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Original poster

Get child to play outside

34 replies

Missmarple87 · 14/02/2024 19:22

Obviously I know this isn't the ideal time of year...but! We bought a house with a large garden for our kids to play in and they just don't! In summer they'll potter a little and we have a wendy house plus bikes/scooters. Both are under 5. I really want to use the garden for them to burn some energy off and do some independent play (older one, anyway). Any ideas for how to encourage and/or suggestions for things to play with? Slightly reluctant to spend loads if it won't get used but could be persuaded....

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Sprogonthetyne · 14/02/2024 19:31

No much good until summer, but a cheap inflatable padding pool gets a lot of use in our garden. We also take their normal toys outside to play, like setting up plastic dinosaurs or animals around the plants. You can get big chalk for £1-2 or paintbrush and water on dry fences.

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/02/2024 19:32

Trampoline. 3.5 year old grandchild loves his.

ShillyShallySherbet · 14/02/2024 19:38

Ours love their trampoline, bikes, scooters, trikes etc and the mud kitchen with play tea and cooking sets, sandpit provides lots of entertainment too. Paddling pool in the summer. They loved their slide a bit too much and it broke last year, might get another one this year. We have a climbing frame. Wendy house, scuttle bugs and toy cosy coupe car with a trailer were popular when they were under 5. Got all of this second hand free or very cheap except the trampoline which we bought new. They also have pop up mini tents they love to play in and have set up inside today because it was raining. Oh and their swing gets a lot of use!

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BertieBotts · 14/02/2024 19:39

I think you need something they don't have access to indoors, like a water table, sandpit, mud kitchen etc. If you get mud or sand I recommend a handheld hoover and some towels by the door to try and contain the mess a bit.

Or can you set up some different scenarios in the Wendy house? Like a play shop/play hospital/play school/restaurant/garage etc.

A slide is a good toy as well. Maybe a slide and a tunnel?

Defo agree with pavement chalk too.

Autumn1990 · 14/02/2024 19:41

Car mat and some cars. A tuff tray and dinosaurs or wild animals or farm animals. It varies
mine prefer toys in a low table
chalks, small watering cans,
a gravel pit (or just a pile) is a fun alternative to sand

Original poster
Missmarple87 · 14/02/2024 19:42

Some great ideas, thanks. We do have and use paddling pool in summer.

I find myself infuriated because we go to the park on bike/scooters all the time (and in all weathers) and just never use the garden! Do you just chuck yours out or do you play a lot out there with them? I have wondered about one of those huge climbing frame with slide/swings but am worried that the novelty would wear off too quickly.

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ShillyShallySherbet · 14/02/2024 19:49

They generally just want to play outside, I don’t chuck them out. They can come and go as they please really. When they were very young I’d need to be out there to supervise and help with things. Now they’re older I help them get everything they want to play with out of the shed and just leave them to it. One of those huge climbing frame and swing sets would be amazing. I don’t think they’d get bored with that.

Shnowdrops · 14/02/2024 20:04

I think you need to put what they love in it.
Toddler loves diggers and dumper truck so we have a gravel pit which is easy in all weathers, and pipes nailed to the fence above to pour gravel into. Water tray is another easy one in all weather. Fill it with nice warm water on cold days and various things to explore. Mud kitchen is always a hit as well as a swing set.

Octavia64 · 14/02/2024 20:04

You need a big garden for bikes to feel worth riding!

Agree with trampoline, sand pit, paddling pool and when older we had a pop up pool that was about a metre deep that was up all summer.

Morwenscapacioussleeves · 14/02/2024 20:08

At those ages it was willow den, sandpit & lots of playing with water that they enjoyed most but really if you want them out there you need to go too!

Also if it's dry always feed them lunch outside - less cleaning up & they usually linger to play.

And painting is much better outside!

Lou1984 · 14/02/2024 20:10

We have some half pipe guttering which gets used as a car or ball or water chute that no TV kids absolutely love in all weathers. It even gets brought inside sometimes for playing with

trooc · 14/02/2024 20:13

Do you just chuck yours out or do you play a lot out there with them?

One of mine was happy to juts go but the other needs me to be outside for quite a few weeks with them before they were happy to be left in the garden alone.

NewName24 · 14/02/2024 20:17

I think that most U5s want to be where you are.
They don't go off and play on their own in their bedrooms either.
You need to be out there with them really at that age for most little ones.

Original poster
Missmarple87 · 14/02/2024 20:22

Totally happy to be out with them was just wondering if they may crack on a bit better if I weren't there so much!

I used to love being on the swings when I was younger. Might try to persuade DH that we might get a few years of use out of a big climbing frame and swing set. DC1 loves the mud kitchen at school but Im not sure I can face the mess at home! Have been a bit nervous about trampolines due to safety concerns....

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gemloving · 14/02/2024 20:37

We have a lovely play tray they love, add toys, sand and/or water, mine have boxes where they can put worms in, balls, watering flowers that we plant etc.

Does that help? X

PuttingDownRoots · 14/02/2024 20:39

We did stuff outside with them.its getting towards planting season for example. Ball games, water table, sandpit...

As the weather improves we did all the messy play like painting outside.

Original poster
Missmarple87 · 14/02/2024 20:40

Thanks. It is helpful but I just wonder why they have no inclination to go outside ha! We do plenty of 'outdoorsy' stuff and I am the annoying mum who dictates that we all need 'fresh air'.... So it's either a) they are just not 'garden players' or b) our garden is lacking!

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catsnore · 14/02/2024 20:41

Sandpit/water table is definitely worth it. You can usually pick them up fairly cheap second hand. It's worth having a cover to stop cats and prevent it getting too dirty. And I prefer the ones they stand at rather than get in 😂

Chalks on the patio/pavement seem to keep them busy for ages and it just washes off.

A genius idea I saw the other day was 'painting' the fence with water. Mess free!! Takes ages!! 😂

xyz111 · 14/02/2024 20:50

Get some nice chairs and sit out there yourself. They may then come out naturally as you're there.

coxesorangepippin · 14/02/2024 20:50

Trampoline

coxesorangepippin · 14/02/2024 20:51

And a tunnel

And loads of balls

Buckets/spades etc

Buy magnifying glasses and get them to hunt insects

newwings · 14/02/2024 20:52

I have to stay in the garden to keep my toddler interested.

badlydrawntoy · 14/02/2024 20:53

Lidl Lupilu waterproofs, a mud kitchen and a tuff spot?

Dottina · 14/02/2024 20:57

It depends on the child but one of mine wouldn't have played by herself before about 7yo. The other one was happy enough out there with his dinosaurs. I bet the big garden will come into its own in a few years time!