Waldorf, Maryland, a bedroom community located 23 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. pulses with the daily flow of commuters working in the capital. If you count your home as one of the 4,000 Waldorf households with children under the age of 18, you likely want to find healthy activities for your kids that are within a short driving distance of your home.
Significance
Modeling a lifestyle that involves outdoor fun and energetic activities for your children has become important. Charles County, which contains the city of Waldorf, counts more than 25 percent of its children obese, with an additional 22 percent at risk of obesity, according to a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2004 to 2006. Through the activities that your children choose, they can inspire others in Waldorf to stay active.
Background
Because of the alarming statistics on obesity, Charles County joined two initiatives in 2005 called Get Fit Kids and Get Fit Maryland, which encourage children to take at least 13,000 steps per day. The philosophy stems from the understanding that teaching habits that promote physical exercise and healthy eating at an early age will carry on through adulthood.
Parks
Several parks line the shores of the Potomac River and are great settings for accumulating the 13,000 steps a day. Your kids may enjoy ball games at the Robert D. Stethem Memorial Park on Piney Church Road, which has 10 baseball fields and a football practice area. The Bryantown Sports Complex at the intersection of Bryantown Road and Route 5 features 15 soccer fields.
Skateboarding
Skating at the 17,000-square-foot skateboard park that's three miles south of Waldorf on St. Charles Parkway keeps the pulse going and also rates highly on the "cool factor" scale. Paradise for skateboard training, these facilities offer miles of smooth concrete surface to practice bowl jumping and sliding on ledges, stairs and rails.
For Special-Needs Children
The Lions Camp Merrick, eight miles south of Waldorf, welcomes children who are deaf, visually impaired or have type 1 diabetes. It organizes camping activities along the shores of the Potomac River. During the summer, children select closely supervised outdoor activities that involve nature walks, swimming, team sports, canoeing and archery, where they learn about managing independence and building friendships.
Member Comments