This is one of the mist engaging pieces I saw in Germany. (Completely against the ASTM safety rules in the US.) This 5 sided wood pole swing structure lets kids swing toward one another and makes for a very dynamic and social swinging experience.
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Five Way Tire Swing
A Month of German Inspiration
This is one of the mist engaging pieces I saw in Germany. (Completely against the ASTM safety rules in the US.) This 5 sided wood pole swing structure lets kids swing toward one another and makes for a very dynamic and social swinging experience.
This is one of the mist engaging pieces I saw in Germany. (Completely against the ASTM safety rules in the US.) This 5 sided wood pole swing structure lets kids swing toward one another and makes for a very dynamic and social swinging experience.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
It Wood, Its Outside, Lets Build!
Some kids are born to build! I can remember building lots of forts indoors and out. My favorite hiding place with a grove of fir trees (old family Christmas Trees) with a concrete block inside that was my table, couch, potions lab all in one. There are a lot more tools out there today for building and creating outdoors.
Curvy Board
NYC High Line building kits
Happy Holidays and Happy Building!
BLOCK TYPE CONSTRUCTION
Imagiplanks
LOOSE PARTS FOR CREATIVE BUILDING
Curvy Board
NYC High Line building kits
MORE NATURAL WOOD PIECES AND FORMS
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| Auburn University Nature Play Area |
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| from http://www.modhomeec.com |
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| Building frames and loose stick building |
Happy Holidays and Happy Building!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Jungle Playgrounds
Wow! These are amazing play spaces! I love the simple materials, variety of spaces and challenge they offer. Both of these 'jungle play' spaces are outside the US. Maybe one day we could get one for Oregon kids!
This film says it was made in 1987 and the jungle playground from the model is built and in daily use. (Soon with english subtitles)
I have a few worries about this type of play in our litigous American society. The first is about the fall zones or "use zones". These films show a lot of trees being used as supports for the ropes and trees have roots. Not so great to fall on. The second is the ropes. They look like they are just tied on to posts and trees. Hopefully someone is keeping a close eye on them to inspect for slipping, rot, and loose knots.
Besides a few initial worries, I think these play areas are fantastic. Watching the kids jump from one to the other, swing and jump to another piece or letting go while upside down, they are developing great motor skills and look to be having a great time doing it. Another wonderful benefit is the csot of these play areas has to be more managable for a school, small community center or neighborhood.
This film says it was made in 1987 and the jungle playground from the model is built and in daily use. (Soon with english subtitles)
I have a few worries about this type of play in our litigous American society. The first is about the fall zones or "use zones". These films show a lot of trees being used as supports for the ropes and trees have roots. Not so great to fall on. The second is the ropes. They look like they are just tied on to posts and trees. Hopefully someone is keeping a close eye on them to inspect for slipping, rot, and loose knots.
Besides a few initial worries, I think these play areas are fantastic. Watching the kids jump from one to the other, swing and jump to another piece or letting go while upside down, they are developing great motor skills and look to be having a great time doing it. Another wonderful benefit is the csot of these play areas has to be more managable for a school, small community center or neighborhood.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Nature Play Community Workshop
In Portland we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a community design event for a nature play area that will be built in Westmoreland Park. I could not have anticipated how much the kids were going to enjoy the event. Their creativity, teamwork and ingenuity were all in full gear. It was an amazing start to an exciting project.
The Concept:
Portland Parks and Recreation and GreenWorks Landscape Architecture invited the community to play with natural materials, talk about natural play, make models and lay the groundwork for the upcoming design at the Westmoreland Park. The City of Portland recognizes the benefits of letting children play in nature; including physical, mental and social benefits. At a Parks and Recreation staff workshop earlier this week risk, maintenance and criteria for natural play were discussed.
The Activities:
Activities ranged from having adults remember their childhood play experiences, to free building and water play areas, to model making stations. The design team was able to talk with kids and adults about what they would like to see in the natural play area.
The Outcome:
We had fun! I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The kids were amazing. Nothing had to be explained, they just arrived and dove in. Kids of different ages and abilities were working together, creativity soared, and we got amazing feedback and ideas for the play area.
The Concept:
Portland Parks and Recreation and GreenWorks Landscape Architecture invited the community to play with natural materials, talk about natural play, make models and lay the groundwork for the upcoming design at the Westmoreland Park. The City of Portland recognizes the benefits of letting children play in nature; including physical, mental and social benefits. At a Parks and Recreation staff workshop earlier this week risk, maintenance and criteria for natural play were discussed.
