School's out - it's park & playground time! PART 1

The kiddies will be out soon and while you may or may not have a pool or lake to attend, below are some local playgrounds for you to check out.  I will write quite a few posts about parks as there are so many. Please add to my list (or email me) and add notes about any park.  I will edit all entries to we have a huge masterlist!

TRACTS/OPEN SPACE/UNDEVELOPED

Hicks Tract, Knollandale Rd, Millington : Entrance to the Hicks Tract at the end of Knollandale Road, Millington. Open space and trails that run from Millington behind the Millington School to Stirling. OK, not really a playground but a nice walking/strolling tract and maintained hiking path. map at http://bit.ly/ND3K74 Lots of strollers, runners, bikes and dogs use this tract but almost never concurrently. It is shaded by the surrounding tree foliage so take advantage of this resource on super hot days or in the afternoons when you want to cool down.


Pine Hills Tract Haas Rd, Bernards Township, 10 acres undeveloped land. Never heard of it till I started researching parks.  Amazing that there is a resource nearby that MANY people have never heard about.  Let me know if you have been here. Map at http://bit.ly/KMH2UP

Passaic River Trail, The trail is being developed along Long Hill's open space at the north bank of the Passaic River. Not sure if it is the same as the below.  Let me know if you know.

Passaic River County Park http://bit.ly/LptwKI

Located along the Passaic River in Long Hill and Chatham Townships, Passaic River Park is part of an effort to protect the river from development and encroachment. A total of 769 acres including more than 5000 ft. of shoreline, are available for leisurely hiking, picnicking, softball, fishing, ice skating and cross country skiing.


Green Acres funding, totalling $20,000, assisted with the initial preservation effort. The Township of Chatham also donated acreage. The Clover Hill Additions were funded through the Green Trust and federal land and water conservation grant dollars. The Clover Hill acreage, located in Long Hill Twp., are separated from the Chatham Township section by several miles.

Park Features

• Athletic Fields
• Picnic Areas: Non-reservable 
• Picnic Areas: Reservable 
• Picnic Shelter: Reservable 
• Trails

Things To Do

• Hiking
• Fishing
• Picnicking
• Snowshoeing
• X-Country Skiing

^*Requires permit/advanced scheduling

Hayefields‎, Crest Drive, Bernards Township map at: http://bit.ly/NDjS8O
6.5 Acres of open space protected land.  Again never been here, more information welcome.


Clover Hill developement, Millington
A private development playground with some play equipment and courts. Paid for by the local estate residents.


Coddington Farmstead, Warren NJ http://www.warrennj.org/wtrec/index.htm map at http://bit.ly/KFTcDi
Houses Art classes at the farm house. However it is also a historical site and has trails for hiking. Again never been here, let me know if you have.

Codington Woods (Open space site 3A) 45 Acres

Rough and rocky blazed trails form two loops, together exploring the entire tract. The southern loop includes a fruit orchard of old but productive apple, pear, and cherry trees, two farm fields now overgrown with bushes and young trees, a large open grove of mature maples and oaks, and a former sheep pasture now colorful with dogwood, cedar and birch trees and flowering shrubs. The northern loop is dense with very large old hardwood groves and vines typical of a virgin piedmont forest. Throughout are rows of basalt rocks cleared from tillable farmlands, and occasional old iron farm machinery.

Trail Access points: Behind the homestead, at the hydrant by #23 Mt. Horeb Rd., and at cul de sacs named above. Parking is available near all points. Terrain is dry and shady. Wildlife: Turkey, Fox, Coyote, Deer (including albino strains) all smaller mammals and many bird and insect species. This tract provides the only tree cover for wildlife movement between second & third mountain ridges when combined with Mt. Horeb Springs tract.

NEXT WEEK MORE PARKS, STAY TUNED!

Further afield: 

