Worst Nightmare, Wildest Dreams Come True

Worst Nightmare = The girls love Dora. Zoe sings, "Do do do do do Dora."

Wildest Dreams = Pinkberry slated to open in Fairfield, CT.

Seriously, this post opens an all too honest window into my life's priorities at the moment. It also serves as a nice reminder that I am easily pleased and that other then Dora, everything is okay. That is very comforting.

Veres Playground - Fairfield

I discovered Veres playground through the Fairfield Welcome Club playgroup director. It's an amazing playground in a wonderful neighborhood, full of friendly families with young children. The play structures at Veres Park are designed more for the 2-5 age group, so it's a very safe if you have multiple children under your watch.

The playground area is wide open so everyone can be in constant view, but on the flip side, there isn't a lot of shade. There are roads nearby, but they aren't busy and everyone seems to be cautious driving and aware of the children. There is a baseball field across from the playground that hosts little league and soccer practices. You will often find moms meeting up and having picnics or coffee breaks in the mornings. Everyone I have come across has been incredibly friendly and happy to chat while the kids play.

There are slides, big- and little-kid swings and a generous sandbox. The families in the neighborhood leave toys in the sandbox and on the grass for the children to play with so there is always something new to discover.

Veres Playground is one of those places you want to tell everyone about because you love it so much but at the same time you don't want to let the secret out.

PROS: Playground designed for younger children. Good visibility and lots of toys on site.

CONS: Can get very sunny and hot at times. Near roads, although not busy through streets.

Owen Fish Park - Fairfield

I had hesitated to bring the girls to Owen Fish Park as mothers had warned me about a nearby pond. However, after finally going this week I realized it's not much of a threat since a tennis court separates the playground from the pond

Owen Fish Park was renovated by SPARK (1998) and is a wonderful, shady playground for toddlers and elementary school age children. There are baby and big kid swings, slides and climbing structures, as well as a four-person see saw. The park is located off Stratfield Rd. in Fairfield, but tucked away off the main road. There are picnic tables and a little stream with ducks that the kids enjoyed.

PROS: Lots of shade, a nice community of young families and various play structures for energetic toddlers make this a great place to play. No fee for non-residents.

CONS: The main play structure does have a few "drop offs" so you have to keep a careful eye on kids while they play. The small stream could also entice children to its slippery rocks, so just remain cautious.

Donut Inn

I am a loyal D&D customer for my regular coffee (and munchkins for the girls). Many times I hit the drive-through in my PJs with the girls to kick-start the day and resolve some serious crankiness in the back seat. Recently my husband and I discovered Donut Inn in Fairfield. It's also a drive-through and offers many of the same items (munchies vs. munchkins, etc.), but their iced coffee is amazing. It's so much better for some reason. I love my D&D coffee too but my family and I wonder about the ice they use. Have you ever noticed that it takes forever to melt? Can't be natural ...

Lincoln Park - Jackman Ave Playground

This playground is in the Stratfield area of Fairfield, CT. You can search for it on Google Maps. Just search for Lincoln Park, in FFLD, CT.

PROS: It is a wonderful playground for toddlers in that it has shade, is fenced in and has a variety of climbing opportunities, slides and swings. There is also a sandbox and picnic tables. The playground is in a quiet, residential area and there is a Fire Station across the street, which is nice in case of emergency. The area is always clean and it's easy to watch multiple children.

CONS: Sometimes there are older grade school children that swing very high on the older kids' swings. However, when asked to watch out for the younger children, they have complied. It's somewhat off the beaten path, but is worth the drive!

Playgrounds

There are so many wonderful playgrounds in Fairfield County, but you have to know where to look. I never thought to look on the town Web site, but it lists all the playgrounds in the area. It's still hard to tell the pros/cons from the links, but it's a start for one to investigate.

With two toddlers under toe, the criteria that matter most include:

* Safety & Location: Playgrounds with gates are few and far between, but they exist. It doesn't have to be within walking distance but it needs to be off a main road. You never know when someone is going to decide not to listen.

* Age-Appropriate: Toddler-friendly playscapes with stairs that aren't steep and slides made for their size. It's also nice when the company is similar in age. This way the kids can make friends and you don't have older kids playing too aggressively.

* Perks: Sandboxes, toys and picnic benches can help make a playground more than a pit stop!

So I thought I would try and blog about the different playgrounds and post photos so local moms can decide for themselves and discover a new place to bring their tots!

First up, Lincoln Park on Jackman Avenue in the Stratfield section of Fairfield. See my next post.