Getting Outside In The Spring/MUD!

[Zoe]

Our new house has this great yard that is surrounded by a privacy fence and I just love it. The problem is that the previous owners DID NOT take care of the place and there's hardly any grass. We had a very dusty/dirty fall. I was able to deal with it since it was just dirt and I had plenty of handi-wipes!

Well now that the snow is melting, my entire yard is so muddy! I'm obviously not surprised, but we're not to the point of the year where we can install the sod yet and I'm not so sure I want the kids playing in all this mud.

Any suggestions? Should I just take them to a park every day to get some outside time? What do you do in the spring when everything is still melting?

[E Daycare]

I have a large back deck that I gated off. I put the climbers, slides, riding toys and picnic table on it and this morning we spent a good hour and half out there.

DH is going to re-stain the deck and we are going to put down a outdoor rug plus outdoor mats on it too once we know the better weather is here so this way itll be padded. I dont have a fenced backyard (my yard is hilly and lopsided and only good for sledding really) and if we did fence it I can only imagine how horrible it would look. So the next best thing is to gate the big ol deck. Plus I have sliding glass doors that go out into the deck making it a nice extension of the kitchen.

[DCMom]

I have a concrete patio that runs the length of my house; they 'grounded' to the patio until the yard dries up. Jump ropes, bubbles, chalk, riding toys ~ about they only thing they can't get to are the climbers and the swingset. But honestly, after being cooped up all winter, they are glad to just be outside

[dEHmom]

yep I have same problem. The yard takes forever to dry up and becomes a mucky mess because of the dogs and kids tramping on soggy wet ground.

I just let them play in the front instead or we go to the parks. Luckily I'm surrounded by parks. And i prefer the parks because then I don't have to clean anything up!

[heyhun77]

If you have a patio or similar space, block off the sides and use that with lots of activities on it. If not and you need to sod anyway just get a few sheets of plywood or something to lay down to make a faux deck to get you into dryer weather. I have a concrete patio with a roof over it that we use during the winter to spring/summer transition. I put gates up in the spaces that don't have railings/garden boxes in the way and set up lots for the kids to do so we get some fresh air at minimum. I rolled my outside water table in there in the fall so they can have some sand in it to dig, I'll bring out the small pool and fill it with our outside blocks, I'll bring out the art easel with paints, ect, and then other manipulatives. I have a separate set of outside toys (pretty much we have an entire classroom outside once it's nice enough) so I just rotate through those while we're restricted.

Also, we do lots of walks looking for signs of spring and I have each parent bring rainboots for their kids since even the sidewalks end up with puddles. The parks near us are just as muddy so they aren't really an option but we go on walking trips to the local cancer center/hospital and bring pictures to the patients and get treats at the coffee shop.

[Bizzymom1111]

I'm interested to hear some ideas! I took all my kids out the other day and boy were they soaked!! I'd love to get out as well just without all the mess!I like the idea of gating off the deck, although for me, it'd have to be our front porch. Not that big, but maybe for some stories or Coloring or something.

[WImom]

yeah, our yard is very muddy too. I'd love to take them out on the driveway BUT licensing says they need to be in a fenced area. Our road is not busy at all (in a subdivision) but I'd much rather do the the driveway than go for a walk since there are no sidewalks. Oh well

[countrymom]

my porch wraps around my house, and I have a very large front porch and I have a large screened in area, we do "porch only" because of all the mud and if the ditch has lots of water.

[MN Mom]

How about laying some straw? It will help make the mud less...muddy. I'm sure you can find someone who is willing to sell you a few bails

[Zoe]

I'm so glad for this forum! I do have a large deck. Why didn't I think of that?!? :::: Maybe I'll go invest in some more riding toys and sidewalk chalk this weekend. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[countrymom]

I tape large sheets of paper (the kind you buy on rolls) to my siding and let the kids paint too, my siding gets painted too but I hose it off. I also have climbing equipment on my porch, scooters, play houses.

[momatheart]

Can you block the end of your drive way and have them play there with balls, trikes or sidwalk chalk? Then I would go for walks if possible.

[KEG123]

I took my son to the park today and I think I strained myself trying to chase him through the mud then fight to pick him up to bring him back... ugh! he's 3! I'm going nuts with mud already!

[AnythingsPossible]

How about laying some straw? It will help make the mud less...muddy. I'm sure you can find someone who is willing to sell you a few bails

We did this a few years ago before we installed sod. It worked well and when we laid the sod, we just tilled the straw under.