these results are specific to Oakville - our community. And that means we should all take careful notice.

Here at Playbourhood, we talk a lot about the importance of play and outdoor activity to well-being of our kids. Our focus is on the need to build better communities and provide opportunities for out children to develop socially. But there is also the added benefit that letting our kids get out and about in the neighbourhood is a healthy thing in the physical sense, too. The reason we promote these ideas is because there is a sense that we, as a society, as a community, aren’t doing enough to provide these vital opportunities to our kids. I won’t get into all the arguments here, just look around this site for more information. What I will say here is that the CFO’s Vital Signs report makes it abundantly clear that what we’re saying is right on.

In Oakville, we’re failing miserably in a number of important respects. The grades of C+ for physical activity and D+ in obesity rates are quite telling. Although only 54% of the population indicated a moderate level of exercise, that number is actually higher than the provincial or national rates! More scary, however is the increasing rate of obesity which has risen from 13% to 16% in the past four years. Obviously these two indicators are intimately linked and tell us that there is a lot of work to do to make our community a healthier place to live.

It all starts with our kids. With a genuine interest and the habit of enjoying life outside playing, kids are more likely to grow up into adults who also spend time outdoors and active. And that’s what Playbourhood, and now the Community Foundation of Oakville is trying to tell us. I hope you’re listening!

Playground Review - Sheridan Valley Park

2008-10-02T07:57:47-08:00

Sheridan Valley Park reminds me of a little playground I used to frequent when I was a kid. Nestled deeply among the trees and in the heart of the neighbourhood, this little park is wonderful. Located just south of Upper Middle Road at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Fleetwood Road, the park boasts direct links to a number of other parks, natural spaces and walking trails in the area - Fleetwood Park, Iroquois Shoreline Woods, Lancaster Woods and Valley Brook Park.
Although the playground is small, it’s surrounded by lovely old trees - which will offer a break from the summer heat. The open area isn’t large enough for a ball diamond or soccer field, but it’s perfect for “unorganized” games and activities. The equipment has areas for younger and older kids, but is somewhat limited in features. The swings are old and the surface is made of pebbles. Despite these limitations, my kids loved to play here. What’s truly wonderful about this park is how close it is to the nearby homes. As a kid, I remember jumping the fence in our neighbour’s back yard as a short cut to our own park. This park has that same feel, and I can just imagine the kids in the homes along the fenceline doing the same. Even without that, the park is accessible from an array of access points and links with other parks in the area. This really is a community park where kids can come from all directions to meet and play. Check it out!

Homework doesn’t work!

2008-09-22T07:51:03-08:00

Alfie Kohn is a Boston-based author who regularly speaks about educational and parenting issues. He was in Toronto this week to talk about his belief that homework just doesn’t work. It’s the kind of argument that’s been made here before on Playbourhood. Our contention is that kids need time to just be kids - to play and develop in an unstructured manner. It isn’t necessary to restrict formal learning to the classroom - after all there are all kinds of educational toys, games and activities that reinforce and benefit the academic foundations. But they also need a healthy dose of social and emotional interaction that can be gained by spending time with their families around the dinner table and friends outside playing in the neighbourhood.

Over the past fifteen or twenty few years, homework has become a burden for kids and families that hasn’t shown any real benefit. This is the argument that Kohn is making. He suggests that the role of parents is “to support your child’s emotional, intellectual, social and moral development, not to be a homework enforcer.” Assigning homework is akin to putting a square peg in a round hole. Kohn says that “any decent teacher would never assign the same thing to all the kids in the class – not just because kids work at different rates, but because kids have different levels of understanding.”

The problem is that many parents push too hard to give their kids a leg up - a head start - without looking at the big picture. Kohn says that “the claim that homework provides a benefit by improving self-discipline, independence, responsibility or good work habits is absolutely unconfirmed by any data whatsoever. It’s folk wisdom.”

Last year, the Toronto School Board proposed a policy that would limit the amount of homework being dished out to students. It’s a step in the right direction. But there’s lots more to be done. Read more about what Kohn has to say on the topic here.

I also recommend his book, The Homework Myth: Why our kids get too much of a bad thing. It’s an great read that gives credence to what we’ve been saying on this web site. When kids are home, they deserve our support for an opportunity to have a balanced life - including play!

