Are you thinking of building a new playground for your kids? Consider a natural playground for a fun play area that encourages free play in a natural setting. Keep reading for tips on how to create one!
Have you ever wanted to create a natural playground in your backyard for your kids, but weren’t sure where to start?
We were in the same boat a few years ago when we were building our play area.
There are so many different types of nature-inspired playgrounds and options out there, it can be hard to figure out which direction to go.
But, the good news is once you get started, it’s actually easier than you think!
In this post, we’ll give you tips on how to get started, what to do first, and provide some fun ideas for materials to make an awesome outdoor play area for your kids.
This post is all about how to create a DIY natural playground in your own backyard.
What is a natural playground?
Natural playgrounds have been growing in popularity over the past several years, but what are they?
A true natural playground is a playground that uses natural elements and building materials that can be found in nature, rather than man-made equipment like large steel playground equipment.
With natural playgrounds, you will often see play structures and areas made out of natural features like trees, logs, rocks, sand, and water.
They are often designed to mimic how kids would play out in forests, streams, and meadows.
This includes activities like playing with mud, sifting rocks, climbing trees, and balancing on stepping stones; critical unstructured play opportunities that today’s children are too often missing out on.
Natural playgrounds encourage active open-ended play, promote imaginative play and creativity, and teach kids about the natural world.
As a plus, nature play areas can also look more visually appealing in your yard as they blend better into natural landscapes.
Why are natural playgrounds important?
As any parent knows, healthy child development is important and kids need to play.
Play is how young children learn about the world around them and develop their physical, cognitive, and social skills.
But not all play is created equal.
Natural play, which takes place in unstructured environments like parks and forests, offers a unique set of benefits for kids by allowing them to connect with the wonder of nature, run in open spaces, engage in an appropriate amount of risky play, and use their imaginations to create their own fun.
A natural playground mimics the play environment kids might find out in nature, but in a more controlled environment.
When it comes to playing areas for children, there are many benefits to choosing a natural playground.
First of all, natural play areas offer a greater variety of sights, sounds, and textures than conventional playgrounds.
Secondly, natural play areas can help to encourage physical activity, as children will be more likely to explore and run around in an open space.
Finally, natural play areas can promote cognitive development, as they provide an opportunity for children to engage in open-ended play, much like a Montessori playroom would.
All of these benefits make natural play areas a richer play experience for kids of all ages.
[RELATED: 6 Awesome Benefits That Show The Importance of Outdoor Play]
How you can create a natural playground in your backyard
Creating a natural playground is a great way to provide your kids with a fun and safe place to play in your own backyard, while also getting them in touch with nature.
It’s not as difficult as you might think and can be more affordable than traditional playgrounds.
Here are the steps for creating a natural play area in your backyard:
1) Select a location
First, you’ll need to select a location for your play area.
Consider the layout of your yard or natural environment.
Is it flat or sloped?
Do you have any existing features that could be incorporated into the play area (like the perfect tree for a tree swing or the perfect hill slide)?
When choosing a location, think about how much space you have available.
You’ll need enough room for the features you want to include, as well as plenty of open space for running around.
It’s also a good idea to take into account the sun and shade patterns in your yard.
Choosing a spot where there’s plenty of shade for hot summer days will make your play area more enjoyable for everyone.
Finally, when picking a location, think about what type of play elements you want.
Do you want a sand box for excavating fun? Water features for splashy fun? A climbing frame or play set for active play?
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll be able to choose the perfect spot in your yard to fit everything in!
2) Gather your materials
Once you have selected the location, it’s time to start gathering materials.
You can use fallen leaves, pine needles, tree stumps, tree slices, rocks, and anything you can find in your yard.
When we first moved in, we had a couple of big trees to take down so we had a lot of stumps and tree branches that ended up being perfect for our natural playground on a budget.
If you don’t have much to use from your yard, ask your neighbors or your local lawn care companies if they have any that you’re looking for.
Often times they might have some scraps you can get for free if you haul them.
3) Decide if you want a play structure
If you have some extra money to spend, you can purchase some outdoor play equipment or sandbox toys.
We wanted to build our own playhouse, but after doing some calculations, it was going to cost us more to build one than to buy one.
We ended up purchasing this playset from Costco.
It’s not a playset that is going to last forever by any means but the price was right and it fit in well with our outdoorsy, natural theme.
Unfortunately, at this time, the exact playset we purchased isn’t available anymore, but I found this fun playset from Home Depot that appears to be very similar!
But, the nice thing about nature play spaces is none of that stuff is necessary.
We opted for a play structure that would match our natural environment, but you certainly don’t need one.
Natural play areas are all about your child using nature and their imaginations to create their own stories and fun.
4) Build (Be Creative)!
Alright, now the fun part!
It’s time to get creative!
Use your imagination to come up with creative ways to use the materials you’ve gathered.
For example, you could build a fort out of tree stumps and rocks or make a DIY mud kitchen for leaves, dirt, and sand.
There are endless amounts of possibilities!
Here are some of the fun things we did
Whatever materials you choose, make sure they are large enough that your kids can’t swallow them and, when building, be sure to round out any sharp edges that could cut or scrape kids’ skin.
With a little creativity, natural materials can provide endless options for play and hours of fun for your kids.
[RELATED: How To Make Tree Stump Stepping Stones in 5 Simple Steps | DIY]
5) Lay in the Mulch
A play cushion mulch is an important part of any child’s play area.
It provides a soft, safe surface for them to play on and also helps to protect the ground from wear and tear.
Our play area would be a complete mud pit all of the time if we didn’t have any mulch.
There are a number of options available.
We opted for a natural wood play cushion mulch from our local mulch supply, but you can also find mulch made from recycled tires or other rubber materials.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope this post helped you have a better understanding of natural play spaces and you found it inspiring to see how much progress can be made with just a few materials and without a ton of money.
A natural playground is a great way to promote physical activity and outdoor learning, while still keeping the space looking aesthetically pleasing.
Let your imagination run wild and consider the many possibilities available when creating your own natural playground.
Remember that each person’s environment is unique and the possibilities are endless when creating one.
No two natural playgrounds need ever be alike!