Pretty Cool Outdoor Space Ideas

Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Pretty Cool Outdoor Space Ideas

MyAngels 08:35 PM 03-21-2013

The title says it all:

http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/20...ironments.html

snbauser 04:49 AM 03-22-2013

I love these ideas. Slowly but surely I will eventually one day get there.

I do have a question for anyone who might do these types of spaces. I love the idea of the sheer fabric for "privacy" and for shade. But do you take it down everyday? Won't it get wet or blow away?

countrymom 05:56 AM 03-22-2013

Originally Posted by snbauser:
I love these ideas. Slowly but surely I will eventually one day get there.

I do have a question for anyone who might do these types of spaces. I love the idea of the sheer fabric for "privacy" and for shade. But do you take it down everyday? Won't it get wet or blow away?

thats what I was wondering too

MotherNature 07:00 AM 03-22-2013

Beautiful, though I can just see lining up that leaf maze & then it gets all blown around.

itlw8 07:01 AM 03-22-2013

You can get old sheers at garage sales for cheap and kids like bad colors like pink LOL

some parts of the world get far less rain so I guess we need to adapt for our climate.Would I put it up daily no... I would leave it until it looked bad then wash or toss.

DayCareDiva30 07:25 AM 03-22-2013

Im going to be working in my CCR&R next month about creating a Outdoor Classroom. I cant wait to build my kids a mudpie kitchen and a bang wall. (I know my neighbors are going to love me after I get done...lol

)

SilverSabre25 07:41 AM 03-22-2013

those are some great ideas! Every year I have plans to improve our outdoor space...this year I will succeed, I swear!

Crystal 09:07 AM 03-22-2013

I am patiently waiting for the fencing company to install a new fence...gotta wait until April because they are soooo busy.

As soon as it is completed we are completely remodeling our backyard and creating an outdoor classroom, complete with art studio, sound garden, sensory garden, mud kitchen, etc. I can hardly wait!

Thanks for the link!

Leanna 10:23 AM 03-22-2013

Details Crystal please! How are you doing this? I am so jealous!

Luna 11:38 AM 03-22-2013

I can totally get behind a mud kitchen, but I'm sorry...I look at some of these areas and I see slivers, twisted ankles, pinched fingers, bonked noggins

I would have to do a bit of modifying I think.

KnoxMom 12:46 PM 03-22-2013

Originally Posted by Crystal:
I am patiently waiting for the fencing company to install a new fence...gotta wait until April because they are soooo busy.

As soon as it is completed we are completely remodeling our backyard and creating an outdoor classroom, complete with art studio, sound garden, sensory garden, mud kitchen, etc. I can hardly wait!

Thanks for the link!

You'll have to keep us all posted!!

frgsonmysox 12:50 PM 03-22-2013

Oh my gosh! I love those ideas!

Crystal 12:52 PM 03-22-2013

I will post before and after pics when I get it going!

I am SOOOO excited! I am pulling ideas from these books:

Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms:

http://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Ou...oor+classrooms

and Natural PLayscapes:

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Playsc...ref=pd_sim_b_6

I will also be moving alot of my stuff from indoors to the outdoors. Easels, art supplies, blocks, etc. will be in both the indoor and outdoor environments., with MORE outdoors than in.

Oneluckymom 12:54 PM 03-22-2013

Originally Posted by Luna:
I can totally get behind a mud kitchen, but I'm sorry...I look at some of these areas and I see slivers, twisted ankles, pinched fingers, bonked noggins I would have to do a bit of modifying I think.

This too....although they are very cool !

AmyLeigh 12:56 PM 03-22-2013

Beautiful. I wish I space for, well, all of that! But I definitely will do the sheet/sheers this year. Can you imagine how inviting that would be on a breezy spring day?

Lyss 01:27 PM 03-22-2013

We have our "backyard" (small lawn, patio, flowerbed) and the around the corner (divided by 10ft bushes) we have a huge field area where the DCKs play! Its so nice to have the space! Last year we set an obstacle course up and this year I want a mud kitchen!

DH is a park ranger and he's always bringing things (stumps, chunks of branches/trees, leaves/flowers, rocks, extra pelts) home so we have a pretty good natural area out back. In the summer we take the DCK to his park and he takes them on a hike.

I really like some of the ideas on the link! The music tree is a great idea! I wish we didn't have so many neighborhood cats or I'd totally try the sand pits.

