Here are five things we liked this week.
Last batch of the summer!
Great cast. Recommended by Michele.
Hurry, before this NJ staple is gone!
I’m a ball cap, how about you?
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
Month: August 2021
Playground Round Up
By Chelsie:
Over the past 17 months, like everyone, we grew tired of the same old four walls, backyard, and sidewalk. Our neighborhood playground is a 10 minute walk from our house and makes for a good way to get in a little morning exercise for little legs before the summer sun climbs. We do this most days by walking, riding bikes or scooters, or pushing baby dolls, stuffed animals, or a toy truck in child size strollers. But some days, we need more. We need a trip to another playground complete with snack breaks or a picnic lunch —Who am I kidding, both. So, this year we searched for playgrounds we had yet to slide down, swing, or climb. We bring to you, The Play to Grow Playground Round Up.
Disclaimer: We live in Southern New Jersey, 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia, so our destination is usually limited to nap time proximity.
What we look for in a playground:
-Partly shaded
-A variety of structures, ranging in challenge for a variety of ages
-Sensory rich
-Neighborhood parks vs Larger, well known playgrounds: We like a bit of a crowd for socializing and friends, but too many leads to more “Where did you go?” and less time to chat with other moms when someone is always counting heads.
-Bathrooms are a plus (most of the time, otherwise, the travel potty will do)
So without further adieu, here are our favorite playgrounds:
Laurel Acres, Mount Laurel
Why we love it: The Hill! Okay, and the playground. There are two playgrounds, one toddler size and another much larger one geared towards 5+, although the slides are what feel like stories high, there are some great sensory rich parts at the bigger playground like a musical area, balance beam, and a few small slides. But we do spend a lot of our time running up and down the hill. Plus bathrooms!
Barclay Farmstead Park, Cherry Hill
Why we love it: Good shade. Close to trails and the historic farm house with gardens for wandering about. Plus a Free Little Library to enjoy.
Colt’s Run Park, Marlton
Why we love it: Not gonna lie, this one is 5 minutes from our house but it has 2 different play areas plus a zipline! And a climbing wall tower to play look out. One of my kids’ most requested.
Jake’s Place, Delran
Why we love it: The playground is stretched with numerous climbing and sliding. And it just looks like so much fun! There’s a miniature Ben Franklin bridge, a tractor, a boat, a music wall, tot lot and more. Plus bathrooms!
Mountwell Park, Haddonfield
Why we love it: TRUCKS! In addition to the variety of slides, there is a large sand pit with maybe 100 toy trucks for driving, hauling, dumping, and more.
Haddonfield Elementary Playground
Why we love it: Located directly next to a train track where you can lean over and see the trains come and go. If you give the driver a wave, he’s likely to toot the horn for you! So play on the all age friendly playground while you await the “choo choo” sound. Note: You can only visit this playground when school is not in session, which worked out during the pandemic year.
Why we love it: The shade, and the climbing. There are two structures with medium height slides, and overall comfortable climbing for all ages.
Haddon Lake Park, Mt. Ephraim
Why we love it: So much shade. An overall nice playground on the lake. We love the bumpy slide and the ducks.
Freedom Park, Medford
Why we love it: Tot friendly, lots of open space in the play area itself. Plus, a field for sprints to get out some last minute energy, play in the volleyball sand, or observe the cool kids at the skatepark.
Redbank Battlefield Playground, National Park
Why we love it: Everything. A great playground itself, on the water, across the river from the Philadelphia Airport so planes come and go low, and there is so much ground to cover and explore, especially if you are a history buff.
Do you have a favorite playground we may not know about? Drop us a comment to let us (and others) know about it!
Friday Faves
Here are five things we chuckled at/bought/are ready for/slow clapped over/ate and ate again this week:
It may be off the market but it’s still Fine AF.
Thinking of channeling my inner Roxanne with this dress for an upcoming rehearsal dinner.
Planning a fall getaway? Don’t forget to consult this map.
Getting the gold never felt better.
