Natural Play Essentials
Crafting a natural play space involves these simple elements, encouraging open-ended play, sensory exploration and imaginative adventures for children:
- Open-ended play elements: Include logs, rocks and sand to encourage diverse and unstructured play.
- Sensory delights: Integrate plants and flowers for varied textures and engaging scents.
- Imaginative tools: Add loose parts like sticks and pinecones, allowing kids to explore their creativity through imaginative play.
Designing a Natural Play Space
In designing a backyard for children, it’s important to focus on these considerations:
- Child-friendly setup: Install age-appropriate play gear like low slides or swing sets suitable for the child’s age. Include a mix of play structures for toddlers and older kids, ensuring accessibility for all age groups.
- Supervision: Always have an adult present to oversee play, ensuring a secure environment.
- Safety measures: Keep the backyard safe for kids by managing water properly to prevent slipping. Consider installing underground drainage systems with drains, pipes and gravel to collect the excess water. Secure sharp edges, cover electrical outlets and fence off potential hazards for a safer exploration.
- Smart layout: Organise play areas for simple navigation. Establish clear pathways using soft materials like rubber mulch, reducing accidents and promoting safe movement during playtime.
Nature-Inspired Outdoor Activities
These nature-inspired outdoor activities engage kids in the wonders of the natural world and promote a deeper connection with the environment right in the backyard:
- Nature scavenger hunt: Create a list of items found in nature, like specific leaves, rocks or flowers and let children do a scavenger hunt in the backyard.
- DIY bird watching: Set up a bird feeder or birdhouse to attract local birds. Equip kids with binoculars and let them observe and identify different bird species.
- Planting adventures: Provide pots, soil and seeds for kids to plant flowers or vegetables. Kids who spend more time outdoors often become more responsible and caring towards the environment as adults. This hands-on activity fosters a love for gardening and understanding plant life.
- Nature art and craft: Gather leaves, twigs and flowers to create nature-inspired art. Let creativity bloom outdoors, from leaf rubbings to flower pressing.
- Cloud watching: Lie on the grass and watch clouds drift by. Encourage kids to identify shapes and tell stories inspired by the ever-changing sky.
Having a Backyard
Having a backyard is essential for raising kids. The backyard becomes a canvas for exploration, creativity and shared family experiences, vital in shaping the children’s overall well-being and growth.
Jane Marsh is the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she shares practical tips on how to live a greener life.