All Children's Playground in Quibbletown Park	Academy Street, Piscataway
Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park at Sewaren Peninsula	Cliff Road, Woodbridge	39 acres featuring playing fields, open picnic grove, playground, overlook pavilion and gardens, bike/walkway, nature study area
Boyd Pond Tot Lot
Carousel for All Children
Cheesequake State Park	300 Gordon Road, Matawan	live exhibits of fish & turtles, swimming & boating, nature trails, picnic areas, playgrounds
Colonial Gardens Playground	Kearny Drive
Colonial Park	Franklin Township	568 acres featuring picnic areas, playground featuring innovative, barrier free equipment,
Columbia Park	Dunellen
Donaldson Park	2nd Ave, Highland Park	90 acres featuring 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, 3 baseball fields, 4 soccer fields, 4 reservable picnic groves, 2 open picnic groves, 2 playgrounds, boat ramp and pond
Duke Island Park	Bridgewater Township	332 acres featuring bike trails, picnic areas, playground featuring innovative, barrier free equipment
Fords Park	King George's Post Road, Woodbridge	18 acres featuring 2 street hockey rinks, 2 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, 1 baseball field, 1 reserveable picnic grove, bike/walkways, 2 playgrounds and pond
Johnson Park	River Road, Piscataway	473 acres featuring 8 tennis courts, 1 baseball field, 2 softball fields, 1 soccer field, 5 reserveable picnic groves, 2 open picnic groves, 3 playgrounds, animal haven, 2 ponds, olde towne village, bike/walkway, 2 cricket pitches
Joseph Medwick Park	Post Blvd, Carteret	82 acres featuring 1 baseball field, 1 soccer field, 1 roller hockey rink, 2 reserveable picnic groves, 1 open picnic grove, 2 playgrounds, walk/bikeway
Merrill Park	Middlesex Turnpike, Woodbridge	179 acres featuring 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, 3 baseball fields, 2 softball fields, 1 soccer field, 1 football field, 7 reserveable picnic groves, 2 open picnic groves, 3 playgrounds, progressive playground, animal haven
Middlesex County Parks	There's recreational and cultural activities for the general public throughout the year.	http://co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/index.asp
Middlesex County Parks	There's recreational and cultural activities for the general public throughout the year.	http://co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/index.asp
Mountainview Park	Rt 28 Middlesex, NJ	Right next to Middlesex High School - has basketball, tennis courts, horseshoe league and a great fenced in play area for Toddlers.

What kind of parent do you think you are?

Ok got your attention, you know what this blog is about, you've heard it all before. But just in case.

What is a parent, or a mom? Is she the chief organizer of the kids schedule (it is a popular activity in our house). Lists are made, clutter is attacked. Kids are asked what they want for dinner, what activities they want to do, what they want to wear, where they want to go, etc. this style is all about options. Ok I do allow my kids some options but some are not negotiable such as dinner and some activities, etc.

C 2012 Mt Hotham VIC, Australia

Or is she a kids guidance leader and authoritative (but not authoritarian)? Can someone ask my kids if this style is ok with them please? She gives the kids too much information and overloads them with knowledge. She will tell them that they should follow the rules because what if everyone did what they wanted, etc. sometimes this works for some kids but others may need concrete rules.

C 2012

Is she a hip mama, all about appearance and latest parenting strategies? This parent seems approachable and wears her baby, sleeps with her baby, buys organic food (prefers from her garden or local farm) and mills it herself. Kids are given plenty of freedom (after all she is too busy gardening and milling).

C 2012

Or is she a student of child behaviour where kids behavior is studied ad infinitum. Therefore nothing is the child's fault but a symptom of some other thought or behaviour. Maybe she is reading child development books and obsessing over the implications.

C 2012

Perhaps she is a girl mom or a boy mom? She is an expertly in one gender and perhaps insensitive and generalizing the opposite gender? ie boys will be boys, or all girls are moody? Or assuming all gender specific behavior is the parents fault and not genetics or nature. Or vice versa assuming no responsibility to work with kids to challenge gender behaviors.

C 2012

How about the absent parent either physically or mentally? Ie disengaging when divorced etc. (tricky stuff as divorce is still so prevalent thesedays). Do these parents eliminate some responsibility to the kids also?

Brooklyn Bridge C 2012

Or lastly and least (IMO) the do as I do parent, who eats well, has a fulfilling occupation, treats people nicely (not just on Sunday's) doesn't assume gender roles (remember the bra burning days? People assumed too many gender specific behaviors back then). Has morals and ethics and isn't apathetic? Let me know where these people are? But it is definitely worth striving for.

XO

Trailside

NJ is taken for granted and likes to poke fun at itself (see any TV show on NJ).  However we have some great local and free or low cost activities and centers nearby.  We should consider ourselves lucky!

We have so many great parks and wildlife centers.  I particularly like Trailside Nature and Science center.  My boys love that place and I love to take them there.  

However take a GPS at I often get lost driving around Watchung reserve.

Also make sure you check the hours, I think it is open every day after noon ie 12 midday.  We love to check it out once a quarter on a rainy afternoon.  Or if it is a nice day check out the park or trails in the morning and do a picnic lunch.  There are tables everywhere for picnics.

