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Whether it’s a stroll with your newborn or a trip to the playground with your energetic toddler, parks are brilliant for parents. With Love Parks Week (28 July–6 August) on the horizon, three parents explain why parks mean so much to them.

Rebecca’s story: “I’ve set up a walking group to bring together local parents”

Rebecca lives in Lancaster with her husband and their daughter, Ayla, 4, and son Finlay, 22 months.

“Williamson Park is right on my doorstep. It’s such a special place with a butterfly house, mini zoo, nature trails, the Grade 1 listed Ashton Memorial and an all-important cafe. It also has the most amazing views – from its highest point, you can see all of Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells.

As a parent, parks are vital to my mental wellbeing. It gives me the mental health boost of being outside in nature and it really helps calm me down if I feel stressed.

I'm so passionate about the benefits of being outdoors that I've set up a local branch of the national parent and baby walking community, Blaze Trails. I attended one of their walks last year and I loved it so much that I set up my own group. About four of our walks have been in Williamson Park and we usually have up to 10 families so they’re well attended.

Walking with other parents is so uplifting, there's a real sense of community. In fact, I prefer it to being at a playgroup – walking feels like a more natural way of connecting with people. And I get lovely feedback from parents telling me they’ve forged real bonds with other parents on the walks.

Ayla, Finlay and I are in the park whatever the weather. I actually really like going when the weather’s colder or raining.

Ayla loves splashing in puddles! We enjoy identifying different plants and flowers and it’s a wonderful way of seeing the seasons change.”

Latifat’s story: “It’s lovely to watch how Yazmin has grown up with the park”

Latifat lives in South East London with her husband, Ernest, and their 4-year-old daughter, Yazmin. They are expecting their second child in September.

Latifat says:

“Our house is across the road from the park and it’s a big part of the reason why we chose our home. We moved in October 2019 when Yazmin was five months old, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, so it was brilliant for us to have the park on our doorstep.

During the lockdowns, it meant we could get outside with her for fresh air and see other children – which was particularly important because she was an only child.

It’s lovely to watch how Yazmin has grown up with the park. When she was a baby, I’d take her to baby and parent groups at the park cafe. In those early months, it was nice to share stories and experiences with other parents. As a toddler she was crazy about the duck pond and now she’s keen to go out on the rowing boats.

We also learnt how to scoot together in the concrete skateboarding area. I even have my own scooter and it was a real bonding experience to learn that skill together. Once the baby is here I’d like to get back into cycling – hopefully it will be something we can do together as a family in the park.

Being heavily pregnant, the park is actually quite relaxing. Yazmin loves being active and climbing so I can sit in the sunshine and watch her play.

We’re park fanatics and I’m pretty sure the next baby will be, too!”

James’s story: “I’ve made friends with another dad by the swings”

James lives in Lewes with his wife, Victoria, and their 18-month-old daughter, Margot.

James says:

“I’m a firefighter and I work four days on, four days off. On the days I’m not working, Margot and I will head to the park, sometimes both mornings and afternoons.

It's a really social experience for us. I recently got talking to another dad and found out he and his family live in the same block of flats as us. I was pushing Margot on the swings and his son, Luca, was on the swing next to her. Margot was copying what Luca was doing so that started the conversation off.

It’s a lot easier for adults to get talking when kids break the ice. It gives you a conversational opening so you don't feel too awkward!

We exchanged numbers and now we chat regularly. It’s reassuring to have someone to share parenting experiences with and swap advice.

Our park trips also really help Margot’s physical development and it’s lovely to see her confidence grow every week. She enjoys climbing and our park has a toddler-friendly obstacle course. When we first started going, I’d have to help her through obstacles but now she can do bits herself. It’s all about giving her confidence in a safe environment.

What I also love about the park is that it’s a screen-free environment. I think most parents relate to the experience of putting on the TV for your child when you’re trying to get something done at home. But once you’re in the park you’re away from those distractions and you can fully focus on parenting.”

4 mental health benefits of parks for parents and kids

Ryan Lowe, family psychotherapist and spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists, puts forward the case for heading to the park.

1. It can strengthen your bond with your child

“A trip to the park offers a way for you both to engage with new experiences, whether it’s observing bugs and insects or playing a game of ‘I spy’,” says Ryan. “ Plus, there are no TV screens or computers at the park. Yes, you’ll probably still have your phone but I think one of the biggest things about being outdoors in the park is that you can use it to be more linked in with your kids than with your phone. Try switching your phone to aeroplane mode when you’re there.”

2. It eases your stress levels

There’s so much evidence that outside space does brilliant things for your mental health. One study of 1,000 parents and children found that having access to a park was linked to better mental health for parents and children during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Everything about being outdoors – hearing sounds of nature such as birds, seeing trees and greenery – can bring your stress levels right down,” says Ryan. “It’s great physical exercise too and it’s a good idea to build the value of exercise into your family culture in those early years.”

3. It fosters your child’s play skills

“Outdoor play helps kids to build flexibility and creativity. They also have to learn to interact with other children, for example, at the swings or the slide, where they can learn about the importance of sharing and turn-taking,” says Ryan.

• More on children's play styles

4. It helps your child become independent

“We can feel quite scared for our children at times, but parks allow children to have some independence, whether it’s building a den or climbing a tree 10 feet away from you. That’s so important for their development,” says Ryan.

• More on how children learn to take risks

Need some motivation?

“If you feel exhausted and sleep deprived, going to the park might be the last thing you feel like doing. That’s really when you need to draw on friends – make a plan to meet another parent there. This is motivating as it’s harder to cancel when you’ve made plans to meet someone else,” says Lowe.

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