The Wattle Trees:
It has been interesting to see how our children have found this new area play space around the area near our house.
When we first moved into our home some 6 1/2 years ago we had some very small trees after our clearing and building of our home. It was very cleared just around our home although we do have over 5 acres of mostly bush for our children to live and exercise their imaginations in.
Due to the barrenness around our house site originally the children often went into the bush to play many of their imaginative games. We would find them down at our little creek and over into the Robin Hood Glade spending many hours in play, adventure and relaxation
It is only recently, in fact the last year really that the Wattle Tree space has become a favoured play house for the younger children.
As it is close to the house I feel a little more content with Arwen being outside for a period (not too long) of play on her own too. this is a gradual adjusting for both her and me, but especially me as she tends to like her Independence
The various games that have been played are numerous: storming of the castle, fighting off wild beasts, medieval knights, learning to climb trees, mud kitchens, fairy housed and digging to china are a few recent ones.
As you can see dressing up for the part is a large part of the children's play. I have just today down sized their play cloths and dress ups to a more manageable amount(hopefully) although I am planning to make some capes and crown etc for them over the next week or so.
It has been a joy to see this new space utilized in such a way and how the children delight in the various opportunities that come from this.
Below are a few more pictures of the children at play. These were taken over a 2 day period of imaginative play.
Enjoy them!
I would be interested in hearing how your children utilize various natural play spaces in your homes for their imaginative play too!
Blessings to you and your homes,
6 comments:
Hi Gae,
What a beautiful blog you have! I really enjoyed this post. Seeing your children have such adventures outside is heartwarming! Its what childhood should be all about. Thank you for your comment on my blog - I would love to see your visual reminders!
Blessings
Shirley Ann
They certainly look like they're having a great time!
It must be such a blessing to have the space for your kids to let their imagination and energy loose like that :-)
So good to see young ones outdoors amongst nature and fresh air and enjoying it so much!
My boys are young men now, but climbing trees and building forts was always a favourite game for them, and whizzing madly around the yard on bikes was too.
We were blessed to have large backyards for them to grow up in and they hold very dear memories of those days.
In fact, it quite surprises me at times to hear how emotionally attached they still are to our first home.
Adventures and some 'mis-adventures' are forever linked to that humble cottage :-)
Lovely photos Gae.
Beautiful post, as always!
blessings..Trish
I love the pictures! My children are outside most of the day on our property doing alot of the same things that yours do. My older ones have fond memories of it when they were younger.
Adorable! Children have such lovely imaginations. Oh, to be a child again!
Gina
SO wonderful! What a delightful and cozy spot in the woods!
Our children, also, spend much time in imaginative play in the woods. Last year, the created an entire Magical Kingdom...we had to touch a certain tree to "enter" and thus, would become "invisible"...however, one had always to be on the lookout for the "Oompas" who were an evil enemy of the people of the peaceful magic kingdom! LOL
Also, the children LOVE to build forts and clubhouses with natural means (leaves, branches, stones, etc) and scrap wood their Dad gives to them now and then.
And, they make "horses" out of large tree shoots that are near to the ground and "bounce" a good bit when sat upon!
OH! And I musn't forget the "mountain" near the front of our property...which, essentially was nothing more than a huge hill of dirt...HOURS were spent here (but only with adults outside as this space is close to the road and makes me nervous for them to play alone)...it is almost gone now as my husband had a man come in and skid steer the dirt to our septic hill to build it up as we were having trouble with it.
Anyway, "here's to imaginative play outdoors"! Wish our children could meet up in the woods together!
Once again I am thrilled to know we share common interests. I ADORE seeing our children play like this (hence so many photos) and to know they have firends they could play with is inspiring too.
Thank you again for enjoying our home
Blessings
Gae
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