Why Didn’t I think of that?

2008-09-15T07:23:38-08:00

“A Club for Active Kids. Outdoors! Clearly the kind of thing that we’ve been promoting here at Playbourhood is not an isolated concern. The folks over at Active Kids Club have taken up the challenge and are putting the concept into action. Here’s a quote from their web site expressing the importance of playing outdoors starting at a young age: “Increasing your child’s exposure at an early age to outdoor play doesn’t just benefit their physical development. It enriches all aspect of early childhood development, mind and body. By exposing your child to both structured activities and unstructured play not only are you are building the foundation for a healthy active lifestyle that the child will embrace life, you are supporting their mental and emotional health as well.
The idea of unstructured “play clubs” is not groundbreaking, but it is new in our part of the world. In San Francisco, there’s a well established outdoor play club that was reported on here. A similar approach is being organized by folks at Active Kids Club in Oriole Park, near the Davisville subway station. The group will meet regularly at the same place at the same time. That way, anyone who is interested can join in the fun. It’s informal and a great way to meet neighbours, make new friends and help create a Playbourhood.

Of course, Toronto (and Oakville) does not have the luxury of having year-round warm weather. That’s why the folks at Active Kids Club area also embracing the notion of enjoying the outdoors - whatever the weather. The site has tips and suggestions for making the most out of the seasons. There’s games and activity descriptions. And even advice on how to dress yourself and your kids appropriately for the weather.

The whole project is wonderful and I hope it catches on.

Playground Review - Martindale Park

2008-09-15T06:44:38-08:00

Martindale Park is located in a wonderful spot. It’s smack dab in the middle of a thriving and well-established residential part of town just south and east of the Trafalgar and Upper Middle intersection. The park is large and backs onto the main campus of Sheridan College. That means the area has a great mix of people of all ages which makes for a healthy Playbourhood atmosphere. The play has the standard array of equipment grouped into two sizes for little ones and the slightly older kids. The play surface is pebble. There’s also plenty of open space for free play and fun - I have no doubt that with the new school year underway, it won’t be long before we see a game or two of pick up ultimate being played by some of the college students who live nearby. If you’re bringing your little ones, note the lack of shade. One of the best drawing features of the park is also the biggest potential hazard. There is a drainage ditch running along the back end of the park. It’s a lovely feature with reeds and “swampy” water there that will certainly provide endless entertainment for those kids who want to look for frogs and other slimy creatures. Of course, that can also be a bit of a danger if the younger kids get a little too close. Luckily, it isn’t a deep or expansive area, so the real danger will be the challenge of getting the muddy stains out of the kids clothes!

Streetlights and Hypocrites

2008-08-26T09:27:03-08:00

This week I’ve found myself wondering if I’ve become a hypocrite. It stems from a struggle between a sincere belief that a living in a Playbourhood is both desirable and vital for our children’s healthy development and the natural instinct as a parent to protect my kids.

Looking around my own neighbourhood, I see plenty of kids interacting with each other, playing in the street and having a great time just being kids. Recently the kids a few houses down invented a game of tag played on their scooters. They race up and down, back and forth, around and around. They’ve found a way to make their own fun. And, by their laughter and the loud droning hum of little rolling wheels, it is apparent they are enjoying themselves. It has become a nightly ritual that lasts until well after the streetlights come on. I’m elated by the opportunity this presents for my own children, when they get a little older, to get involved with this sort of fun with their neighbours. And that’s where the problem begins.

My kids are still too young to be outside playing at that hour. In fact they are being tucked into bed at the exact same time the kids out on the street start to get boisterous. Every parent knows there are countless challenges to putting kids down to rest, even in ideal conditions. When kids hear excitement and laughter drifting in through the window, that task is compounded tremendously. Our first instinct is to protect our kids and ensure they get a good night’s sleep. In other words we want to silence the distractions.

The other day, my wife and I sat down on the sofa after getting the kids to sleep… finally. We shook our heads in dismay, and wondered aloud at the inconsiderate parents who allowed their kids to be so disruptive at such an hour. A little while later the word “hypocrite” came crashing into my head. Where do we draw the line between providing kids freedom and respecting neighbours’ rights to a healthy environment? Should we even draw a line?