Crystal 10:27 AM 03-27-2013

Our fence is being completed tomorrow. I am gutting the backyard and basically starting over. Elements that will be included are:

Sensory Garden (including sand and water and gardening)
Sound garden
Art studio
Rock pit for digging/etc
Weaving wall

and random "stuff"

So. I have $1200 to spend on stuff. This does not include the fence.....

What would you buy for outdoors, WITHOUT adding climbers, etc. with $1200? Please include links if you have them!

Lyss 10:44 AM 03-27-2013

Originally Posted by Crystal:
Our fence is being completed tomorrow. I am gutting the backyard and basically starting over. Elements that will be included are:

Sensory Garden (including sand and water and gardening)
Sound garden
Art studio
Rock pit for digging/etc
Weaving wall

and random "stuff"

So. I have $1200 to spend on stuff. This does not include the fence.....

What would you buy for outdoors, WITHOUT adding climbers, etc. with $1200? Please include links if you have them!

These ideas are on my list:

Downspout/gutter/pvc tubes:
http://www.babble.com/kid/how-does-y...-grow/?pid=102 (I hope it shows the right photo, may have to click through on the bottom slideshow)

Sunflower (I'm thinking bamboo) house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartlan...vt/7421604572/

banging post (my neighbors probably wont appreciate this!

)
http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/20...ging-post.html

Luna 10:55 AM 03-27-2013

I love the sunflower house and the interactive sculpture! They both look like something we could make in our yard. I'm not even going to look at the banging post, I might be tempted to make one.

SilverSabre25 11:09 AM 03-27-2013

Can you have a dome climber? I want one soooo bad.

I would buy a rain barrel (or two! or more!) with a spout for easy water access to add to the sand and dirt play.

I would make a nice hill with a slide embedded in one side.

Big logs/stumps for clambering and balancing

Mud kitchen...diy.

I would also put in an outdoor sink if you can, for cleaning up after all that digging and art

Crystal 11:35 AM 03-27-2013

Originally Posted by Lyss:
These ideas are on my list:

Downspout/gutter/pvc tubes:
http://www.babble.com/kid/how-does-y...-grow/?pid=102 (I hope it shows the right photo, may have to click through on the bottom slideshow)

Sunflower (I'm thinking bamboo) house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartlan...vt/7421604572/

banging post (my neighbors probably wont appreciate this!)
http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/20...ging-post.html

First link....I cannot see a slideshow

2nd link.....I was thinking of doing a "willow hut" that is similiar. My neighbor has a huge willow tree that drops branches every day so I could EASILY do that. I think I will try it!

3rd link.....yeah, my neighbors would kill me. BUT, I am doing several different sizes of windchimes on low shephards hooks for them to bang on!

Crystal 11:39 AM 03-27-2013

Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
Can you have a dome climber? I want one soooo bad. Unfortunately, I haven't enough space for one

I would buy a rain barrel (or two! or more!) with a spout for easy water access to add to the sand and dirt play. This is something I have been considering. One of my professor's has one of those old school hand pumped water pumps she is giving me so I could easily hook that up to a rain barrel so the kids can pump their own water

I would make a nice hill with a slide embedded in one side. I will look into this

Big logs/stumps for clambering and balancing I have a BUNCH of these already. Just plan to move them around

Mud kitchen...diy. considering. my only concern is it would be tracked inside

I would also put in an outdoor sink if you can, for cleaning up after all that digging and art My SIL is selling me a brand new outdoor sink for $80! Definitley want that for clean up so we aren't having to go in and out!

Thank you!!!

AmyKidsCo 11:42 AM 03-27-2013

I LOVE letthechildrenplay.net! My struggle is providing a cool outdoor learning environment for the children without losing my "back yard" - kwim?

Crystal 11:45 AM 03-27-2013

Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
I LOVE letthechildrenplay.net! My struggle is providing a cool outdoor learning environment for the children without losing my "back yard" - kwim?

haha! I gave up my backyard to the daycare YEARS ago. There isn't one adult related item back there!

EntropyControlSpecialist 11:58 AM 03-27-2013

How fun! My backyard is TINY, unfortunately, which is why we go to the parks when it isn't over 95 degrees out.

Crystal 11:11 AM 03-29-2013

So....we are starting!!!

I just ordered these picnic tables for the kids:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/...mSource=Search

Crystal 11:13 AM 03-29-2013

We have an open space in the cneter of our yard that is just dirt.....years of abuse from kids and dogs and nothing will grow there now. I want to turn it into a huge sand pit. I have always used sand tables but would like to give the kids more opportunity for digging, adding water and building, etc.