If you only make one recipe again for the rest of your life…
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
Our Unlearning Journey Continues
By Michele
Today we want to share our progress in our unlearning journey. We are unlearning any false ideas or narratives about race and racism and unlearning what we thought we needed to be as anti-racists. Unlearning means that we are flawed and have many things to understand, correct, and get right; and that’s ok. Instead of focusing on our egos and what we think we already know about racism, we are focusing on learning the truth and being an advocate for change. We, like all parents, wish to make this world a better place for children everywhere.
This list is some things we have watched/read/listened to this summer that have made an impact. We have divided our list into two parts: learning and action. We wish to share it because maybe you would be interested in learning or taking simple actions too.
LEARNING:
First Name Basis Podcast Episode 29 Critical Race Theory: We like this anti racist podcast from Jasmine Bradshaw because it is for families and parents. The episode on Critical Race Theory gave us not only great information on what CRT is but also analogies and practical language to use when talking with family, friends, or the community about CRT in order to help dispel the myths surrounding this topic. One thing that really stood out is when Jasmine asks the question “Does this align with my values?” And that made so much sense. Coming from a place of love, how can one be opposed to something like CRT? From education comes knowledge and with knowledge comes empathy, understanding, and acceptance. CRT will help our country to grow in empathy and equality and live up to its ideal standards of being a place for all people.
Zinn Education Project- A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn was one of the few books saved from college with its dog-eared pages and loads of highlighter marks. Now, we follow @zinneducationproject on Instagram and it is just as enlightening as the book. The lessons that are shared are educational, sad, horrifying and, most importantly, a true side of history that most of us were not given the privilege of learning in school. We hope that will change. We hope that teachers and parents unite against glossing over our past and obscuring the problems of our present so that we may create a better future.
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater. This book is non-fiction, and labeled as young adult but the story and the people draw you right in and captivate you. It shows many sides of a story that appears on the surface to be black and white. It examines a crime from many points of view and peels back the layers of race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and the justice system. Although there is a guilty and an innocent party, the truth is that our world is more complicated than that. By creating meaningful dialogues and sharing empathy with others it can really heal people and communities.
White Lies NPR podcast. Two journalists investigate the 50+ year old crime of the murder of a 38 year old minister named James Reeb in Selma Alabama in 1965. His murder, although unsolved, became the tipping point for the civil rights movement. It is a truly riveting podcast and although the story is old, the lesson is still as relevant as ever. The fact that some people are willing to believe lies and stories over the truth in order to cover up a hate crime is just as true now as it was in 1965. Hate has not gone away in the last 50 years and will not if we put our heads in the sand. This story sheds a light on the dark, violent history of our country, particularly in the south, and the continued need to advocate for justice.
Loving: This movie is on Netflix and its true story of Richard and Mildred Loving is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s a glimpse into a world where one is not free to love another during the 50s-60s in the south. But the Lovings sacrificed in order to change the laws that forbid couples from marrying different races. I read an article in which Mildred Loving believed that it was “God’s plan” for them to have their name, Loving, on the Supreme Court ruling that changed the laws in Virginia, and consequently a dozen other states at the time, effectively ending the ban on interracial marriages. How many wonderful love stories and beautiful families were created from their love and sacrifice? Love brings love.
ACTION –
We have been shopping more consciously and buying from black owned businesses when possible. Etsy, Target, and Bookshop.org are just a few places where we have found black owned businesses easily. You can also check out this directory https://www.beyonce.com/black-parade-route/?q=&page=1&category=all
And this article https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/07/06/philadelphia-black-owned-businesses-directory/
We have been enjoying learning from The First Name Basis podcast and are giving a monthly donation for her work as an antiracism educator.
We have signed the pledge to teach the truth from the Zinn Education Project.
We have a volunteer commitment to help families of young children in an underserved community.
We will continue reading and learning and will share accounts and anti/racism works with others.
We will continue building an anti-racism home with our families through multicultural books, diverse outings, and modeling inclusion.
We will take the initiative and have those difficult conversations with family and friends.
We are committed to learning more and speaking up!
Play to Grow 