LJWorld.com weblogs Stumbles
Posted
by Sandy Beverly
October 17, 2008 at 7:23 p.m.
A Different Kind of Back Yard
Think back to your childhood. If you're old enough to have kids, you probably grew up when children had lots of unstructured play time outdoors. And if you were lucky, you had a special place to play, like a vacant lot, a wooded area, or a little-used train track. My first special place was a three-foot wide area behind the hedge that bordered our backyard. Later, my best friend and I played in my rickety treehouse, on our favorite branches in her maple tree, and on either side of what can only be called a ditch. http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... to the Cedar Tunnelhttp://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... from the Cedar Tunnel (I created the tunnel simply by taking down small low branches)I know if I saw these places now, I'd wonder why they had such appeal. But back then they were magical. We were outside, we were alone, and we were the masters of our play. The area behind the hedge especially stands out in my mind. Only a few yards away from the carport, but it felt like a different world. My world.http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... and Stumps for Climbing and Jumpinghttp://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e...'ve wanted my young kids to have an area like that. Close enough and visible enough that I can keep an eye on them, but providing a sense of privacy, a sense of being alone and in charge. A place to notice bugs, spider webs, and the way the light changes throughout the day.http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... Silver Poplar Stumps Create an "Outdoor Classroom"http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... Also Encourage Squirrel FeedingI've also been inspired by the Waldorf perspective on early childhood. Proponents of this parenting and educational philosophy argue that young children need plenty of unstructured play. Toys are chosen to encourage children to use their imaginations. Outdoors, a Waldorf-inspired play area might include wheelbarrows, shovels and buckets, a sandbox, rocks and stumps to climb on, and perhaps a shelter made from branches or vines.http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... to the Tree House (My husband's good idea!)So, over time, I've tried to create a different kind of back yard for my kids. We're fortunate to have a fairly big yard with lots of trees, but many of these ideas could be adapted to almost any yard. I'm also fortunate to have a handy husband who was happy to build a treehouse. (Well, he got a good start anyway:.) Other than the treehouse, we haven't had to invest too much time or money. http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... Gnome or Elf House--Who Knows Who Might Move In?I believe the space will change with time. For example, the stumps and dump trucks will lose their appeal, and the tunnel under the cedar trees will become too small. By then, I hope we've developed the habit of spending lots of time outdoors and helped our kids keep alive their sense of wonder about the natural world. It's a mighty beautiful world out there-even right outside our back door.What ideas do you have for creating outdoor kid spaces?
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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
Ah, the places and spaces of youth. I was lucky enough to spend my grade school years in a rural area surrounded by woods. So much to explore... the countryside teeming with life. Every child should have such a stomping ground. It remains an essential component of life's cognitive map, to this day. A refuge.
dancemomx2 (Sheila White) says…
Great blog, Sandy. I grew up next to naismith park. This was way before they put the trails in. I can remember the damn that is there, we would take a black inner-tube put a plastic trash can lid in it and float out in the deeper water ( it really isn't as deep as we thought. We had some many tree houses and cave like areas we had a blast. To be a kid again.
femail (Linda Hanney) says…
It's amazing how we never forget play areas of our youth. Looks like you have made great memories for your children, Sandy.
Starlight (anonymous) says…
Looks like you've already done what John McGrew espouses in his letter today, 'nature can nurture our children'. Get them out of their virtual reality and into the real world! As a matter of fact, I need to get outside, now. Have a great fall weekend!
justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…
How wonderful to be a child who has the freedom allowed him or her to explore their own back yard. How even more wonderful to be a child who has a parent who understands it, embraces it, supplies it, and participates with their child throughout. To be a child again....I spent many hours (almost my entire day) outside. I loved riding my sheltand pony, pretending to be a cowboy captured by Indians, pretending to be an Indian captured by cowboys, The time I was able to spend gazing at blue skies or starry nights are stored inside me and I replay them with delight in times of illness or distress. They really are memories that serve us well throughout our entire lives.More outside play time for our children, less rushing them to activities, let them find their own inner peace and allow them to create within their back yard space.