When I was your age: The quest for natural wonders

take your kids to the beach

When I was a kid I would play for hours in my backyard with my brothers. With our imaginations at the helm we would have breakfast in China with Pandas (after we dug there of course) and lunch with Mermaids under the sea (once we hit water). We had the life. A life where sticks were transformed into swords and flowers into fairies. Our only boundaries were the constraints of our minds, which at the time were boarder-less. Today however times have in many ways changed. Families are being raised in high rise apartments and kids are often not given the luxury of playing outside. There is really no one to blame for this, its progress. Cities grow and backyards shrink along with the number of stay at home parents, its inevitable. My childhood may have been rich with all the sights and smells of nature but that was thanks to my giant backyard, a backyard that has long since been bulldozed.

I only hope I can provide the same life to my children that I was given, but who knows. With downtown life becoming the norm and the cost of living sky-rocketing, there is a good chance that I will be forced to be a working mom. When I was a child I was lucky my mom was able to stay home and raise us. If she had brought us up today that may have been different. Due to circumstance may would argue that it is next to impossible to find the time to entertain their kids, but I argue that it is possible. Maybe not all-day everyday, but certainly at the very least on weekends. This is a time when you can explore lush forests and tidal beaches, the natural gifts of life. And if its raining, no problem, kids love the rain and rubber boots and raincoats are the name of the game. When I was a kid I loved coming indoors after hours spend jumping in puddles for a creamy cup of hot chocolate, it was a treat. Simple pleasure are the key, and not just for adults. A hike through a dew-rich boggy path can be your child’s playground. While shallow minnow filled tidal pools can be their zoo. There is a whole world of endless imagination to discover and its right outside our doors.

A couple weeks ago a nanny friend of mine told me that she took the kids she nannies to White Rock beach. Once in the car one of the kids excitedly proclaimed that he had never been to the beach before, ever. As my girlfriend shared her story with me it was impossible for her to hide the dismay in her voice. But how could I blame her as I was having a hard time wiping the astounded look from my face. Two kids, one 7 the other 5 who had never placed their tiny feet into wet sand or held crabs in their hands. Icouldn’t believe it, the beach was such a vital part of my childhood.

Now I realize that this is an extreme case (or at least I hope it is), but how is it possible that these kids had never been to the beach? They even live in White Rock, the beach is literally right there. The sad thing is that so many kids are raised indoors not by parents but by TVs. They may have never played with play dough or made a caterpillar out of an egg carton, but they have seen ever episode of Dora the Explorer. My nanny friend told me that it was like pulling teeth to get the kids away from the TV and outdoor, it was like they were in a trance. Call me crazy, biased or whatever but I really don’t think kids should be living through fictional characters experiences. I understand that its hard to find time to entertain your kids sometimes (especially when your busy with work), but what happened to weekends?

Weekends can be spent exploring all the natural wonders that this world has to offer. Let nature guide your kids on quest full of endless possibilities, while the fresh air releases you from your busy life. Whether it be a bike ride through Stanley Park or a picnic in Lynn Valley there are tones of kid-friendly outdoor activities for busy families. Let your child’s vivid imaginations take hold while it transforms them into an explorer. Its natural family fun that everyone can enjoy, that last time I checked was in many cases free… Perfect! One less thing to stress about.