CHAMBERS DESIGN
  • Home
  • Services
  • Projects
  • YardBlog

YardBlog

Kids and Outdoor Play

3/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
native garden in backyard
​Our yards can be wonderlands of discovery for kids.  They can be a world of natural beauty too.  So often though, the landscape around our houses is void of life and is setup to fight against learning and play.  The great thing is that it doesn’t have to be that way.  We have real opportunities to introduce our kids to nature right outside of our front doors.
​Last night, I went to a screening of NaturePlay, a film about forest schools in Scandinavia.  It documented how kids in these schools are encourages to play and learn outdoors in all weather.  It shows kids running around in the rain and mud, climbing up boulders and jumping of sheds.  Even winter is a time for outdoor fun even when it is cold and icy.  The curriculum is shaped by how children learn from nature while being out in nature.  The philosophy is so embedded in the public education that they design and create landscapes that challenge, encourage and immerse kids into a world of playing and nature.
​I was inspired watching the film.  Other parents at the screening also expressed a real desire to have their kids be part of such an enriching and vibrant educational system.  The Nordic schools are a strong contrast to American schools that focus almost exclusively on testing with little time outdoors running and enjoying the seasons. 
Picture
sticks + leaves + time = outdoor play
​After the film, everyone at the screening spent time together discussing the subject matter.  The conversation centered around how could local public schools embrace the approach to getting kids outside more.  I didn’t actually know until then that my son, who is in kindergarten, only has around 30 minutes of recess a day.  I love the idea of transforming the public education system where standardized testing is superseded by learning from the natural world.  Creativity, art, science, math and language are teeming around every corner in the natural world. 
Picture
Backyard Native Plant Garden
​It will take time to make that happen, and until then, we have a huge responsibility as parents to get our kids outdoors too.  Our yards are a fertile place for teaching our kids about the nature world.  We can design spaces that enhance that opportunity.  From using edibles and native plants in our yards to attracting pollinators and hummingbirds to making the rainwater that runs off our roofs into a splash pools and rain gardens, there is no limit to what can be accomplished right outside in our yards.  Our lawns and backyards are a little slice of heaven is waiting to be experienced.
Picture
Investigating the Built World
​The opportunity doesn’t stop with plants either.  The way we design and build patios, decks and raised gardening beds can be as much an extension of play as the best toys we can buy.  The expense of renovating our homes and yards can be used to ignite the wonder and creativity of our kids while also being places for social gathers for adults.  Even the annoying things we call “weeds” can be educational as well as edible.  Most weeds can be eaten. 
 
Kids are always ready to learn and play and our yards are just waiting to be the classroom. 

More about Kids and Landscapes
Designing Nature around Kids
Outdoor Classroom at South Mountain Annex
Rage Against the White Lawn Flags 
What Rain Gardens Can Do
Native Plants in our Lawnshop 

Liatris spicata 'Kobold'

Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'

Calamagrostis brachytricha

1 Comment
Ella Becker link
7/6/2022 12:47:53 pm

Thanks ffor sharing

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About YardBlog

    The goal is to make this blog a resource for helpful tips and sustainable ideas.  I create original content that shows projects in progress and the behind-the-scenes of installation.  And, I try to have as much fun as I can doing it.

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

ABOUT
CONTACT
JOIN OUR TEAM
HIC# 13VH08327200
Photos used under Creative Commons from Just chaos, t-mizo