Play Without Parents

Rob Murray: I’m speaking with Julie Strang from the Bow Valley Family Resource Network. The Family Resource Network is offering something new called Play Without Parents. What can you tell us about it?

Julie Strang: Play Without Parents is a program designed to allow parents a couple hours of respite. We provide their kids with fun and engaging outdoor activities that are fully supervised and socially distant.

RM: It’s definitely been a weird year. I know as a parent, quite often by the end of the summer, it’s like, okay, time to get the kids out of the house. They’ve been at home since March though, so it’s been kind of a long haul for parents.

JS: Absolutely. And this is an opportunity for the kids to meet other kids of different ages between that 6 to 12 year age range, and to play some new games and to do some exploring downtown. We keep the program in the downtown core and in the creek and in parks.

RM: What days do you typically run this?

JS: In July, there are a few days dispersed throughout the month that are available on our Bow Valley Family Resource Network Facebook page, but in August we’ll be running consistent times Monday to Friday, with two dates available for 0 to 5 year olds.

RM: How’s it been going so far?

JS: It’s been great. People are a bit nervous to put their kids in any sort of in-person programming and to not be there, which we of course understand. But the families who have come have really enjoyed it, and the kids have definitely benefited from getting out and being active and spending some time with other kids.

RM: And this is a completely free?

JS: Yeah, absolutely. All of our programs are.

RM: How can people register for a Play Without Parents date?

JS: Email us or visit our Bow Valley Family Resource Network Facebook page.

RM: Any other programs you’d like to let people know about right now?

JS: We have a variety of programs running in August. We have Friends on the Field, which is a field activities program. A lot of them will involve parents being a part of the program in order to facilitate that social connection for parents as well, but Play Without Parents is our big one to give parents the break.