Good Old-Fashioned Playtime
15 ways to bring back the art of having fun (without any electronic thingamajigs).
How To: Find a Good Climbing Tree
Required: A sturdy tree
- “Look for an angled trunk and strong, ladderlike branches that are low enough for a child to perch and relax on. If possible, the branches should be within arms’ reach of a parent,” says Jennifer Ward, author of "I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature" (Trumpeter, $11).
- Avoid trees with dead limbs. (They will have a lack of leaves on some branches.)
- Instruct your child to remain close to the trunk, where the branches are strongest, and enforce a three-on-the-tree rule: At least three of his four limbs should be in solid contact with the tree at all times.
Next: How To: Play Hopscotch
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