Monday, November 12, 2012
Loose Parts in the Small Back Yard
In communities like mine the housing trend of a larger home with a small back yard makes sense-- this is MN after all. It doesn't make much sense to have a pool in every yard and sacrifice square footage, but I have sometimes found myself at a loss for yard ideas that incorporate natural, outside play into our fun in our tiny yard space.
As in many townhome and condo communities, there are strict rules governing what may and may not be in the back yards, and things such as play sets and other kids toys are high on the list of prohibited items. Also under scrutiny more than homes with high privacy fences are
One of the easiest ways to use natural materials in small backyard play is by integrating items that are already in use, such as landscape materials. Some woodchips and wood products may have splinters, so it is best to stick with materials such as rocks and soft bedding materials. Rocks are great for counting, sorting, color differentiation, building and sharing.
If your back yard is smaller, it may also be difficult to spare the space for a sandbox or other play storage. One wonderful idea that I recently found was Prudent Baby's use of a holiday wreath plastic storage box as a small sandbox. I love the thrifty price-- just $10, and the ability to move and store the box out of sight. I have seen a similar thing done with an underbed storage box for the storage of toys and collections of natural materials on a deck or patio. The wheeled version can be easily slid under a table or even into a garage and taken out for quick natural play.
Even if you do not have trees aplenty or a large play structure in your yard, there are still ways that you can integrate balance and large muscle activities in free play. In our back yard, the previous occupants had left several small boards, but this activity can be easily done using short sticks or even a line drawn on a patio with a soft chalky rock. These small pieces of wood can be used for stacking, crossing a "moat," or simply practicing balancing. Since these pieces are so much smaller and more mobile than a large playset, they offer more opportunities for creative play than playgrounds where play is scripted and less is left for your little ones fertile minds.
As in many townhome and condo communities, there are strict rules governing what may and may not be in the back yards, and things such as play sets and other kids toys are high on the list of prohibited items. Also under scrutiny more than homes with high privacy fences are
One of the easiest ways to use natural materials in small backyard play is by integrating items that are already in use, such as landscape materials. Some woodchips and wood products may have splinters, so it is best to stick with materials such as rocks and soft bedding materials. Rocks are great for counting, sorting, color differentiation, building and sharing.
Even if you do not have trees aplenty or a large play structure in your yard, there are still ways that you can integrate balance and large muscle activities in free play. In our back yard, the previous occupants had left several small boards, but this activity can be easily done using short sticks or even a line drawn on a patio with a soft chalky rock. These small pieces of wood can be used for stacking, crossing a "moat," or simply practicing balancing. Since these pieces are so much smaller and more mobile than a large playset, they offer more opportunities for creative play than playgrounds where play is scripted and less is left for your little ones fertile minds.
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