Sunday Stills: The Lonely #Playground

In my world, a lonely playground is just wrong! Together, we can fix this serious problem.

Lonely Swing Set

Kids, you work hard every day. It’s time to show your parents just how hard you work. After all, your primary job is to play, and the third Sunday in May is “National Take Your Parents to the Playground Day!”

National Day Calendar
children at play in the park
Over 1000 public parks in Sacramento County

Today is the day! If you don’t have a kid to take you to a playground, you can certainly find a great playground in which to play!

Even the dogs have a safe place to play when the swimming pool shuts down for the summer.

Public Pool Dog Playground
End of Season Event, Doggy Dip Day

Where do you like to play? Your playground can be anywhere or anything.

Retreat ladies enjoy a mountain hike at 7000 feet in South Lake Tahoe.

Hikers navigate a snow field in May
Hikers navigate a Sierra snow field in May

Hubby juggles while waiting for the wind to come up for windsurfing.

Juggling while waiting for wind
Juggling while waiting for wind

Windsurf gear patiently waits for the kids camp participants.

Windsurf Playground
Windsurf gear waiting for kids’ camp

Now, don’t they all look happy?

Kids Windsurf Day Camp
Kids Windsurf Day Camp

It is time we opened the gates to more leisure places!

Chain link fence may stand in the way of a leisurely swim
A fence is safe but the pool is happier with people swimming in it!

My spring semester ended this week and summer vacation is nigh. I’m off to play!

Mother's Day Kayaking
A happy Mother’s Day for me kayaking!

I hope you can get out and play today. Take yourself, your dog, your kid or your grandchild to the playground this week!

Show us your version of your favorite playground for Sunday Stills!


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70 responses to “Sunday Stills: The Lonely #Playground”

  1. […] Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: https://secondwindleisure.com/2019/05/19/sunday-stills-the-lonely-playground/ […]

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  2. I’m so ready for warmth and sunshine that I’m having a hard time finding any motivation to play in the rain. Can I count reading a good book in the comfort of my home as play?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, leisure is anything you perceive it to be, Christie, sounds delightful!

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  3. I very much liked the nature playgrounds that your featured! My favorite playgrounds are in the foothills of mountains, or on a mountain. No particular mountain.

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  4. National Take Your Children to the Playground day! I love it. Enjoy your vacation Terri

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  5. All these photographs look like so much fun, Terri.

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  6. It’s so important to find time to play dear Terri, have a fabulous holiday! Our contribution for this lovely challenge is here:https://whippetwisdom.com/2019/05/22/wordless-wednesday-breathtaking-days/

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    1. Adults need to play more for sure!

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  7. I love this Terri!! Oh the doggy dip is wonderful! I really must join in your Sunday Stills Aghh I keep forgetting. This subject would be easy for me as we’re always out playing 🙂 #MLSTL

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know, Sam! I would love to see you join us for Sunday Stills. I have the month’s prompts up ahead of time so people can plan 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. The local playground (and the GIANT playground about 40mins drive away) are our two favourite destinations when the grandgirls come down for a visit. There’s nothing like having a grandchild with you to give you an excuse to try out a swing!
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sounds like lovely times with your grandkids, Leanne!

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  9. Yay, summer break. I’m so happy for you, Terri! Have a wonderful vacation. In Southern Utah it’s cold, windy, rainy, and snowy these days. Unbelievable! No weather to play. But, if I could play, it would be with dogs at a park, or hiking in nature. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Liesbet! Oddly we are having your same weather here, too!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Enjoy your summer break, Terri! So much fun and you’re right on. I go out and play every day, even in winter here. #MLSTL

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great to hear Natalie, that you are an active playperson! 🙂

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  11. Fabulous shots of various types of play Terri, really enjoyed your photos for this prompt 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  12. […] SUNDAY STILLS PHOTO:  Playground […]

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  13. […] The prompt from Terri for Sunday Stills: Lonely #Playground […]

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  14. […] her Sunday Stills Challenge this week, Terri has chosen the theme Playground. We are having unseasonably cold and rainy weather here in Northern California and the playground […]

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  15. Beautiful and inspirational Terri. I love the swings! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Your posts always remind me of the importance of play. I am not good at playing, but I enjoy it when I do. It is an ongoing struggle for me and I have to constant remind myself to quit being a workaholic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If it makes you fell any better, Michele, I still have to plan my playtime! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. I think ‘playing’ should be compulsory for every human, Terri. My new Great niece is a little young to go to our local playground just yet but, next week, the small children’s water pool opens near us, and we’ll be taking our first dip when she comes down to stay in early July. Sunhats and suncream are at the ready, plus ice-cream, of course. Let’s hope it’s not a wet summer’s day that day.
    Happy summer vacation. 🌞🍦

