Add esports to the lineup
By Austin Smith
One of the struggles people encountered during the pandemic was a feeling of isolation. This was especially true for adolescents—a lack of in-person school and extracurriculars made keeping in touch with friends and developing important social skills more difficult than usual.
According to a public health study, one-third of parents and caregivers noticed their children experienced loneliness as a result of the realities of pandemic life. Parents hoping to solve this serious problem looked for safe, low-pressure ways for their kids to socialize and have fun.
The first place many looked for ideas was in a local parks and recreation activity guide. As a department professional, you may have struggled to plan activities that met these expectations. After all, it’s a big responsibility to entertain and reconnect community members after COVID-19. While pandemic guidelines continue to ease and relax, you might be following suit. But we’re not completely out of the woods yet, so the question remains: What activities are the right ones to plan right now? What events are inclusive, fun, and adaptable to the realities of the post-pandemic world? There might be an option you haven’t considered yet: recreational esports.