Metroparks Tips From a Park Parent – Winter Trips: Just DO IT! – Guest Authors: Danielle Mauter, Metroparks’ Chief of Marketing and Communications and Husband, Cal Mauter.
Kids: 1
Age: 8 months old
Experience Level: Beginner Parents / Experienced Park Goers
Favorite Metropark: “Eh, as an employee I try not to play favorites, so I love them all, but we have favorite things to do at each one”
It’s winter in Southeast Michigan – cold, blowy and sometimes snowy. Cabin fever is setting in – hard, and we are all wishing for an early spring to get out of the house. But we shouldn’t wait for warm weather as an excuse to get some fresh air and nature. Outdoor exposure has been proven to be beneficial for people of all ages, and families who enjoy it together can experience all those benefits.
As new parents to an eight-month-old, we don’t feel like we have any true golden nuggets of advice for park trips that are “earth shattering” or unique, but what we have learned in this short time is to plan ahead, come prepared and most importantly…set realistic expectations.
The expectation is that we can cure the agonizing cabin fever and break the cycle of staring at the same sets of walls by loading up and taking a trip to the park. It will feel great to get fresh air in our lungs and stretch our legs on the trails and it will expose our son to activities that we both love. While all those things are true, the reality is that it often takes us a lot more preparation and time to get ready than it used to, and sometimes it’s just as long, or longer, than the amount of time we are able to spend in the park.
Experienced parents know the drill:
1. Plan the trip – First we visit www.metroparks.com and find our favorite park, but now map out where parking is compared to trail length and the amount of time we think our little one can be in the cold and where the bathroom stops and possible seating for feedings could be.
2. Make sure we have our annual pass – because let’s be real, it’s the best value to make sure you can get the family out of the house ALL YEAR LONG.
3. Pack the diaper bag, the mittens, blanket, snowsuit…and the ridiculous amount of other things you need when traveling with small ones (don’t forget the first aid kit)…and stuff for Mom and Dad….and the dog.
4. Get tired and contemplate if this is even worth it.
5. But then remember that it absolutely is because you will all feel much better afterwards, you get to take in awesome winter views which are much different than what you experience in spring and summer, you will have changed up the routine and, if you’re lucky, you will have stimulated the little one enough to sleep through the night.
But the most important advice is to just DO IT, no matter how short or long a trip you can make it. You can’t get long walks through nature, nature centers, farm centers and wildlife viewing at home. And seeing it IRL is way better than showing it to your kids on a screen!
Do you have your own “Tips from a Park Parent” you want to share with other parents? Metroparks has launched a contest to collect and share tips for getting out into parks with kids. Exposing kids to nature, parks and the outdoors will build the next generation of stewards and park goers, so as parents, let’s help each other make it easier and more rewarding! Share your tips for a chance to be featured on Metroparks social channels and in blog posts like this one AND win great prizes. Click here to learn more and submit your winter weather tips.
