Our natural outdoor play space
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Remember that natural playground we started planning late last year? Inspired by the recent four part series on Ideas for adding natural elements to your outdoor play space over at Let the Children Play, I thought i'd share how our play space is progressing.
One of the most popular parts of the new play space has been the sand play wine barrel. We cut an old wine barrel into 1/3 and 2/3, using the 1/3 for the sand pit and the other 2/3 as a container for loose parts. We added some shells for texture and a few pretty stones as treasure.
The sand pit really only fits one, but when there's more, they simply sit around the outside and lean in.
Our salvaged timber table and chairs are regularly used for tea parties, craft activities, and imaginative play.
{Little Eco and Lillian}
I sometimes bring out an old umbrella. It's actually the very same umbrella I used to sit under when I wasn't much older than Little Eco.
We've planted a few plants within the gravel and added a few bits and pieces that inevitably end up being used in imaginative play, like banksia cones....
..a kangaroo skull....
...a very pre-loved Tonka truck and a few op-shop sourced ornaments.
And then we have the not-so-natural element of the play space - the trampoline. At least it's Australian made.
Speaking of play spaces, the theme over at Childhood 101 for July is 'House or Home.' I'll be sharing a few of our new indoor play spaces. If you have a wonderful family or kids space at your house (inside or out) that you would like to share, send photos and details to burnettmc [at] gmail [dot] com.
And don't forget to enter the Biome Giveaway if you haven't already. Entries close at midnight on Monday (4th July).