Creating a great outdoor space for kids and adults is one of the first ways to make sure your kids and you spend more time outdoors. There are many ways to go in the process of creating an outdoor space for both; this can be done in an ECE (Early Childhood Education) setting as well as in a family setting.
Create a family garden together:
If you are not a gardener you can start with just a few basil plants and pansies. If you are wanting to plant more remember that flowers that attract butterflies and wildlife can help create many discoveries in your garden. Make sure you have some wild flowers so the kids can play with them too. Growing a vegetable patch is a fun and great way to get kids excited to eat their veggies while getting you outdoors. Here are some of our favorites to grow with kids.
Container gardening with kids ,
Grow potatoes,lettuce,pumpkin,
Plant tomato plants in an upside down planter
Lawn:
Yes, I know the lawn has a bad reputation, but it is great to have a patch of grass for picnics, cartwheels, ruff tumble and play, soccer and other ball games. Gardening expert March Cuellen also says the lawn has more benefits: turf serves as an air conditioner on a hot day and traps dust and greenhouse gasses. Including turf in your landscape promotes water “percolation” rather than runoff.
Outdoor kitchen:
When I was in Norway I discovered how much the outdoor programs used cooking in the program. When the weather is nice move your kitchen outdoors. Not only will you cut back your air conditioning cost you will create family bonding and more outdoors time for your family.
A place to hide:
Use a tent or create a tent with a blanket. Our like us, make a treehouse in your backyard or make a sunflower house, willow house or if you dare have loose branches and let them create a dent.
Loose parts & Natural elements:
Adding elements like sa
nd, rocks, shells, pinecones, and branches make great elements for imaginary play and creations like mud pie, fairy houses and troll houses.PVC pipes,pool noodles and even bringing indoors toys outside add interst and create opportunities for creativity and movement.
Add a Mud pie Kitchen
Make a mud pie kitchen.Our most popular “attractions” in our garden when my kids were little used be our mud pie kitchen. It can be done very simply with old kitchen utensils and bowls set up in a designated area in your garden.
Add water: Create a water feature, a water table or simply use the hose to run the sprinklers.Fill different sized buckets and containers with water and let the kids play with them for fun. If you have a kiddie pool, add boats and toys to the kidde pool.
Add Gross motor skills challenges:A climbing tree is, of course, best, but if you don’t have this create places for monkey bars, rock walls, or add an old classic swing.
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If you have teenagers add some weights
If you are looking for way to add active elements inside check out Gym ! Add gym elements inside.
Check out my articles in Active For Life
10 ways to find adventure and activity in your own backyard
3 ways to encourage outdoor play in your community
More ways to encourage outdoor play in your backyard
