Field Notes — More Than Playgrounds https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com Guides, playground reviews, and weekend activity ideas for parents. en-us Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:24:44 GMT Hidden Creek is the adventure playground your kid has been waiting for https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/hidden-creek-adventure-playground https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/hidden-creek-adventure-playground Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT Loose parts, water channels, and a rope bridge that genuinely rattles. Not for the hovercraft parent. Maya Alvarez A spring bucket list for toddlers that doesn't require a Pinterest board https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/spring-bucket-list-for-toddlers https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/spring-bucket-list-for-toddlers Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Fifteen things to do with a two-year-old over the next six weeks. None of them require crafting supplies. Priya Banerjee The four-place rainy day rotation that saved our winter https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/rainy-day-rotation-four-places https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/rainy-day-rotation-four-places Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT When the forecast is wet for nine days straight, you need a system. Here's ours. Dan Chen A realistic cherry blossom weekend with kids (we did this one) https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/cherry-blossom-weekend-with-kids https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/cherry-blossom-weekend-with-kids Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Two days, one stroller, zero Instagrammable outfits. What actually worked and what didn't. Dan Chen How we find good playgrounds (the real method, not the apps) https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/how-we-find-good-playgrounds https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/how-we-find-good-playgrounds Sun, 15 Mar 2026 09:30:00 GMT A three-step process for spotting a great playground before you drive twenty minutes to a bad one. Maya Alvarez One-ingredient playground snacks that don't melt, crumble, or attract ants https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/one-ingredient-playground-snacks https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/one-ingredient-playground-snacks Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:15:00 GMT The short, boring list of snacks that actually survive a backpack on a hot day. Priya Banerjee Tide pools with a four-year-old: a working checklist https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/tide-pool-day-trip-with-kids https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/tide-pool-day-trip-with-kids Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:45:00 GMT Three hours of shallow ocean is one of the best outings of the year. Here's how not to ruin it. Dan Chen Why we go to the park every single day after school, even when we don't want to https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/the-after-school-park-routine https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/the-after-school-park-routine Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:30:00 GMT It's not about the exercise. It's about the transition. Here's what we learned in a year. Maya Alvarez The urban scavenger hunt that works for a range of ages https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/urban-scavenger-hunt-that-works https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/urban-scavenger-hunt-that-works Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT One list. Works for a three-year-old and a seven-year-old on the same walk. Uses nothing you don't already have. Priya Banerjee Building a mud kitchen for under fifty dollars https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/building-a-mud-kitchen-for-under-fifty-dollars https://more-than-playgrounds.danolekh.com/blog/building-a-mud-kitchen-for-under-fifty-dollars Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT A weekend project with materials you mostly already have, and a kid who will use it almost every day. Maya Alvarez