That’s the nice thing about being a kid. You get to play games outside with your friends.
We adults can play games, too. Recently I wrote an article for the Parent and Family Newspaper (May/June, 2008) about walking with our children. The emphasis in this article was on being role models: introducing kids to an easy, enjoyable way to stay healthy. Now I’ve come full circle, and realize that sometimes we have to let children be our role models. Sometimes we need to play Smurf tag.
Kids get to do other healthy outdoor activities besides Smurf tag. They also get to grow edibles — at school, no less. Children need access to fresh, local, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, both at home and at school. One way to accomplish this is through “edible schoolyards” (www.edibleschoolyard.org), which are cropping up across the country. Plans for a garden are now underway at Yarmouth Elementary School. Want to dig in the dirt with some friends? Drop by on Saturday, May 10 (9 am-1 pm) for the Open House & Master Gardener work day. (Email school_garden@yarmouth.k12.me.us for more information.)
Kids and adults can also dig in the dirt with their friends at local community gardens. These are becoming increasingly popular. Marjorie Stone of the Yarmouth Community Garden says most of their individual plots have been rented for this year. Many community gardens also have community plots, manned by volunteers. The community plot at the YCG raises produce and flowers to give away. The YCG also has a children’s program. (FMI, go to www.yarmouthcommunitygarden.org.) Call your community services office for information about gardening in your area.
We don’t need to hang out in the community garden in order to dig in the dirt. Many of us can do this in our own backyards. One caveat: if we decide to do this (and even if we don’t), we should avoid using pesticides on our property, just as the schoolyard and community gardens do. Pesticides stay on grass, other surfaces and in the air much longer than the time frame indicated on the small warning signs that adorn freshly sprayed lawns. This can be a problem for people and pets alike. Not only are we uncertain about the long-term effects of pesticides, but recent studies show that pesticides increase the risk of allergic asthma and bronchitis. For more information on growing safe, beautiful grass, visit www.safelawns.org.
Whether we are playing on the grass or digging in the garden, we can follow the example of the kids in our lives and have some fun. We might even become a little healthier in the process. We just need to have the willingness to be a Smurf.
Dr. Lisa Belisle is a family physician and advisor for the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers (866-609-5183). She practices medical acupuncture in Yarmouth. Share your own kid-related revelations with her at www.bountiful-blog.com.