The Activities:
Activities ranged from having adults remember their childhood play experiences, to free building and water play areas, to model making stations. The design team was able to talk with kids and adults about what they would like to see in the natural play area.
We had fun! I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The kids were amazing. Nothing had to be explained, they just arrived and dove in. Kids of different ages and abilities were working together, creativity soared, and we got amazing feedback and ideas for the play area.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Forest School Short Film
No classroom for these school children: this documentary film takes us to a forest kindergarten in Switzerland where children age 4 to 7 spend every day outside in the forest. I wish I went to school here. I would love to find a place like this for my daughter.
http://vimeo.com/32463946
http://vimeo.com/32463946
Friday, October 28, 2011
Mt. Hood Community College Natural Playground - The Big Picture
The Early Childhood Program at Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) in Gresham Oregon just opened their doors to a new state of the art child center with a natural playground. GreenWorks designed the landscape features including infant areas, a 3-5 year old play area and a large nature classroom.
Like many communities and education centers the staff and teachers at MHCC did not want to have a large colorful play structure as the center of their play area. The client worked with GreenWorks designer Michelle Mathis to design many small nodes of play areas that let the children be creative, work together in problem solving, get exercise, get closer to nature and learn (shhhhhhh don't tell the kids they are learning during play).
This blog will feature the design, products and photos of each node on the next few months. These areas include:
- Net and rock climbers
- Sand and water play
- Mounds with climbing and sliding
- Tree fort and log climber
- Trike garage and riding track
- Music and sensory garden
- Free building zone
- Imaginative play area
- Wind, rain, and nature exploration pieces
- Planting integrated throughout the site
- Art and exploration area
- Game and free play zone
- Learning Garden
- Outdoor nature classroom
- 24- 36 month discovery zone
- 6-12 month exploration area
Like many communities and education centers the staff and teachers at MHCC did not want to have a large colorful play structure as the center of their play area. The client worked with GreenWorks designer Michelle Mathis to design many small nodes of play areas that let the children be creative, work together in problem solving, get exercise, get closer to nature and learn (shhhhhhh don't tell the kids they are learning during play).
This blog will feature the design, products and photos of each node on the next few months. These areas include:
- Net and rock climbers
- Sand and water play
- Mounds with climbing and sliding
- Tree fort and log climber
- Trike garage and riding track
- Music and sensory garden
- Imaginative play area
- Wind, rain, and nature exploration pieces
- Planting integrated throughout the site
- Art and exploration area
- Game and free play zone
- Learning Garden
- Outdoor nature classroom
- 24- 36 month discovery zone
- 6-12 month exploration area
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Bike Park
Valmont Bike Park opened recently in Boulder Colorado. The multiuse bike space has elements for the youngest rider to the most advanced. Talk about a learning landscape and it looks incredibly fun too!
Check out this video for more info.
Check out this video for more info.
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| All of these photos are from pinkbike.com, Thanks! |
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Builder Boards
I use to love Lincoln Logs, Lego's, and other construction sets when I was a kid. I recently ran into Builder Boards and fell in love all over again. I have specified these life size 'Lincoln Logs' for a early childhood education center and I can't wait to see what they build. The loose building pieces are built to last outdoors and survive rough treatment by kids. These pieces will give kids the chance to build creatively, create endless different play spaces, learn about wood/ joints/ construction and have fun while doing it.
The Builder Boards website has a bunch of great information and background. Jack McKee is located in Bellingham Washington so for those of us in the Northwest it is a locally hand made product! Or Jack has written a book with directions on buiding your own Builder Boards. Below are a few of my favorite quotes from Jack's experience using the Builder Boards with kids.
"I took the playhouse to class and, made a mistake a more experienced teacher wouldn’t have, by asking, “who wants to help build a playhouse?” Naturally enough, everyone did. Chaos ensued. Kids bumped into each other, walked on boards and no one could see which board to put on next. I discovered eight preschoolers were too many for one playhouse. But once we got down to three or so they were able to work together and plan their creation."
"Using their imaginations, children hardly ever built the standard playhouse, instead building a house with two doors, and windows everywhere and a house with no doors or windows at all. Once they built a house with a tunnel entrance and a flat roof. After that came caves, castles, forts, towers, a reptile museum and a hot dog stand. The idea of building a playhouse gave way to the idea of building from a child’s imagination."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Wild Playgrounds
Can we bring ourselves to detach from the sterile play chips and rubber of the playground? Can we remove ourselves from the concept of intensive maintenance, mowing, and clear sight lines?
