Kids need winter exercise
The average North American child spends less than 15 minutes per day outside but up to five hours a day playing video games or watching television. It’s probably even more in the winter.
Playing in the winter wonderland is good for our children, helping them stay healthy and fit. With childhood obesity on the rise, (it’s more than doubled in the last 30 years) pediatricians are urging parents to get their children outdoors during the winter months when everyone tends to gain weight from a more sedentary lifestyle. Read more about why winter exercise is so important at Combating nature deficit disorder in winter.
Wait for the deep freeze
Once you are fairly certain that the snow on the ground is here to stay, you are ready to begin the rink. The rink site should be level and accessible to an outdoor water faucet. Constructing is simple:
A common problem is to make the rink bigger than you can easily maintain. Remember -- even if you do have the room for a fairly large rink you still have to shovel and flood it on a regular basis and provide repairs from time to time. When it comes to rinks, bigger isn’t necessarily better. A 7.6 m by 12 m (25’ by 40’) rink will provide children with plenty of room to skate and play hockey.
Pay offs
Backyard rinks have many benefits. Those who use the rink will not only be having lots of fun, but they will also be getting good exercise and fresh air. The rink may also become a gathering place for local children providing a healthy, environmentally-friendly place to play. You’ll have the peace of mind knowing where they are and if you throw on a pair of skates you can join in the fun and get to spend more time with your kids.
Besides the sheer joy and good exercise that children (of all ages) experience, skating on an outdoor rink is green recreation, especially when compared to the skidoo.
Since you’ll spend less time driving your children to their friends’ homes, skating rinks, theatres and other entertainment venues, you’ll also be shrinking your carbon footprint.
Maintenance
While rinks do require water and some energy to create, once they are established their upkeep is fairly simple. The recreational site, Go for Green, recommends using slush, not snow, to repair holes and crack. They also suggest skating on the ice once it’s smooth enough to work out the last few bumps and irregularities. Their Ice Dreams guide has lots of other tips about outdoor rinks.
Jazz it up for after dark
Increase the use of your rink by putting up some lights and skating at night. Night time is also a good time to flood the rink since it’s colder -- and the stars put on a great show!
Your Kodak moments
And don’t forget to record these environmentally-friendly, fun family times. While the rink will only last two or three months, photographs and video capturing the special times on the frozen yard will last a lifetime.
Read about how to keep the kids warm and safe while playing outside. Click here.
Glenn Perrett has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and is a regular contributor to Green Living Online.