    Liked by 1 person

    1. How wonderful you will expose your niece to the play pool, Hugh! Memories she will have forever, and you, too! I’m so happy to teach leisure education at the university level and witness the lightbulbs go on with students who will make this their career.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I go to the playground at least twice a week with my grandsons. I’ve gotten into the habit of swinging with them, and it’s been so much fun. I even go down the slide sometimes (when I’m sure I’m under the weight limit!) Playgrounds should never be lonely!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s great, Molly and I’m happy to hear that you swing and slide with them!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. […] Sunday Stills Playground  asked me to sh where I play […]

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  20. […] The Lonely Playground – Sunday Stills / Power – One Word Sunday / […]

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  21. Congratulations on the end of Spring Semester, Terri. It’s definitely time to play!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There were a record number of graduates this year, so honored to be a part of the journey, Donna. Now if this rain would let up, we can get back outside!

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  22. […] There, I’ve said it!  I am a photographer.  The world is my playground and I stalk my subjects.  All this is done for the fun of WordPress challenges like today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt – Stalk and Sunday Stills – Playground. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Happy summer vacation, Terri! You are right, playgrounds are much better with people (and dogs) enjoying them. It was raining here this morning, but now the sun is out… perhaps I should get out and play!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, go play, Janis! It’s rained here off and on all weekend, so we stayed home from the delta. Rare to get this cold rain and so much this time of year. Squaw Valley will be open for skiing through July 4th, lot’s of playtime for skiers…can you imagine?

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Fun post Terri (literally and figuratively). Happy spring break to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Tina…this is SUMMER break and I’m so excited to have 13 weeks off! I’m off to check out your post!

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  25. Hi Terri, I’m loved your post and totally agree that we should always hold onto playtime no matter our age. I’m fortunate to live at the beach and also have my grandsons to make sure that Nan plays with them. We have just fun and it is good for my soul. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You are very lucky, Sue, and you deserve your special situation, AND you make the most of it! I saw your pics on Facebook and you look simply fabulous! You are obviously doing things right!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Terri, it is great to have you back at #MLSTL sharing your active and healthy lifestyle tips with us. This week, I enjoyed walking to and from school with my grandson. He not only gets exercise but we have great conversations. xx

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, that sounds wonderful, Sue! He will cherish those memories forever (as will you)!

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  26. So much fun and spot on. I became much more effective at work when I factored in time for play (sailing the Hudson and hiking with my pup in Central Park). And of course now the world is my playground.

    Hans is seriously mellow juggling while waiting for wind. The Tahoe hike looks incredibly refreshing #imisssnow.

    PS – My pup, Nelson would have LOVED Doggy Dip Day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The world IS your playground and your amazing lens shows it all to us, Lisa! Once word got out about our unique Doggy Dip Day, people came up from Southern California to bring their dogs to play in the pool! Nelson was there in doggy spirit alongside my Oreo!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes they were! I am glad they have each other for company.

        Liked by 1 person

  27. Yay to play!
    Here’s mine, from an unforgettable playground in the mountain villages of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

    Thailand Playground


    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

  28. […] For Terri’s Sunday Stills: Playground […]

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  29. […] Inspiration – Sunday Stills – Playground and  Lens Artists #46 – […]

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  30. So much fun contained in one post!! Yippee! Thanks for sharing!

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  31. Oh dear. My offering is indeed one of those lonely playgrounds! It’s a cool spot though. Here it is: https://grahamsisland.com/2019/05/19/signs-christas-swing/. Glad you had more fun with your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. […] Posted in response to this week’s Sunday Stills challenge on the theme of ‘Playground.’ See more responses here. […]

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  33. Hi Terri, When I first read your initial quote, I thought you had made it up. I did not know Playground Day was a national holiday. I am fortunate to have playgrounds nearby and grandchildren who visit. We can learn a lot about playing from children. Your post is a good reminder to continue playing, even on a daily basis. I will google this holiday and find out more on how and why it became a holiday. A fun and thought-provoking post:) Erica

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Erica! Our hobbies keep us engaged and youthful and fill us with purpose. Hope you can find an image of play to share with us.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I was on the Carousel at Butchart Gardens yesterday with grandchildren and my niece. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. Fun! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  34. I love kayaking – only started this last year! We took our grandchildren swimming yesterday, but they still had to take their phones…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I haven’t kayaked much, either, Stevie. At the Delta it’s a little more stable when the waves and wind come up.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. What a fun and playful introduction to summer, Terri. These are delightful photos – I really love the ones of the dog park, the ladies tramping through the snow, and hubby juggling. Fun should be lots of FUN!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It should be fun, what else is life about, after all? Thank you, Shari!

      Liked by 1 person

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About Me

I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

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