GROW IN OPEN AIR
CREATING PLACES KIDS WANT TO PLAY IN IS KEY TO GETTING THEM INTO THE GARDEN, WRITES MERCEDES MAGUIRE
GO play in the backyard – it’s the suburban battle cry that has been uttered by generations of parents.
But with the increasing struggle to get kids to lay down their screens, encouraging children back out into the great outdoors has never been so important.
Whether you invest in a new springform trampoline, a bespoke cubby house, or simply create a space for children to make mud pies and pick their own vegetables, providing young minds with the opportunity to daydream, imagine, create and simply play will go a long way to getting them out of the house and into the backyard.
“There are a lot of cosmetic, pretty gardens out there but they’re simply not useful,” says Steve Webb, a landscape architect with Edible Kids Gardens and father of five. “All you can do is gaze upon them rather than actually use them.”
A garden of any size can be transformed into a wonderland for children, adds Lyndall Keating, owner of The Garden Society.
“It’s always nice to have the quintessential lush lawn for children to run around in and do handstands and cartwheels on, but if you don’t there are still lots of options for a kidfriendly backyard,” Lyndall says.
“Chalk boards on walls, custom sandpits to fit any size, herb gardens and vegie patches are popular options if space is an issue.”
Let nature be the babysitter
There’s a fine line between cre- ating a garden where nature is the focus and one that is simply overrun by plants. If you can find that in between, you’re on to a winner, says Steve Webb. He allows the seasons to dictate his outdoor spaces and allows the natural processes to exist rather than over-manicuring an area.
“I try to make the plants and the materials of nature the focus of the garden and use nature as a plaything, so think of a tree that doubles as a climbing structure, can provide shade and also gives fruit,” he says. “It’s great for kids to be able to explore through their senses, for example areas where they can see, pick, taste and smell plants and not get into trouble.
“Scale is also important when planning an interesting nature playground for kids, think about things like stepping stones, a looped pathway, bridges and tunnels made from branches and vines growing overhead.”
Webb adds this kind of yard is perfect for growing kids as they can safely explore further from the back door as they get older and find privacy in hidden nooks.
Find a creative outlet
If you remember the fun of making mud pies in the backyard, then you know the hours of fun this simple pleasure can provide. Penny Whitehouse is a wildlife education officer and a mother of three who is passionate about connecting kids with nature. She says if parents can get past the obvious mess that can come with making mud pies, creating art with leaves and painting rocks, then your kids will want to spend hours outdoors.
“I created a mud kitchen for my three daughters and they play with it all the time, they make mud cakes and mud ice creams and decorate them with sprinkles made from flowers, leaves and little cones. I also created a nature craft space on our deck and have a bookcase with cane baskets filled with leaves, sticks, cones, gumnuts as well as glue, string and twine for them to make their art creations.
“And most recently I made a nature weaving frame from four pieces of wood and string woven between the wood. The girls can weave ferns, leaves, native plants and anything they want on to this makeshift outdoor canvas.
“And at the end of the day, when they’ve finished playing, I clean it all up in minutes using a leaf blower because all the mess is organic.”
Whitehouse says the beauty of these natural ideas is that
they’re extremely cost effective and if you use recycled products, it can even be free.
Let your imagination go wild
There’s nothing nicer than watching children play pretend. It’s one of the most traditional forms of play, but taking the games outdoors can really add another layer of imagination. A standard cubby house can be a home, cafe, grocery store, castle, fire house, police station or a school, allowing children a new play environment every time.
Getting her kids to play outdoors was the impetus for mother-of-two Kellee Macpherson to create her bespoke cubby house business, Castle And Cubby. “The best play is imaginative play and the best space to play is outdoors,” Kellee says.
“I find the children play in cubbies quite fluidly — inside it, outside it and moving around it, and it’s so nice to see them mimicking the world around them.”
Macpherson says she takes pride in knowing her product is something that other parents will want to have in their backyard, with a stylish aesthetic that is not readily available in the market.
The small cubbies, which are all handmade from sustainably sourced and recycled timbers, can be made to fit small spaces as well as larger backyards.
“You want to be able to look out into your yard and like what you see. Making a yard child-friendly does not have to mean it’s ugly or not stylish,” she says.
Let’s get physical
When it comes to active backyards, it’s hard to look past the traditional climbing frames, swing sets and trampolines.
But simply placing them in your yard will not mean the children will automatically play on them.
Many is the frustrated parent who has lamented the cost of a new trampoline or swing set only to have it sit in the garden collecting cobwebs.
Penny says placing these structures in the yard is one thing, but inspiring your children to play with them is another.
“It doesn’t cost anything to have an imagination,” Penny says.
“My girls literally spend hours on the trampoline but they don’t just jump on it, they use it for all sorts of things.
“Sometimes they’ll just lie on it and stare at the clouds, other times they will take out a cordless speaker and make up dances on it.
“It’s great for dancing on because it lets them spin, twirl and somersault without hurting themselves.”
However, Penny says there is one small catch with this versatile piece of equipment.
“They love it so much I have to call them in when it gets dark.”
Plum Play Australia aims to add to the outdoor play experience with a range of modern and sturdy trampolines, climbing frames and swing sets that encourage balance, co-ordination and strength.
Their swing range can also be customised to fit different sized yards and their range extends to sandpits and role-play toys such as kitchens, tool benches and doll houses.
But if your budget is minimal, Steve says there’s plenty in nature that will provide opportunity for kids to get active.
A tree with wooden steps nailed into it can be the perfect climbing frame and an old tyre tied to a high branch can become the perfect swing.
“It saves money and it is more responsible to use what you have on hand and in the natural environment,” he says.