Patterson Park Playground by Flickr user Jeff Kubina

Last weekend, the weather was almost perfect for going to the local park. The sun was bright, the sky was clear and there was just a bit of chill in the air.

There are a lot of ways to ruin your tween’s park experience, though.

Prime examples include:

*Not bringing snacks/water – Bringing snacks and water is important for any outing, but especially for going to the park. Kids run around and get sweaty and thirsty. More important than bringing the snacks is making the child eat them, instead of whining their way to a fast food place.

*Being “that dad” – We’ve all seen “that dad” out and about…He’s the guy that’s wearing an obnoxious T-shirt or is otherwise inappropriately dressed. He’s loud and often ordering the children to “have fun” and “go play” in a pressured tone. Don’t be that dad. Or that mom, for that matter.

*Paying more attention to your park companion than your kid – I witnessed this one recently. A fellow and his significant other (wife, girlfriend, something) were at the park with a tweenager. The adults were constantly kissing, hugging, in deep quiet conversation and the child was pretty much ignored. If she came over to ask them a question, she was quickly ordered off to play. Don’t hover over your kids, but pay attention to them. It’s really all they want.

*Giving in too soon – Don’t be the parent that gives in too soon at the park, especially if your child asks to leave. Chances are that she’ll be bored by the time you get to the car.

*Making the kid leave too soon – Conversely to the above, don’t make your child leave before she’s ready, unless you have other things to do. You’re looking at a time bomb there.

*Having crazy rules – Outside time should be freeplay for your child. Don’t have crazy rules. Let them explore the world around them a bit. Pay attention, of course…But let them be free for a while.

*Not making your kid wear appropriate clothes – This should be a no-brainer, but if it’s chilly, don’t let your kid run around in a shorts and a T-shirt. They may not want to wear pants, but be the adult and look out for them.

I’ve committed a few of these and I’ll bet some of you have, too. Everyone ruins a trip to the park once in a while. Just realize when it’s you and try not to embarass your kids too much.

Have you had a bad park experience? Share your ideas, suggestions and questions in the comments.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knolls Shores offers a variety of family friendly treats.

If you like animals, you could check out Lynwood Park Zoo. Located between Jacksonville and Richlands off of Highway 24/258, the Lynwood Park Zoo has all sorts of animals to see and pet. They’ve got everything from American Alligators to Zebras and quite a bit between. With admission less than $10 a person, it’s pretty cheap, too.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shoresis a great place to visit with fish and other watery critters. It’s a bit of a drive from Jacksonville, but definitely worth the trip. The aquarium was recently renovated and has it’s very own indoor waterfall, not to mention a shark tank, a Manta ray touch tank and (Mini’s and my personal favorite) a couple of river otters. Admission is pretty inexpensive, as well.

And, if you’re near the NC Aquarium, you might as well drive a bit further and visit the Fort Macon State Park. The park is home to an American Civil War base and recently built a new education center. The Fort has plenty of dark dank tunnels to walk through and provides a great view back in time to mid-19th Century military life. Frequently, the Fort hosts demonstrations on musket and canon firing. Admission is free.

The Onslow County Museumin Richlands is the place to see into Onslow’s past. Stretching from the early beginning of Onslow County to today, the museum provides a small peek into our community’s importance to North Carolina. There’s a “fossil dig” behind the museum which is a bit of outdoor fun, as well. At less than $5, admission is cheap.

As you can see, there’s a lot to do in our area. And this isn’t even getting into the really good stuff. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on events, festivals, parties and camps.

Ask questions, make suggestions  or share your ideas in the comments.