Jennifer132 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 We will have a decent sized unfinished basement at our new place. We do get winter weather here, so I was thinking of turning the basement into some kind of play area where the kids can be active. The ages playing down there would be 3,4,9, and 10. They would be largely unsupervised. I will put foam tiles on the floor. Keeping all this in mind, what are some ideas for active things I could put down there? There are exposed beams, which I guess I could theoretically screw a swing or something into... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 We had friends paint a little track around the perimeter of their unfinished basement for trikes, push scooters, and roller blades. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Oh, the possibilities are endless. What fun! Indoor treehouse climbing structure play kitchen swings small trampoline body pillows & bean bag chairs to climb & crash land on hammock "stage" - build a one step platform and put indoor/outdoor carpet on it, then they can have plays, concerts, etc. balance boards scooter boards platform swing climbing ladder balance beam dress up clothes a quiet corner with a bookcase and a couple of beanbag chairs an art corner with a table, chairs and a 3 drawer cabinet with supplies leave space for roller skating Do not put a tv down there if you want an active play area! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Don't put down the foam just yet...we adored roller skating in the basement in the winter when I was a kid. Trikes, too. My dad had a train layout he could raise to and lower from the ceiling. Ping pong table--we played ping pong but we also used it for puzzles, board games, sewing, and so on . We had jump ropes, and we chalked hop scotch onto the concrete floor. I still remember whirling around those steel posts when I was on my skates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I still remember whirling around those steel posts when I was on my skates! Yes! We had the old metal skates with metal wheels and keys that we put on over our shoes & would spin around the support poles for what seemed like hours! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Yes! We had the old metal skates with metal wheels and keys that we put on over our shoes & would spin around the support poles for what seemed like hours! Oh yeah! Those steel wheels produced a fine layer of dust from that concrete, but that didn't matter. When my dad finished the basement years later, who knew? :0) And I don't think we chalked the hopscotch...I think my dad painted that right on the floor. I'll have to ask my sister. She has a much better memory for our childhood than I do. I had to be the responsible oldest child, you see. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 My parents hung a rope swing from an exposed beam in our basement, and we loved that thing! We felt like we were flying. :) I do think it ended up making the floor above squeaky, though. There are so many great ideas shared above, so I'll just add one: Gonge Riverstones and Hilltops. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendy not in HI Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Don't put down the foam just yet...we adored roller skating in the basement in the winter when I was a kid. Trikes, too. My dad had a train layout he could raise to and lower from the ceiling. Ping pong table--we played ping pong but we also used it for puzzles, board games, sewing, and so on . We had jump ropes, and we chalked hop scotch onto the concrete floor. I still remember whirling around those steel posts when I was on my skates! Our big, wide-open basement was finished-ish with those tiles that are common in high schools and hospitals. My kids loved playing on their ripstiks down there. They would sit/balance on them, and scoot around using their hands. This was a big hit for friends, too. They used masking tape to draw out roads and stops signs and rest stops. All kinds of fun! I always meant to buy those little sit-on-scooter things that you move the handle bars back and forth to move... do you know what I'm talking about? (found it! http://www.amazon.com/Ride-On-Scooter-Original-Flying-Turtle/dp/B000KU5JO2) But I never did, and the ripstiks and scooters worked just fine. We sold the house, and the new owners say that their kids practice hockey down there with roller blades. We also enjoyed nerf wars down there. And even archery practice. And the wii lived down there. And a pull up bar. And most of the messy art supplies. I love the idea of a hammock or swing. Enjoy your basement! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Um, we might have put an infatable kiddie pool in ours. :) It was a real mess, but they sure had fun. We used buckets to get the water in and out of the pool. I supervised so that they didn't drown or leak too much water out of the pool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I wish I had a space for an indoor jungle gym like this:http://limikids.com/gallery_2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 We have this wave slide on our staircase. It just rests on the 4th or 5th step and it is lots of fun!http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003UJFWG0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1446675954&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=wave+slide&dpPl=1&dpID=41GTlaZBv-L&ref=plSrch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 We had old school desks, a blackboard, a record player, dress up stuff, and a hard concrete floor - we skated in our basement too. There was a ping pong table down there too. I loved our basement as a kid. It was not nice at all... just fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Roller skates/roller blades if you leave the cement floor exposed in any area. I whiled away hours skating in our unfinished basement as a kid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Bikes, ride on toys, skates and scooters. Hours of fun!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmvaughan4 Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Plasma cars A dome climber (made by Lifetime, sold on Amazon or Costco). We just bought one from someone that had it in their basement. Ours is outside, but the boys love it. IKEA has indoor swings Gymnic Hoppity balls Balance beam Teeter totter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 unfinished basements are the best for kids. they can be very creative. they build so many forts down there. their friend's have fond memories of our basement. boxes they can use as building blocks. (appliance boxes work well too.) we hung rope from the joists, and had a 'glider' swing in the basement. they loved it. I never got around to putting one up in the garage for dudeling. (basement was finished) eta: I recently saw an idea come across my facebook feed. someone took pool noodles - and made life size Lincoln logs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 boxes they can use as building blocks. (appliance boxes work well too.) Yes to appliance boxes - those can provide hours and hours of fun! Decorate them, put them together to form rooms, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 If the walls are cinderblock, let them paint them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Don't put down the foam just yet...we adored roller skating in the basement in the winter when I was a kid. Trikes, too. My dad had a train layout he could raise to and lower from the ceiling. Ping pong table--we played ping pong but we also used it for puzzles, board games, sewing, and so on . We had jump ropes, and we chalked hop scotch onto the concrete floor. I still remember whirling around those steel posts when I was on my skates! I remember roller skating to the Thriller album in our basement. #youwannabestartinsomethin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 When I had an unfinished basement I covered the metal lolly columns in pipe insulation foam and wrapped it in duct tape from floor to joists. The kids loved to climb it. I also hung swings, and the kids used riding toys like a little tykes car. So many good memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 http://www.iltasanomat.fi/terveys/art-1288623529849.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 my kids loved the swing we hung in the basement. If you're concerned about them falling on the cement, there are some mats you can buy (at Menards) that snap together. We still use the mats though they've outgrown the swing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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