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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Tips for Outdoor Loose Parts?
LittleScholars 10:29 AM 03-20-2019
I'm finally collecting natural loose parts (thin logs, etc.). My husband thinks I'm insane. He thinks they are all going to rot and quickly be a mess.
Tips for creating and maintaining a nice collection of outdoor materials? Has anyone had an issue with these things attracting more ticks?
I should mention that I live in the most suburban area ever. I am not exaggerating when I say I don't have a single rock left to find in my yard. I have to actively seek out these materials and bring them in.
Tips for creating and maintaining a nice collection of outdoor materials? Has anyone had an issue with these things attracting more ticks?
I should mention that I live in the most suburban area ever. I am not exaggerating when I say I don't have a single rock left to find in my yard. I have to actively seek out these materials and bring them in.
Mom2Two 11:12 AM 03-20-2019
Oh, I thought this was going to be a thread about the washers and screws that manage to come off swing sets and scooters in the back yard. I actually have a problem with that.
Can you grow a tree? They just shed loose natural parts like crazy.
Can you grow a tree? They just shed loose natural parts like crazy.
kendallina 11:14 AM 03-20-2019
We live in a pretty 'naturey' area anyways, but I did add in several logs and stumps several years ago and the children LOVE them! They build campfires with them, set them up as an obstacle course, make see saws from them and even just like carrying them around. They're heavy (ish) and it's really good for them on so many levels to participate in this kind of play!
Didn't answer your question... we don't have much organization to them. When we clean up they have a space near our fence where we put them.
You can also get a kids wheelbarrow and they'll love wheeling them around.
Didn't answer your question... we don't have much organization to them. When we clean up they have a space near our fence where we put them.
You can also get a kids wheelbarrow and they'll love wheeling them around.
Cat Herder 11:23 AM 03-20-2019
I am over here looking like this 
because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones. 
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in.
Crazy making. 
because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones. I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in.
Crazy making.
Mom2Two 11:31 AM 03-20-2019
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones.
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones.
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
For outdoors, we are required to "actively watch" the kids. How in heck do you rid the whole, great outdoors of all choking hazards?
Cat Herder 11:48 AM 03-20-2019
Originally Posted by Mom2Two:
For outdoors, we are required to "actively watch" the kids. How in heck do you rid the whole, great outdoors of all choking hazards?
Raking. For outdoors, we are required to "actively watch" the kids. How in heck do you rid the whole, great outdoors of all choking hazards?
Lot's of raking.
And a fence within a fence.
Oh, and lots of raking.
Don't forget trip/fall hazards.
And raking.
I am basically the lady from the old American Gothic painting. The one with the rake.
AmyKidsCo 11:36 AM 03-20-2019
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I am over here looking like this because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones.
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in. Crazy making.
That's nuts. I am over here looking like this
because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones. I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in.
Crazy making. And the reason for that is... ???
Cat Herder 11:47 AM 03-20-2019
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
That's nuts.
And the reason for that is... ???
My lawmakers live in the city.That's nuts.
And the reason for that is... ???
LittleScholars 09:36 AM 03-21-2019
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I am over here looking like this because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones.
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in. Crazy making.
Stop it! This is wild! I'm literally at the point I'm looking to BUY those items!!I am over here looking like this
because I live bordering a national forest on a fully forested large property with springs, creeks, trails and a river and I will get cited if I leave any sticks, rocks or "lawn debris" on the ground on the playground. My DCK's cannot leave the fenced/maintained area without a permission form and extra adults as chaperones. I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles or astray river stone that occasionally creeps it's way to the surface.
And there are other providers who are encouraged to cart the stuff in.
Crazy making.
Cat Herder 08:38 AM 03-25-2019
Originally Posted by LittleScholars:
Stop it! This is wild! I'm literally at the point I'm looking to BUY those items!!
Send me your address in pm. It is pinecone season. Stop it! This is wild! I'm literally at the point I'm looking to BUY those items!!
Gemma 04:24 AM 03-22-2021
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles ...
I find this to be wrong on so many level!I literally must spend 15 minutes each morning, before kids arrival, raking up any dropped pine cones, twigs, acorns, pine needles ...
I can understand that acorns could be a choking hazard, but com'on ...pinecones? pine needles? what's the harm in that?
I have Pine trees, Oak trees and all that and one of the most entertaining game my DCKs play, is to collect pinecones, line them up on a ledge and spray them down with a water bottle. I don't see why that should not be allowed
I don't know how you keep up with it all
FrankMc 09:26 PM 03-21-2021
Originally Posted by kendallina:
We live in a pretty 'naturey' area anyways, but I did add in several logs and stumps several years ago and the children LOVE them! They build campfires with them, set them up as an obstacle course, make see saws from them and even just like carrying them around. They're heavy (ish) and it's really good for them on so many levels to participate in this kind of play!
Didn't answer your question... we don't have much organization to them. When we clean up they have a space near our fence where we put them.
You can also get a and they'll love wheeling them around.
Thx for the idea. I heard that it's really perfect for development of muscles and health generally!We live in a pretty 'naturey' area anyways, but I did add in several logs and stumps several years ago and the children LOVE them! They build campfires with them, set them up as an obstacle course, make see saws from them and even just like carrying them around. They're heavy (ish) and it's really good for them on so many levels to participate in this kind of play!
Didn't answer your question... we don't have much organization to them. When we clean up they have a space near our fence where we put them.
You can also get a and they'll love wheeling them around.