10 Things Every Child Needs in Their Outdoor Play Space

by | Feb 27, 2015 | Featured, Wild Activities | 19 comments

Even though it was -18 today in Michigan, I’m already planning things to add to my daughter’s outdoor play area. Don’t get me wrong, we’re loving our time outside this winter, but I can’t help but dream of the muddy days to come.

Designing a children’s outdoor play space doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, I’m trying to make a real effort on the blog to include easier, natural activities.

Also, if you live in an urban environment with no backyard, a lot of these can be found/done at your local park or community garden! Here are ten things that can make a child’s outdoor play space all that more special:

1. A Secret Place

Kids need somewhere they can breath, be alone and feel free. What makes a place secret? Make it their size, construct “walls” and have it in a slightly obscured location. Whether it’s a clubhouse or just a sheet draped over some some tree limbs, the main idea is to prompt them to create a world of their own.

More Great Ideas:

2. A Water Feature

Where there is water, there is fun. Enough said.

More Great Ideas:

3. Mud Glorious Mud

Whether it’s mud pies or just digging for rocks, kids need to get dirty! I know that our mud kitchen was my daughter’s favorite part of our outdoor play area this past summer. And if you really want to pair this activity down just give the kids some dirt and a bowl – trust me they will find their own wild materials.

More Muddy Ideas:

4. Something to Climb On

As parents of all young children know, climbing is a natural instinct. Trees, stumps, rocks – they all present an opportunity for our kids to test their limits and go higher!

More Great Ideas:

5. Something to Grow

For us, gardening is one of the fundamentals, and plays a unique role in our daughter’s outdoor space! It may seem daunting, but there are some really easy ways to set up a growing area. 

More Great Ideas:

6. A Place to Create

I always feel so much more creative when I’m outside. It is such a bonus to have an area where the kids can write, make art, music and even put on plays for each other. It doesn’t matter if it is as simple as making mandalas on the ground with natural items, art and nature just go together!

More Great Ideas:

7. Something to Swing On

I’ll never forgot the rope swing in my grandparents’ yard. It was such a simple design, but whenever any of my siblings or cousins mention those years, that swing is always in the picture. Swinging is blissful and every child deserve a chance to feel the wind against their face as they propel themselves towards the sky.

More Great Ideas:

8. Open-Ended Materials

Spontaneous, unorganized play is the foundation of a child’s time spent outside. In the spirit of the adventure playground movement, I like to have loose items and material available for my daughter to create with. They have no set “purpose” except for her to imagine, build and create with.

More Great Ideas:

9. Something They Choose

I’ve definitely been guilty of getting caught up in my own ideas and forgetting to ask my daughter what she really wants. Making sure our kids have a stake in the project can connect them to their space. Some things I’m trying to ask her are:

  • What’s your favorite thing to do outside?
  • Do you like this here?
  • What color should we paint this?
  • Do you want to name your clubhouse?
  • Is there anything special you want to bring outside from your room?
  • Are we missing anything?
  • Want to go collecting materials with me?

10. Something for The Big Kids

Trust me, you don’t want to leave this one out! It’s wonderful to interact with our children, but the truth is sometimes they just need to get lost in the moment without us. This past summer we installed two hammocks and it instantly transformed the children’s play area into a mixed-use space that we all love to be in (no this isn’t mine in the picture – I’m not quite there yet :).

Hammock

So these are on my list, what’s on yours?

Your Woman Gone Wild,

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PS. Want more ideas? Head over to Wildschooling, Wilder Child’s private Facebook group. It’s a dynamic community of parents & educator helping each other grow wild. See you there!

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19 Comments

  1. Evelyne
    Evelyne on March 1, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    What a great list! And a wonderful inspiration for the season ahead!

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 2, 2015 at 11:14 pm

      Thanks Evelyne! We’re looking forward to the muddy days to come.

  2. Lee
    Lee on March 3, 2015 at 3:22 am

    I cannot wait to get started on this fabulous list! Thanks for including so many inspirational links!
    ~Lee

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 6, 2015 at 12:53 am

      Thanks! It was so much fun to put together – now I just have to convince my husband to get the willow whips for the fort instead of extra ducks this year 🙂

  3. Nell
    Nell on March 4, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    These are fantastic elements to include in an outdoor playspace. We have most of them ourselves 🙂

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 6, 2015 at 12:40 am

      Thanks so much! It’s nice to have a little list – something to start a envisioning with.

  4. Kierna
    Kierna on March 5, 2015 at 8:00 pm

    What a great list you have compiled with so many fab links included. Thanks for linking this up to the Outdoor Play Party, it’s perfect!

  5. Brenda
    Brenda on March 6, 2015 at 1:42 am

    Thanks for linking up to our DIY Slackline. I’m here to report it’s still loved! What an inspirational list and what a sweet blog!

  6. Brian Pearce
    Brian Pearce on March 11, 2015 at 2:22 am

    You put it so well, thank you. My wife and I went through the list to see if we had provided the 10 elements for our children (now grown up with their own children) we reckon we covered it mostly, they grew up pretty good, (slightly biased dad)
    I want to print the list and provide it to parents in my childcare centre, (if OK) Thanks Brian

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 12, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Congrats on being way ahead of the curve, and you know how it is if we don’t provide it for our kids they can find so much of secrets and fun on their own in nature. Of course print away!

  7. Abigail @ They're Not Our Goats
    Abigail @ They're Not Our Goats on March 11, 2015 at 3:00 am

    I love these ideas! Especially the secret place and the climbing ideas. I’ve got two little ones (and one more on the way) who basically live outside for three seasons of the year. We’re hoping to implement some similar ideas this summer!

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 12, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks for the comment and so glad you found some more inspiration! We’re planting some edible bushes by the play area this spring, and that’s going to add an whole new dimension to the space.

  8. Nick
    Nick on March 15, 2015 at 5:11 am

    Good article. I agree with them all! Noticed Michigan in the preview and growing up in MI, I had to read this. My water feature was a creek through the woods. What kid doesn’t love exploring nature?
    Nice list. Kudos

    • Nicolette
      Nicolette on March 17, 2015 at 8:32 pm

      Thanks Nick, I love connecting with a Michiganer 🙂 We moved here recently and have never felt more at home. We have a tiny “creek” that empties out from our pond – it dries up in the summer, but for a few short months it’s wonderful to explore!

  9. Julie
    Julie on March 9, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    Love the ideas!!! I also really like your site design- so simple and easy to navigate.

    • wilderchild
      wilderchild on March 15, 2016 at 4:02 am

      Thank you so much for the positive feedback – it means a lot!

  10. Marianela
    Marianela on June 8, 2016 at 9:52 am

    These are fantastic tips =) Kids should be spending more time outside playing with dirt than trapped inside a ‘spic and span’ home. Dirt heals us both on a mental and physical level. It teaches them responsibility, teamwork and cooperation.

    • wilderchild
      wilderchild on June 11, 2016 at 1:57 am

      Thanks so much, so happy you feel the same. Yes, it’s so true – I just wish more kids could get out there and get dirty. They are naturally so tuned in, they just need a little time and space to activate those senses.

  11. Elena
    Elena on June 25, 2017 at 7:06 am

    I’m very passionate about time with kids (have my own Lithuanian blog about creative time with kids) and everyday I see how happy and free they are while playing outside. I’m very happy to find this blog with so much inspiration and things I believe are great! Thank you very much! ❤🎈

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