Mom Had A Playground Built For Her Kids So They Can ‘Be Happier’ And She Can Avoid Burnout

• It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began and with new cases still on the rise, many of us might already be feeling the symptoms of parental burnout — stress resulting from overwhelming mental and physical exhaustion. At the same time, our kids might also be longing to play outdoors, go back to school, and do the activities they’re used to.

  In a post on our parenting community, Smart Parenting Village, mom of two Jhoye Miral Papio shared how the pandemic has affected her young children, as well as her well-being.

  “I can imagine ‘yung confusion ng panganay ko kung bakit noon nakakapunta sya sa school, hotel, mall, and nakaka-ride ng plane. Pero now, online na lang ang class niya at kailangan niya mag-suot ng mask kapag nagro-road trip kami,” her post reads.

  Adjusting to the pandemic has been difficult for Jhoye’s five-year-old, but it’s her youngest who has been affected the most. “Takot siya sumakay ng car, ilang months na ayaw nya sumama sa road trips,” Jhoye shares.

  Building a playground for her kids

  

  Little explorers! Jhoye’s kids love having a special playground where they can play, bond, and learn.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

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  Since her kids are her priority, she bought books and toys online to keep them occupied. After a while, Jhoye noticed that they eventually got tired of it, as if they’re looking for more.

  Not wanting to resort to increasing their screen time, she reached out to her son’s teacher for advice. “She suggested wall climbing, trapeze, and swing. That’s when I got the idea of having a playground at home,” Jhoye says.

  

  Jhoye was lucky enough to find workers who lived nearby and were open to building the playground. The project was finished in two weeks and they spent around Php80, 000 excluding the slide and swing.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

  It helped that the family’s home in Batangas has an open space surrounded by fruit-bearing trees they can turn into a playground. Jhoye was happy to tap the expertise of carpenters who lived nearby and the project took only two weeks to finish.

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  “I made sure the playground is enclosed so we don’t have to worry if they roam around. It’s also fully covered with sand so they won’t get hurt should they fall,” she explains.

  

  The slide and swing are gifts from the kids’ godparents. The playground is fully covered in sand to ensure the safety of the children while playing (or taking a nap, heh).

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

  To further ensure the safety of the children, oregano and citronella plants are planted around the playground to drive away mosquitoes while the trees provide enough shade to shield them from the harsh rays of the sun.

  

  According to Jhoye, the playground also helped her kids learn the importance of sharing. “They don’t fight much and they started sharing toys which seldom happens when we’re just inside the house,” she says.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

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  Completing the playground are the slide and swing, which are gifts from the kids’ godparents, and the climbing wall. “The kids are so happy with the playground and they started sharing toys with each other. Their appetites also increased and they started drinking more water. I no longer have to remind them to drink water,” Jhoye happily shares.

  

  The climbing wall is a fun addition to the playground as it can keep them active and occupied.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

  After working on this project, Jhoye learned that kids need to play in open spaces, get dirty, and explore the outdoors, with supervision, like we all used to back when there are no gadgets or the Internet. In its own way, the playground also helped ease the parental burnout she’s feeling.

  “It’s real especially for us who don’t have a nanny. You have to read to the kids and play with them aside from feeding, bathing, and putting them to bed,” she opens up.

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  Jhoye can watch over the children even while working as she can set up a work area outdoors, too.

  PHOTO BY Courtesy of Jhoye Miral Papio

  With her kids playing outside, she can work in her outdoor work nook while overseeing their playtime. She doesn’t have to worry about what they’re doing and they won’t get distracted by her working on her laptop.

  “The kids love their outdoor activities while me and my husband get to have our me-time while being assured that they are safe and happy,” Jhoye says. It’s definitely a win-win for the family!

  Want to share your #budgetperofancy home makeover? Email us at smartparentingsubmissions@gmail.com and tell us about your project. For more home improvement and renovation ideas, click here.

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Mom Had A Playground Built For Her Kids So They Can ‘Be Happier’ And She Can Avoid Burnout
Source: Progress Pinas