Bringing back outdoor play
Morewood locals Esme and Rhys enjoy winter fun in their own front yard
by Brandon Mayer
Following the recent pair of snowstorms that left the Township buried in white fluffy stuff, a local mom made a rather unusual post on social media: she hoped that her neighbours in Morewood would bring loads of snow to add to the “snow mountain” in her yard, giving her kids an even more exciting place to enjoy some winter fun. Tiffany Ward understood why no loads of snow came – it’s heavy and messy to transport – but her kids have continued to enjoy the outdoor recreation in their own front yard regardless.
“In my experience, kids [today] don't have an opportunity to play in the snow and have as much fun as we did [as kids]”, said Tiffany. “I remember spending almost every day outside, in snow as tall as my car, with my best friends. Making forts, snowmen, making what we considered ice sculptures. Kids today don't often get the chance to see as much snow as we've gotten so it's nice to see them appreciate it and take advantage of the fun.”
The snow hill in Tiffany’s yard was created by a good Samaritan plowing the street. Seeing the kids outside playing, he pushed a huge pile of snow into the perfect place for the kids to climb and have some extra fun. “They were ecstatic and spent the rest of the day out there on it,” Tiffany added. “Our neighbour decided to add to it when he was helping my husband with his snow blower.”
Tiffany was grateful for the surprise dumping of snow, because her kids have been playing a lot more outside than they used to. In a world dominated by technology and screen time, Tiffany had some advice to share for other parents: “My kids are very active, but they are most encouraged to leave screens behind when we do things as a family. My husband takes them skating, my in-laws take them tobogganing, and I'm always ready with the hot chocolate!”
Life in Morewood is everything Tiffany and her young family could ever hope for. “We've only lived here for 4 years but we could never imagine being anywhere else,” she said. “There aren't many amenities, but whatever we lack is easily accessible 10 minutes in any way. We have a great local community supported by surrounding friends.”
To learn more about the importance of recreation and physical activity, visit https://www.participaction.com/