I know it can be a scary concept for some, but letting our playspaces go wild may have value for kids beyond our imagination. I talk a lot about nature play, but even the very concept of nature play varies from person to person. At the bare minimum it contains nature! Nature is varied. It often looks messy and it is alive and changing. If we can move these concepts into our play spaces we have begun to allow nature a foothold in play. After seeing countless playgrounds in Germany I started to see how their view on vegetation and playgrounds was so different from what I have seen in the US.
Alastair Seaman of Grounds For Learning in Scotland had similar realizations while visiting these German Playscapes. You can view a short video clip that addresses this and other issues he observed.
I think these spaces are inviting, wild, and fun. They prove that nature play and plants do not have to mean higher maintenance. They may just require higher tolernace for the wild!
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| Large, flat, and clean! From Landscapeonline.com |
I know it can be a scary concept for some, but letting our playspaces go wild may have value for kids beyond our imagination. I talk a lot about nature play, but even the very concept of nature play varies from person to person. At the bare minimum it contains nature! Nature is varied. It often looks messy and it is alive and changing. If we can move these concepts into our play spaces we have begun to allow nature a foothold in play. After seeing countless playgrounds in Germany I started to see how their view on vegetation and playgrounds was so different from what I have seen in the US.
Alastair Seaman of Grounds For Learning in Scotland had similar realizations while visiting these German Playscapes. You can view a short video clip that addresses this and other issues he observed.
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| Sand migrates |
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| Willow and bamboo create rough paths and forts |
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| Plants (and weeds!) grow up, around, and through play elements |
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| Plants and People Co Exist |
I think these spaces are inviting, wild, and fun. They prove that nature play and plants do not have to mean higher maintenance. They may just require higher tolernace for the wild!
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
It's colorful, it's international, it's amazing! Go Play!
Wow! i ran into this organization recently and I love their work. The colorful playgrounds are shadowed by the smiling faces and opportunities offered to children in these communities. Seeing the before and after pictures gives me a great respect for the work that this organization does. They operate under this byline
"We build playgrounds where there are none and we work with others to do the same…"
This international playground initiative is bringing playgrounds to children all over the world. The designs are colorful, utilize locally available materials, and offer a wide variety of play types. Project locations include; Fiji, Thailand, Kenya, Cambodia, East Timor, Mae Sot Thailand, Kenya, Northern India, and the Philippines.
Be sure to check out their support website that offers lots of specific ideas and toolkits. http://playgroundideas.org/.
All photos and info from the go play project!
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
The Brain NEEDS Play! Login To These February Webinars
If you are interested in hearing more about natural playgrounds join one of these upcoming webinars. I would be interested to hear your feedback!
Play Everyday For A Healthy Brain!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
The brain NEEDS play! The human brain is an amazing and complex organ that allows each of us to think, feel, and act. The brain systems that regulate those activities are largely shaped by experience. Learn why play is essential for optimal early brain development and why it is vital for all parents and educators to be play partners and play advocates. Join Head Start Body Start and author, speaker, educator and parent, Deborah McNelis for this informative webinar. To register, click: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/934576403
Photo from: Dreaming Spires ETSY
Playground Safety Guidelines & Nature Playgrounds February 24, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM This will be a webinar and discussion of Natural Playgrounds and how playground guidelines apply and do not apply to components such as boulders, trees, log stumps, embankment slides, and tree swings. https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/285479262
Playground Safety Guidelines & Nature Playgrounds February 24, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM This will be a webinar and discussion of Natural Playgrounds and how playground guidelines apply and do not apply to components such as boulders, trees, log stumps, embankment slides, and tree swings. https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/285479262
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Combating Nature Deficit Disorder in Alabama
Auburn University Nature Play Area
Shortly after my last post on animal houses I received this link from a colleague.
Auburn University has completed a natural play area focused on providing an opportunity for families to explore the outdoors. Kaboom's cool playgrounds site says, "The playground represents an effort to combat Nature Deficit Disorder in an era where children ages 8 to 12 spend nearly 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen." The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, a community outreach program for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn, opened the play area to visitors last fall. Find more information on this project in the video below and the link here.
Shortly after my last post on animal houses I received this link from a colleague.
Auburn University has completed a natural play area focused on providing an opportunity for families to explore the outdoors. Kaboom's cool playgrounds site says, "The playground represents an effort to combat Nature Deficit Disorder in an era where children ages 8 to 12 spend nearly 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen." The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, a community outreach program for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn, opened the play area to visitors last fall. Find more information on this project in the video below and the link here.
Photos courtesy of Auburn University.
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