August 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 39

down the street. However, research
shows that these types of experiences are happening less and less often
for myriad reasons, including two
working parents, limited free time
and changes in urban settings. Still,
there are several examples of programs that can offer family members not only space to recreate but
also meaningful activities in which
to participate. One such example
is family fun runs that invite both
parents and children to participate.
These races not only encourage
healthy lifestyles but also provide
healthy competition and rewarding
topics for discussion. Moreover, if
a family takes the race seriously, it
increases the time they spend together in preparation for the event.
In planning recreational opportunities for families, we should remember that we are trying to foster
interaction, teamwork and shared
enjoyment. Art fairs are a great opportunity for families to get together
and enjoy shared time. However, a
fair that offers games and activities
for the whole family to participate in
will help to create fun and long-lasting memories.
Big events and vacations are important components of family leisure, but every day, cheap and readily available activities are the ones
that often " make a family. " Thus,
offering regular leisure opportunities for families will help them grow
stronger by having the responsibility of developing and following a
shared schedule, working on shared
goals and celebrating shared accomplishments.
It is often the case that even when
families do spend time together, they
slip into a pattern of dinner followed
by screen time at best. Considering the level of obesity among both

adults and children, it is crucial to
provide families with opportunities
for regular involvement in more active and health-oriented activities.
While it might be a challenge to create programs that would accommodate the needs of all family members
with different abilities and levels of

All of the above-mentioned opportunities should be offered not only
in parks and open spaces, but also in
multiple-use facilities that are located
close to residential areas and available year-round. Collaboration with
schools, churches and commercial
organizations would help us estab-

In planning recreational opportunities for families,
we should remember that we are trying to foster
interaction, teamwork and shared enjoyment.

skill, with sufficient creativity such
programs could be both fun and beneficial for health. Turning sedentary
screen time into active time should
not be a goal only for youth programs but also for professionals serving families in the community. As we
know from many examples, more
active lifestyles among parents will
encourage youth to live a healthier
lifestyle. Furthermore, family members could be the most accessible and
regular partners for participation in
many physical activities.
It is important to remember that
just being in the same room, building or park together is not enough
to create a happy family. Families
feel more satisfied with the time they
spend in shared leisure activities involving interaction with one another.
It is important for family members
to feel not just the mere presence but
also the attention and support of their
spouse/parent/child. Due to that,
providing families with a context for
collaboration, interaction and teamwork should be an important goal for
any family program planner.

lish continuous recreational opportunities for families during cold winters
in Chicago or hot summers in Florida. In her keynote speech during
the 2013 Carolinas Joint Recreation
and Parks Conference, Shellie Pfohl,
executive director of the President's
Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, discussed " play deserts " present
in many areas of the country. While
we often associate play with children,
this problem affects the entire family.
As one of the recreation professionals in North Carolina stated, " When
McDonald's or Chick-fil-A is the
only place for a family to hang out
during winter, we have a problem. "
Let's make sure that the family unit
is not overlooked by our field. After
all, families provide the context for
raising future generations, and their
health - physical, mental and emotional - defines what our future will
look and act like.
Iryna Sharaievska, Ph.D., is an Assistant
Professor in the Department of Health, Leisure
and Exercise Science at Appalachian State
University (sharaievskai@appstate.com).

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August 2014 - Parks & Recreation

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