JennyD Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 We moved into a house with a yard not long ago and my 6yo and almost-4yo still seem weirdly clueless about how to amuse themselves out in the yard. I have been utterly mystified (and not a little frustrated) about this, since they will play happily for hours at a playground. However, I recently realized that the issue may be that what they like to do is pretend play and they are a bit short on 'props' out there. They have some bats and balls but are not interested in playing with them -- they want to come inside to use their blocks and cars. The yard itself is small, with a bit of grass and a paved section. There are a few trees but not many loose sticks, moveable rocks, etc. Once this all dawned on me, I immediately made the executive decision that they were allowed to dig up a part of the yard (sorry 'bout the grass, DH :001_smile:) and they have been happily occupied out there for much of the past week making "Egyptian mudbricks." But I think that giving them some more stuff to use out there would go a long way. (And possibly spare a bit of the grass.) Suggestions? In the house, they mostly use their wooden blocks, toy cars, and dress-up clothes. When we first moved they got a lot of mileage out of some of the moving boxes, but after the boxes got caught in the rain that was pretty much the end of that. Ideas? What do your young ones like to play with outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 all kinds of balls bats cars and trucks -- all sizes but especially the bigger ones plastic kitchen set with dishes ride on toys push mower weed eater chain saw tools All these were "outside" toys and not brought in the house. I had a big tote with lid that toys were kept in. Some toys were inside toys that we decided would be good for outside and alot were bought at yard sales and 2nd hand stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 little pop up kids tent http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Too-Tent/dp/B00000IURZ/ref=pd_sim_t_2 vinyl tunnel http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Multi-Tunnel/dp/B00009IMAS/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1327377355&sr=1-2 parachute http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Playchute-Parachute/dp/B00000IURU/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1327377445&sr=1-1 big boxes (found some good ones on Craigslist) used pie tins and cookie sheet dinosaur excavation kits (too messy for inside) http://www.amazon.com/Dig-A-Dino-Tyrannosaurus-Rex/dp/B000ICZ8RK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1327377489&sr=1-1 We have a little stage with a shower curtain in our back yard. That's been a lot of fun for them. (Grandpa built it for them) ETA: mine also loved it when I'd give them a bucket of water, dish soap, food coloring, whisk, funnels, plastic beakers, plastic pitchers and containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerPoppy Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) Summer basics: A little pile of sand. A little pile of stones and pebbles. A little pile of sticks. Metal spoons and a couple plastic bowls. Access to water. A tree to climb. Winter basics: A simple sled or sliding device, with rope attached if yard is completely flat. The same spoons and bowls. A carrot. (Good for snowman noses or feeding errant snowshoe hares.) A spray bottle with water and food colouring is nice for tinting the snow. Beyond the basics: Hula hoops (spin them, chase them, create obstacle courses, even hula with them). Scooter. Balls. Chalk. A teepee (tripod of wood with fabric to cover). Bubbles. Skipping ropes (good for more than skipping). ETA: Oooh, the tunnel... yes! We rolled down our small hill in that thing until it fell apart. Good for hiding, rolling, popping out of, imaginary play. Highly recommended. Totally agree with water play with accessories (food colour, beater, soap). We used a baby bathtub, and that kept dd occupied for many, many hours of her life. Edited January 24, 2012 by GingerPoppy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Sandbox, one of those hand-operated diggers Sticks Swingset -- climbing rope, swings, slide, platform for fort More sticks Playhouse Even more sticks Trees, old stone wall, old barn, big hill, rocks, logs, woods Here's a new idea -- sticks! Tent/teepee/fort Build a sunflower house Ride-on vehicles, bikes, trikes, scooters Cars and trucks Balls Nature equipment -- bags, journals, bug collecting paraphernelia, net Space to plant flowers/their own garden Wagon Pogo balls Sprinkler/hose/sprayer Bubbles Chalk Paintbrushes with water (great for little ones) Remote control car Roller skates Big metal dump truck that can be loaded and unloaded Dress-up clothes, whatever other pretend play props they haul out there -- pioneer gear, Star Wars lightsabers/blasters, Davy Crockett-esque guns Soccer ball/goal And a few more sticks on top of all of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks for all the suggestions! Very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 A pile of clean fill dumped where they already tore up the grass. some wooden crates/pallets/sticks/odds and ends of lumber/and the ever needed sticks a bucket or 2 for water kid size shovels/trowels/wheelbarrows/etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kebo Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 In addition to the above... a board (without splinters) laid across some bricks to make a low bridge. Or some stepping stones arranged in an enticing pattern. If the trees will support it, my kids love our hanging chair http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CNLU0E/ref=asc_df_B005CNLU0E1872146?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B005CNLU0E Hang it low enough they can get in an out easily by themselves. A kid's garden with things that smell nice -- basil, mint (chocolate or orange are fun), rosemary, lavender, etc. My boys would make concoctions out of my herbs, some flowers, and water. Then they would be medieval sorcerers. A sprinkler for hot weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 My kids can keep themselves busy for quite a while with some sidewalk chalk. They're boys, so they get bored with drawing pictures and spend great deals of time crushing the sidewalk chalk into a pulp and smearing it around. It keeps them busy. One of their favorite outdoor toys was a little dog on wheels. They tied a rope around its neck like a leash, and they drag that thing everywhere like a pet. They also like to give each other rides in the wagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runmiarun Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 What we had in the backyard for our kids: Old pieces of hosepipe Broken Tupperware (some from Goodwill and some from a Tupperware sales lady in our area who had warranty items that couldn't be returned to the company) Sand toys, even though we didn't have a sand box Hubby built a swinging disk for the kids out of 4x4 posts, rope, and a wooden disk. Tonka trucks from Goodwill We had a very small backyard that was mostly dirt. At it's largest, it was 20x30 feet. But the kids would play in it for hours once we added the swing and the broken Tupperware. the boys loved to take turns pushing each other around in the Tonka trucks then dumping each onto the dirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.