Outside Toys, Or Activities....

[youretooloud]

My yard is very, very small. It's practically part of the house. I have some grass, some rocks, and some concrete.

At the moment, they like digging in the rocks to look for things. And, they like bugs.

I don't always go out with them... so, I can't have things that could be an obvious danger.

It's warm enough for water tables, so I could do that.

I need toys or activities that can be put away every day... so, nothing can just sit in the grass.

Any great and wonderful ideas????

[Blackcat31]

Last week, we went to the $1 store and bought several bags of misc little toys like Army guys, rubber balls, jacks, etc and buried them in the snow banks. My kids have spent the last 4 days doing nothing but dig for buried treasure! I had no idea something so simple could be so engaging and fun for them (All are ages 2-6).

I can't wait until the snow melts so we can bury stuff in the sandbox!!::

We are continuously adding to our bury list: DH and I were buying fish supplies the other night and he picked up some shiny aquarium rocks and says "we could bury these!" LOL!!

[jessrlee]

I have a step 2 bench/ toy box (I'm not descibing it right, it is for outdoor use so pretty large) that is full of balls, chalk, jump ropes, hula hoops, plastic big trucks, buckets and shovels, misc. Would that help keep the clutter down?

[youretooloud]

Yep..both of these are great ideas. Since they are so into bugs right now, I should go buy some plastic bugs to hide in the rocks.

[Meyou]

I have a rubbermaid tote that I have filled with trucks, tractors, cars, buckets and shovels. The kids can play all day with them and they put them all away at the end of the day. I got alot of the trucks at the dollor store so they can be rough with them and a few nice Fisher Price ones that are very durable.

[Abigail]

Do you have a fence that you could tape paper or cardboard up on and have them paint with something that is washable to hose down the fence if they get anything on it?

You could use ice cream buckets and have them paint the outside of them and number them 1, 2, and 3 and line them up in a row. Lay down a jump rope in the grass or draw a line on the concrete to stand behind and have then toss a ball and add up their points.

Do you have an outlet to play some music outside and have then dance their hearts away to the hokey pokey or some other large muscle movement activity? You could even record yourself saying no it's time to "jump, jump, jump" now it's time to "turn around in circles"?

[SunflowerMama]

I have a really small yard too so keep a tupperware container out there filled with random things we can bring out during the day.

Here are a few of the things I've added...

A large parachute
Bean bags (for the parachute and bean bag toss)
Little cones (they use these for a number of things) (http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/br...ffic+Cones#RL2)
Stilts (http://www.amazon.com/Champion-Sport.../dp/B002N4UFN8)
Bean bag toss mat (http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/br...g+Toss+Rug#RL4)
jump ropes
potato sacks

and them some balls. During the day though we always bring out books, the little people and a castle or 2 and the matchbox cars.

Oriental Trading has some great and affordable outdoor activities and games.

[youretooloud]

Great ideas everyone! Thanks!