Natural Playgrounds

Today many children lack the type of play that incorporates the outdoor environment. With busy schedules and family obligations few children get the opportunity to go outside and explore the natural world. Natural playgrounds integrate sand, water, dirt, living plants and wood into play centers for children. These natural playgrounds look very different than the typical conventional playground that is constructed out of steel tubing and plastic. By integrating more from the natural environment into the playground, children will have the feeling of freedom, exploration and experience. 

By incorporating a natural playground behind a school, at a nearby park or at a summer camp provides an area where children can play with natural elements. Natural playgrounds allow children to self-direct their playtime and create their own activities. From discovering a bug under a rock, walking through a huge tree trunk to sculpting mounds out of sand, the possibilities are endless.   

In 2007, the No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Coalition was formed to advise Congress and the public about the need for our schools to dedicate more resources and attention to environmental education. While basic school subjects such as math, science and history are all important to children, just learning about them while sitting in front of a computer hinders them. Children that sit at computers and learn about nature but never spend time outside will have a sense of disconnect with the environment and be less enthusiastic about protecting it.

With the addition of natural playgrounds to camp sites, children will have another area to investigate the environment. By including sand pits, working gardens, arbor swings, tree houses and outdoor seating, the children will spend more time outside learning about their surroundings.

Here is a list of activities I enjoyed as a child:
Leaf Rubbings
Collecting Rocks
Jumping in Puddles
Smelling Wildflowers
Spotting objects in the Clouds

Do you have any examples of your own?

There are many websites on-line that encourage this type of play and provide ideas for outdoor activities. To find out more about what you can do to engage your children or understand changes that would be made in your child’s education if Congress adopts the NCLI proposals, visit: http://www.nclicoalition.org/