If you have a sand box, what are the pros and cons? If you had a choice would you do a big sand pit or sand tables?

TIA!

Crystal 11:15 AM 03-29-2013

Also.....Gazebo or several Market umbrellas? I have a large deck that I'd like a gazebo on, but I was thinking I could get more creative with umbrellas. My only concern is that I'd like the gazebo for when it rains. Does anybody use the market umbrellas and if so, are you able to be out in the rain with them as protection for the kids?

AmyKidsCo 11:29 AM 03-29-2013

Originally Posted by itlw8:
some parts of the world get far less rain so I guess we need to adapt for our climate.Would I put it up daily no... I would leave it until it looked bad then wash or toss.

That's the challenge - to adapt these cool ideas to our own climates. I'm slowly working on our yard too, but I know it'll be a multi-year project due to time and money constraints.

MrsSteinel'sHouse 01:17 PM 03-29-2013

My problem with a larger sand box, when the boys were little I had an 8'x8', was keeping it covered and the cats out.

SilverSabre25 02:46 PM 03-29-2013

Originally Posted by Crystal:
We have an open space in the cneter of our yard that is just dirt.....years of abuse from kids and dogs and nothing will grow there now. I want to turn it into a huge sand pit. I have always used sand tables but would like to give the kids more opportunity for digging, adding water and building, etc.

If you have a sand box, what are the pros and cons? If you had a choice would you do a big sand pit or sand tables?

TIA!

big sand pit, hands down. you can use a tarp to cover it. Or, depending on how big you want it/how crafty you are, you can fashion hinged covers.

And some nice BIG trucks to help with digging. Yay big trucks. :P

cheerfuldom 04:27 PM 03-29-2013

we have a large handmade sandbox with a hinged cover
two swing sets
a small trampoline
a slide
a slide/climber/playhouse set

will be adding a garden and mud kitchen this year and a splash pad (my husband makes many things for us!) also hauling in some stumps and other natural play options

no way in heck would i add a banging post. i dont want to hear that and would not inflict that on my neighbors

Crystal 03:24 PM 03-31-2013

Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
big sand pit, hands down. you can use a tarp to cover it. Or, depending on how big you want it/how crafty you are, you can fashion hinged covers.

And some nice BIG trucks to help with digging. Yay big trucks. :P

I REALLY want a sand pit!!!!

Crystal 03:26 PM 03-31-2013

Originally Posted by cheerfuldom:
we have a large handmade sandbox with a hinged cover
two swing sets
a small trampoline
a slide
a slide/climber/playhouse set

will be adding a garden and mud kitchen this year and a splash pad (my husband makes many things for us!) also hauling in some stumps and other natural play options

no way in heck would i add a banging post. i dont want to hear that and would not inflict that on my neighbors

Cool! The splash pad sounds awesome!

Haha on the banging post! I have decided to add a variety of wind chimes, a gong and small bells instead

Crystal 03:28 PM 03-31-2013

I am so excited! One of the professors at the Community College gave me TWO cast iron hand pumped water pumps, complete on containers for the water and hose hook up to keep it full! I am going to set up a cool water area with them, my water tables and make a water wall on the fence with pvc pipe/funnels/etc.!!!!!!

Leanna 09:57 AM 04-01-2013

Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
Can you have a dome climber? I want one soooo bad.

I would buy a rain barrel (or two! or more!) with a spout for easy water access to add to the sand and dirt play.

I would make a nice hill with a slide embedded in one side.

Big logs/stumps for clambering and balancing

Mud kitchen...diy.

I would also put in an outdoor sink if you can, for cleaning up after all that digging and art

Has anyone done this? In a previously flat yard? Can you tell me how and about how much it cost you? I've seen these and would LOVE one for my kiddos!

daycarediva 10:03 AM 04-01-2013

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/pro...=1364835700676

MY KIDS LOVE THESE! I am buying another set this year. Dh is a plumber and gave them a TON of pvc pipes and end pieces as well, they run water all over the yard with them from our rain barrels and to/from their mud kitchen. Hours and hours of play!

nothingwithoutjoy 10:04 AM 04-01-2013

This sounds great, and just like my goals for my yard. I'd love to see pics as you go!

This year, I plan to hire a local tree guy to haul over some huge logs and cut them into "tree cookies," logs, steps, bridges, etc. I have inspiration pics on Pinterest.

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