In an issue that is so much about the enriching experiences of a New York City childhood, I want to begin with one of my favorites: the playground. As a city, we’re very blessed in our playgrounds, and for many parents they really are the oases that allow us to feel like we can raise kids in the city without depriving them of childhood’s most important and elemental experience: play.
You know that local playground, with the nifty features, where your children have spent so many hours growing up? Now imagine their lives if their playground was worn down and crummy, or didn’t exist at all.
I love the community aspect of playgrounds, where you and your kids are likely to see the same people over and over and make friends. I’ve loved going on little city adventures to unfamiliar neighborhoods and new playgrounds. And, of course, I loved the times I’ve spent with my children at playgrounds—whether riding down the slide with my babies, or (these days) enjoying a book while casting occasional glances at my 10-year-old son as he plays a pick-up game of one kind or another.
Years ago I wrote an article about screen time that basically tried to answer the perennial parental dilemma: how much is too much? After speaking with a ton of notable experts and helpful parents, what I concluded was that, instead of obsessing about screen time, it might be more beneficial to think about that issue in the context of the whole of a child’s life, with questions like: do they seem happy and engaged? Are they reading? Do they like their friends? Are they getting lots of time at the playground, or in other active pursuits? Check off these boxes, and the screen time question will seem like less of an issue.
And therein is my “operating manual” for the 2014- 2015 Ultimate Guide. As much as I hope that, in the pages that follow, you’ll find a lot of wonderful ideas and helpful resources for raising children and enjoying life in the city, in my experience, none of them top time in the playground—which, if you think about it, is kind of Stage One of the city’s awesome street life.
Happy Days,
Eric Messinger
Editor, emessinger@manhattanmedia.com
