National Play Outside Day is recognized on the first Saturday of every month and is a great excuse to plan a day full of fun outside with your friends and family.
Whether you take a bike ride around your neighborhood or organize a kickball game at your local park, you won’t regret taking the time to reconnect with your inner child and play this summer! In fact, studies show that one of the best ways to let go of your stress and anxiety is to engage in some authentic and curious outdoor play.
The days of asking mom and dad to go over to your best friend’s house for a playdate may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean we should stop “playing” with our friends as adults. In fact, engaging in play like we did as children can have incredibly positive impacts on our mental and physical health. Turning off our electronics and turning on our imagination connects us to our surroundings and the people we’re with, which can build up our personal and professional relationships.
Playing can take the form of telling jokes and goofing off with friends, walking with no destination in mind, or heading to your local park to play catch or frisbee. If you’re enjoying yourself and giving your mind the freedom to explore, create, and engage with your surroundings you will reap the benefits of play.
As children, playing is critical for our development. We learn important problem-solving skills, develop our physical abilities, and build our socialization skills. The same can happen when we play as adults. When you’re in the habit of tapping into your imagination and playful spirit, it’s easier to come up with creative solutions to problems, cope with stressful situations, and overcome physical limitations. Playing gives you the tools to tap into your creativity and humor and helps you build and strengthen new and existing relationships.
Looking for a great spot to play outside? Oakland County Parks has a variety of accessible playgrounds, paved and rustic walking and biking trails, beautiful beaches and so much more. Live out your Robin Hood dreams during Open Archery at the archery range in Independence Oaks County Park. Or maybe give the brand-new disc golf course at Pontiac Oaks County Park a spin.
This fall, Catalpa Oaks County Park will install an outdoor fitness court to give your workouts a fresh new twist, and Lyon Oaks and Waterford Oaks County Parks both have new pickleball courts to enjoy.
Head to OaklandCountyParks.com and discover endless ideas for ways you can enjoy the outdoors by yourself or with family and friends. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Oakland County offers residents quality, affordable housing in welcoming neighborhoods with access to parks and recreation, public transportation, and healthy food as part of the Livable Neighborhoods goal in our five-year road map. Follow the Oakland County Executive Office on Facebook and X for updates and visit our dashboard to see the progress being made to ensure Oakland County is All Ways, Moving Forward. Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and services year-round.