I have been working on a local playground renovation project for the past three years. I went into it believing that we could create a school playground with natural play elements that fostered nature connection and creative play. It turns out that we will add more asphalt and the natural aspects of the playground will be “add ons”- only if we have enough money.
In my ordering of things I would say lets do the most “green” infrastructure to the field and playground as we can. Then "add on" the extra asphalt. But community process takes precedence and a track and concrete is what the people want. In fact when we walked door to door surveying people many said, "fill the field holes, add a track, get new play equipment." We have gotten generous grants to achieve these but I can help but feel a little bit disappointed that we will not be creating a playground that is a leader in naturalization.
Meanwhile, our twin boys are now in kindergarten playing on concrete daily. They are also getting older and their play has moved from merely tactile curiosity and simple play to much more complex rule based play. School has meant that the boys are also into sports. Not that the whole school does sports, however sports are giving them an avenue to connect with their classmates. As a family we are supporting of this new endeavor. They have joined a great and fun T-ball team. Also, our hours of outdoor play each day now include at least an hour or basketball, soccer, or baseball.
I try to keep our sports play slightly creative by using non standard equipment. Our basketball court is a dirt patch. Our baseball field is on the slope of a hill and sliding into second, means you really are sliding downhill. We use all sorts of balls: soft, plastic, leather, wool, hollow and empty…whatever we can find and which makes the most sense for the conditions. Weather is a big factor, but rain doesn’t stop us. In our own way I think this play is actually fostering flexibility, creativity, strength and connection to nature- as the boys often need to climb the plum tree to retrieve their whiffle ball. Or perhaps they need to hop through the mint and sage to retrieve a ball. Our yard allows this- although their playground at school where they spend another hour outside a day doesn’t- and probably won’t ever allow this non- formal play.
My boys also have drifted from the puttering and open ended play they once did regularly. They now need more assistance in getting into the flow of merely creative play activities such as playing restaurant, exploring mud pits, sustained story making with friends and minimal toys. I realize that our society isn’t set to practice this play- although in some children may carry it forth better than others. So I am working on it. I am trying to add quiet elements of intrigue to the yard: piles of sticks, mounds of soil, a hammock for lounging, and most importantly I am trying to give the boys time. The urban-life surrounds us & a small yard is not going to be able to keep the kids engaged for long- but I am striving for that. I am also striving to help with nearby green spaces becoming areas that our children can explore & keep connected to nature & creativity.
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