The boys first stop is usually the animal displays but they love the teepee hut and the theatre show.

It is such a hands on place that encourages kids to look closely and open/shut things, check out every corner, do puzzles and more.

I love the recycling hints and the native wild plant displays and love to pic up a polished rock from the gift store as a memento from our trip there.

Downstairs is an aquarium and bird watching area along with more hands on activities, such as excavating (ie Sandpit) and I particularly love the geology displays (in particular the fluorescent minerals).

Upstairs is my favorite center, the library with kids books on nature and adult gardening and other books.  However we are usually worn out at this point and never take enough advantage of the library to sit and read.  Perhaps when the kids are older.

Outside they were working on the playground when I was there but I heard that the playground was finished very shortly after my trip.  So we will definitely be there again very soon.

xo

Trailside Nature and Science center

Local children's museums

Our family motto is try most things once.  So we sign up for lots of different activities and events and some of them we love.  Below are some that we have tried locally and recommend.

Morris museum 

We love this small and sufficient museum, it has lots to do from toddlers up to adults.  The toddlers come first with the music room filled with things to interact with for kids (and adults) of all ages. Its other collections include costumes and textiles, fine art, decorative art, dolls and toys, natural science, geology and paleontology, and anthropology.  They have programs and events running at various times in the year and various times of the day.  Their summer camps are very popular and affordable.  They also have a donation night where for the cost of a donation you can enter for free.  

I've also heard great things about the Zimmerli museum but for one reason or another haven't tried it yet.

Imagine that Museum, Florham park. Not really a historical museum but a hands on activity center. It is specializes in pre-school age and young school children.  Kids love playing here.

We've also heard about the Princeton Art museum family Saturdays but distance has prevented us from experiencing this program. Let me know if you've tried this museum.

The Children's Museum in Bridgewater.  The Children's Museum has educational exhibits and programs and this museum may travel from location to location.  Young kids love this and it is stress free and suggested donation so very economical.  I'd say kids from 3-10 might like this museum.

xo

Saving money on toys & clothes

I was much more involved in my older sons toys. We had only one kid, so it was easier to focus on his interests and play. We bought loads of Thomas trains, Mickey Mouse and motorized toys (ride ons and remote control cars) as he loved them. He also loved bike riding and playgrounds, balls and other gross motor activities. So we stocked up on all of the above. We have 4-5 bikes of different sizes, we have various types & sizes of balls, and all sorts of motorized toys and little tykes are scattered all over our back yard. And we had lots of opportunities to use these toys.

One benefit to having two kids of the same sex is that they will be close to one another and perhaps also save us a bundle buying new clothes and toys and things. Well, along came son #2 and he is mixing things up.  He was initially afraid of motorized toys - now what do I do with the ride ons and remote control cars and other toys? He didn't love Thomas trains and my boys bathroom is decorated in Thomas exclusively... wow saving loads of money (Not!). He also has physical challenges which make balls and gross motor activities more difficult for him. So, while he likes those activities, it is frustrating to him (and us) to use them.  Not saving money yet, and frightened and frustrated.

Also son #2 likes older kid toys, of course ;) . I didn't need to save all the baby toys since he wants to play with his older brothers toys anyway.  So no Little Bear, Sesame Street or Barney VHS episodes for us - instead he likes Power Rangers, Transformers, Superheroes and Rescue Heroes. Perhaps his Dad can relate to those interests.

Of course I kept most of the boy clothes, but kid #2 is opinionated about clothes too. Wasn't that supposed to be a girl trait?  Boys just wear whatever they are given, right?  Can someone explain this to my son who decides he wants something else to wear other than the 5 outfits I gave him to choose from?  Older son wore clothes for comfort and movement, but second son wants dressier jeans, camouflage, or perhaps something trendy or cool. Only shirts with logos on them will do and they have to be the RIGHT logos too.  Have I mentioned he is only 4 and he started doing this at age 2?  I'm in trouble when he reaches his teens.

I would never take my older son shopping, as he was too much to handle and ran around and I'd lose him...  let alone the tantrums when he couldn't have the item he wanted. But #2 is impossible to shop with without getting an item he wants. He will either be a lawyer or hostage negotiator when he grows up, and wears me down in stores (and I had 2 cups of coffee that day ;) ).

At least #2 hasn't been too opinionated about furniture... yet.

Perhaps they will at least be close as brothers when they are older. ;)

xo