playground essentials

worcester has become quite the tour of playgrounds.  everyday, carlyle, luella, and i go to a park or two.  we have come across some amazing swingsets and jungle gyms.   this has led me to deeply ponder the playground essentials. 

1. baby swings.  this is always our first stop on the playground.  carlyle and luella seriously looooooovvve to swing. 

2. fence.  it is amazing to me that more parks do not fence in their playgrounds.  for parents of twin toddlers, fences are pretty much the best thing ever.  

3. shade.  i mean, who doesn't like shade?

4. a reasonable slide.  have you seen some of the slides out there?  i'm pretty sure some playgrounds are trying to convert to amusement park status with their crazy slide shenanigans.  all we need out of a slide is a normal incline and some room at the bottom so that we don't just fly off and fall on our faces.  a gentle spiral is also allowed and even encouraged.  

5. sand pit.  now, i realize that for some parents out there, sand pits might be a negative because, well, your kid gets covered in sand.  but, people, you have never seen two more engaged children.  car and lu sit for a very long time in the sand pit.  they sit.  this means i sit.  i sit and they sit.  for a long time. 


so there you have it.  now, this does not mean that all playgrounds have all the elements on my list.  but, many in mid-mass do.  how swell is that!