EDITED: LAWDY! I can’t tell you how much revamping our outdoor space has had since this post! No time for pictures today, but I wanted to say we kept the big equipment (swingset, play house, balance beam, climbing wall, trampoline, sand box), some medium equipment (wheelbarrows, balance bikes, the horrible red/yellow cars, hoops), and some smaller things (a couple balls, racquets, chalk, two bowls, two pourers, a few shovels, hammers).
The black shelf and most of its contents are gone. There was too much stuff and the girls were still doing Scatter Play rather than focusing on something and becoming engaged with it.
Possible pictures to follow, but I am pretty busy these days! 😉
Nothing better than having blessings to create a space for. (Not even my former beautiful garden!)
Most things were purchased used, built from scraps, or given as gifts. New items were mostly purchased from a dollar shop. We could certainly do without all of these things and make great use of local area parks and playgrounds. My goal was to support independence, movement, creativity, and interacting with God’s creation.
Here’s a glance at our outdoor play. We hope you are inspired!
Snail Cottage – got this at Costco and customized to match the big cottage (our house)
Inside Snail Cottage sees lots of lunches and tea parties
A potting bench just like Mom’s for mixing and pretend play – buckets are great fun, too
Used swingset is mostly for swinging and pushing foam blocks down the slide right now (foam blocks live in a plastic laundry basket in the upstairs part)
Acrylic panel is fun for painting
Cars for Costco trips, Rody the bounce horse who is more petted and fed than ridden, and balance bikes
Shelf gives easy access to containers, scoops, spoons, spatulas, trays, cups, pitchers, bowls, etc. Top shelf is for me to access and has some specific art supplies, sensory bins, bubbles, etc.
A lady’s hammer and finishing nails are just the right size for toddler hands
Weaving loom has seen more sticks and leaves pushed through, though I see some fabric strips and a cottage curtain have made their way in
Various balls, racquets, and pool noodles
“Circles” have been used for everything but hula hooping so far – really nice to have more than 1. One of our fav activities is using them as targets for throwing rocks.
Climbing wall secured with adjustable chain at bottom (not pallets, but built security from treated lumber)
Trampoline and balance beam
Wagon with sides taken off lets sisters give rides to each other
Cars for Costco trips, Rody the bounce horse who is more petted and fed than ridden, and balance bikes
Sandbox even has shells buried throughout
Magnetic curtain screen from igottech on Amazon allows independence of going in/out before door skills are present
Former fountain keeps a continuous flow of water for great water play (there is an acrylic panel about 2″ down that gives a flat surface and a plug at the bottom makes emptying a breeze)
A bridge is a good perch or a boat for treacherous waters!
Stones are fun for jumping
Gravel drive offers lots of scooping and subitizing opportunities
Gardens galore offer lots of exploration – a park does great, too!
Old tree stump I saved when I was pregnant is now out Bug House. We check underneath every few days to see bugs and snakes.
Always fun to explore a dry creek bed and climb rocks
Go out and play!
Beyond This Desert 