Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Halifax, NS

Rain or shine, show or sleet kids need time outside. That is the mantra right? Yet somehow it isn't always that easy. When we were children we were sent outside. It was an expectation not an exception. Our mothers and caregivers let us loose in the world without a care. We were free to explore, learn, debate, wonder and dream. The endless days of summer were truly endless.

In our time as parents things have changed. We no longer send our children out to play without a worry in the world. In fact all we do is worry. Society has made us afraid, untrusting and unknowing. On my street I am the only mom that stays at home. When my children are out playing, they are the only children out. The people that live behind us have this awesome play structure yet we have never seen any one in their backyard.

Children are indoors a lot. I realize that not every family has a stay at home parent. However what about the weekends? Evenings? Where have all the children gone. In all the fear, we have lost sight on the things that are important to child development. Kids need to be outside. They need time to discover things on their own without a parent holding their hand. They need to play at the playground and discover their own forms of conflict resolution. Parents with the best intention hover over their children taking away what little freedom they have left. I have experienced this over and over again at the playground. Most parents are amazed that I give my children so much freedom.

It is a balance, between safety and freedom. Children need room to roam, to play to experience nature. Yet even in our our yard we are not free from fear. My children were playing outside, while I fluttered from inside to outside, making dinner and supervising their activities from a far, when a car pulled over unrolled the window and spoke to my children. I flew outside as they were pulling away. My preschooler did not know what they said, when I asked she shrugged her shoulders. Was it an innocent comment about playing or was it a predator?

One of my goals as a parent is to have my kids outside once a day. Either to play, for a walk anything to get them out in the fresh air, exploring their world. I cannot say that I reach this goal every day, but we try.

What are your views on outside play and freedom? Are you afraid?

Tomorrow I will share with you some ideas of what to do when you get the kids outside.