Words Cassidy Nunn
Photo Nunn Other Photography
“The baby weeee park!” my three-year-old screams with delight as we reach the path, now covered with fallen leaves, that winds its way to our neighbourhood playground. She takes off as fast as her little legs can sprint, her six-year-old sister in hot pursuit, barrelling toward their favourite swing set in the distance.
The “baby weeee” park’s name came about because the toddler swings at said park are the best in town, at least according to my kids. And we have sampled A LOT of playgrounds over the years.
The swings at this particular playground are suspended from extra-long chains compared to most other swings; as a result, they can reach extreme soaring heights, heights that result in an enthusiastic “weeee!” being shouted from many a child, and most certainly my two.
As a family we’ve clocked many, many hours at this playground over the years. From walking by with a newborn in a stroller and that first tentative swing with a toddler, I’m now watching my girls navigate the monkey bars, climbing apparatuses and slides at mach speeds, with a familiarity and confidence that hours of playtime here have instilled in them.
I wonder if they will remember every inch of this playground when they’re older. I can vividly recall the one I grew up on in my neighbourhood, with a tire swing secured by three chains. We’d wind it up and let it spin so fast it would bounce back and forth against the wooden poles it was suspended between. The steep metal slide was atop a massive pile of rocks; to slide down it you had to climb to the top, only to have your bottom scorched if you attempted to go down it on a sunny day.
The wooden play structure was separated by long chains that you had to tightrope walk across while precariously holding onto a chain above your head … these playground elements would all be considered a tad bit dangerous now!
While playgrounds are an important childhood experience, they’re also a parental one.
I’ve watched how playgrounds bring out the fun in any age group: grandparents sitting on swings with their grandchild cuddled on their lap, parents racing their little ones down the slide and teenagers teaching the kids they’re babysitting how to play the classic playground game of Grounders.
I love watching how my daughters can almost instantly strike up new friendships at any playground. Sometimes there’s a level of shyness as the kids first check each other out, play side by side, and eventually cross the threshold into suddenly becoming best friends for the next hour. It’s often harder as adults to strike up new friendships, to push ourselves to chat with strangers, but playgrounds have a lovely way of facilitating these interactions between parents as well – “How old is yours?” “Do you live nearby?” “Is she in daycare?” “Oh yeah, mine did that at that age as well.” “Do you have an extra baby wipe?” “We have more snacks if you’d like some!”
After I give them a few underducks on the baby weeee swings, the kids hop off and race to the slides. I sit down on the bench, the same bench I sat on to nurse them as babies, the same bench I looked at longingly after hovering over them as toddlers, when they couldn’t yet master any of the playground elements, and now I sit and watch them play. I remember a couple years ago, at this same playground, on a day I must have looked particularly bleary-eyed and overwhelmed, another parent told me: “it does get easier! One day they’ll be playing
and you can just sit down and watch!” And somehow, we’ve entered that stage.
And it’s both wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time.