My desire to provide my own kids with the ability to enjoy their youth in their neighbourhood won’t always easy – for them or for me as a parent. I’m certain there will come a time when somebody else will shake their heads at me. But if we truly want the best for our kids, we all have to be a little tolerant and understanding. When I was a youngster, “Come home when the streetlights come on” was a fairly standard edict from our parents. As a proponent of Playbourhoods, I like to think this is still a great way to manage our kids’ ability to pursue unstructured play. So, when my kids get a little older, it’s a rule I think I’ll impose on them.

Little Geeks Need You!

2008-08-21T11:33:46-08:00

If you’re reading this post, there’s probably two things that are certain. First, you are reasonably computer literate and can appreciate the value and importance of having access to the resources and information they can provide. And, second, you are most likely a parent who is concerned about the welfare of your children. So, let me introduce you to a wonderful organization that puts these two things together. Little Geeks is a charity that collects, refurbishes and re-distributes donated home computers to children in need. These computers are given free of charge, and are coupled with an Internet connection at the child’s home. The Mission of Little Geeks is to provide free computing technology and education to children and families who cannot afford this resource on their own. If you can donate your old computer equipment, you won’t have to worry about trying to sneak it into the trash. Please, consider helping them out.

Get Active!

2008-08-19T06:39:16-08:00

Yet again, reports and studies show that a rising number of children are becoming obese because they are not active enough. They are spending far too much time in front of television screens, at computer terminals and with game consoles in their chubby little hands. Here’s an article from Parentcentral.ca which talks about this very problem.
But it isn’t just parents who are to blame, although that’s a bid part of it. Here in Ontario, there was a time when governments insisted that school kids needed to focus more on core subjects to improve academic results. While that’s a noble and worthwhile goal, the practical result was that schools started cutting back on the extras like gym class and extra-curricular sports when cash-strapped boards started cutting costs.

Add in the effects of a busy, over-programmed lifestyle. We rush around in mini-vans and cruise through fast-food drive thru windows at the drop of a hat. Although many chains have added “healthy choices” to the menu, the reality is that kids will still insist on chicken nuggets and fries over a salad with apple
slices. It doesn’t help that many restaurants super-size the servings with enough calories to feed an elephant.

It all adds up to a triple-whammy that’s hurting our kids, physically, emotionally and spiritually. So what do we do about it? Send them outside to play in the Playbourhood is a good start. Other ideas from the Parentcentral article include these tips:
Don’t allow them to stay indoors at recess.
- Put a skipping rope in their school bags.
- Sign them up for lunch and after-school sports programs.
- Make exercise part of their daily routine, like homework.
- Get them to help with yard work, snow shovelling and other physical chores.
- If not walking, suggest biking to school.
- School fundraisers could focus on physically active promotions such as dance-a-thons, walk-a-thons or skipping competitions.
- Encourage their schools to keep a supply of basketballs, soccer balls and other sports equipment that can be used at recess and lunchtime.

The point is that we need to stop ignoring the problem and take action. Our kids deserve the best start in life we can give them, and that includes a healthy and ACTIVE lifestyle.

Playground Review - Glanashton Park

2008-07-15T04:59:36-08:00

When we first arrived at Glenashton Park, I was struck by the quiet silence. Despite being located next door to the busy Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, there wasn’t a soul on the playground. That’s a shame, because it’s a great park. Lots to do for all ages with both low and high slides, tons of swings, and a variety of things to climb including two low rock walls. The only drawbacks are the pea-stone play surface and the liberal use of metal used for construction. The problem is that the park is far in off the road and in the middle of a large green space. Homes area a bit of a walk away, so the only easy access is really through a trip to the community centre. Most people going to the community centre, however are on their way to an organized activity (swimming, the gym, etc.) And while you’d think that when little Bobby is in the pool, his baby sister could go play in the park, it’s just a little too far away to make it convenient. I guess the problem is that there are too many distractions to make the park work. Why it is that the Park isn’t the distraction for kids to begin with, is a shame. And part of the story behind this web site. Our kids should be using our playground more, not the community centre. I encourage you all to try out Glenashton Park. It’s a lot of fun - as long as you aren’t distracted!