Outdoor Play Toys?

[emosks]

What is in your outdoor play area? We are pretty stocked up but I'm wondering if we are "missing" anything! :confused:

[Crystal]

I have the typical climbers, slides, etc. I also have a teeter totter. My husband built a rock pit(peagravel), surrounded by large pieces of driftwood and put smaller pieces of driftwood in it for building, and added dump trucks, etc. We have a playhouse that in appropriate weather we place dramatic play props in....sometimes it's a house, sometimes a fire station, etc. We have a basketball hoop, trikes, ride in cars, picnic tables/benches. Two real kayaks that the children play in....we add the paddles and life jackets when weather is good. We do a garden every year. And, then I have lots of outdoor games, cones/poles for obstacle courses, pods for hopping on, etc. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc. are also put out when weather permits.

[melskids]

i have most of what crystal said, except for the kayakes....thats a cool idea. i also have 2 tunnels (the pop up kind) a balance beam, and a seperate smaller sand box for kids under 3. the older ones tend to take over the big one. this year i plan on completely seperating an area for toddlers, (like a small fence i can step over) i get tired of chasing them away from the swingset... i was thinking of buring some tractor tires upright in the ground to climb on, and adding come cabanans or tent things for more shade. i also have art easels outside.

oh yeah.... just outside the fence we have a big basketball hoop, tether ball, and badminton for the school agers

[misol]

I have the typical climbers, slides, etc. I also have a teeter totter. My husband built a rock pit(peagravel), surrounded by large pieces of driftwood and put smaller pieces of driftwood in it for building, and added dump trucks, etc. We have a playhouse that in appropriate weather we place dramatic play props in....sometimes it's a house, sometimes a fire station, etc. We have a basketball hoop, trikes, ride in cars, picnic tables/benches. Two real kayaks that the children play in....we add the paddles and life jackets when weather is good. We do a garden every year. And, then I have lots of outdoor games, cones/poles for obstacle courses, pods for hopping on, etc. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc. are also put out when weather permits.

For those of you who have outdoor gardens, what are some really easy, low-maintenance veggies/plants to grow with kids? I am a city girl and am totally clueless about gardening but would LOVE to have one for the kids.

[TGT09]

For those of you who have outdoor gardens, what are some really easy, low-maintenance veggies/plants to grow with kids? I am a city girl and am totally clueless about gardening but would LOVE to have one for the kids.

I recently read good veggies for kids to grow are:
Cucumbers
Sugar Snap Peas
Carrots
Spinach
Broccoli
and many others.

Another poster has me thinking about doing an herb garden but unfortunately I have to wait for the ground to thaw! :-)

[melskids]

inside the play area we did sunflowers. out in the veggie garden we do everything you can think of. zuchini is the easiest, you cant kill it, and you get tons of it. our potatos always do really well to. i'm thinking of adding herbs this year in another spot, maybe window boxes or big planters

[Crystal]

I do: zucchini, bell pepper, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, etc.

FYI: if you plant marigolds all the way around the perimeter of your garden, it will keep out snails.

[originalkat]

My outside play area needs serious help! We moved here 2 years ago in June and we have not really made an outdoor play area yet. I have a swing/climber set and...well...that is it. It is so boring. Plus I have to move it around everytime we mow. I really need to work on it this spring. I like having a small climber so I dont have to worry about the kids falling too far. But I need to add a lot to my area. Thanks for the ideas everyone!

[originalkat]

I have the typical climbers, slides, etc. I also have a teeter totter. My husband built a rock pit(peagravel), surrounded by large pieces of driftwood and put smaller pieces of driftwood in it for building, and added dump trucks, etc. We have a playhouse that in appropriate weather we place dramatic play props in....sometimes it's a house, sometimes a fire station, etc. We have a basketball hoop, trikes, ride in cars, picnic tables/benches. Two real kayaks that the children play in....we add the paddles and life jackets when weather is good. We do a garden every year. And, then I have lots of outdoor games, cones/poles for obstacle courses, pods for hopping on, etc. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc. are also put out when weather permits.

Do you have pictures of your paly area? I need some inspiration please.

[Crystal]

You can see a bit of it on my website: http://www.crystalscreativekids.com

They are a bit dated, so the rock pit isn't finished in them, it's there but not as extensive as it is now. I have more photos, I'll upload when I have a chance so you can see what it looks like now.

[originalkat]

WOW CRYSTAL! THAT IS AWESOME! I love what you are doing. It has been a long time since I have seen pictures of a quality program like yours. Very inspiring. I think the main thing I need is more stuff. (And I hate clutter. LOL!) I mean more things for the kids to do. A sensory area, more climbing/riding areas etc...A couple of questions--
-
Do you have pea gravel pit for digging instead of sand to eliminate the cat poop issue and having to cover it and all? How do the kids like it? It looks so fun with all the trucks and tools for digging. My kids are always digging in the dirt and getting all muddy and I am looking for a solution to this.
-
I love your play house! Do you remember where you got it?

Thanks for sharing your site!

[mac60]

I have a climber, castle, teeter totter, basketball hoop, lots of balls, and a few other things like hula hoops, a porch swing, plenty of grass to run around. We make tents out of old sheets and blankets on the clothes line and the kids love that. Honestly, I think kids need to learn to use their imagination and play without so much "stuff". We use the sprinkler and I use the hose on hot summer days, and sometimes I have a heck of a time keeping the little ones out of the birdbaths.

[originalkat]

I feel like all my kids have is their imagination right now. LOL!

[misol]

I recently read good veggies for kids to grow are:
Cucumbers
Sugar Snap Peas
Carrots
Spinach
Broccoli
and many others.

Another poster has me thinking about doing an herb garden but unfortunately I have to wait for the ground to thaw! :-)

inside the play area we did sunflowers. out in the veggie garden we do everything you can think of. zuchini is the easiest, you cant kill it, and you get tons of it. our potatos always do really well to. i'm thinking of adding herbs this year in another spot, maybe window boxes or big planters

I do: zucchini, bell pepper, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, etc.

FYI: if you plant marigolds all the way around the perimeter of your garden, it will keep out snails.

THANKS! I think we will start with zucchini and maybe tomatoes.

[Unregistered]

Herb gardens are tons of fun for the kids.
Plant a lot and let it be a garden then can pick out of all the time (respectfully of course). The kids and your yard will smell great. Lemon balm and and mint just grow like weeds and the kids love to smell them and run their arms over them. I let them pick those leaves (as long as they aren't being destructive) to make their "potions" during outdoor playtime. Rosemary and lavender stay green all winter and well, smell good. Oregano and thyme are also really hardy. Sage puts out a pretty flower.
Basil, cilantro, and dill are kind of delicate so you have to watch the kids around them. Except Thai basil, that stuff grows like a weed also.
Anyway, those are the ones I grow and my experience. You can also get all fancy and call it a "sensory garden" with all the smelling, tasting, touching, and looking.
We do lots of vegetables also, but I like the herbs the best.