Large yard objects?
April 3, 2023 5:19 AM Subscribe
My eight-year-old enjoys moving large objects into various configurations outside. What are some things we could get that would feed this interest?
He generally does not like going outside or physical activity, so I was amazed when he spent hours building a scale with heavy wooden beams yesterday. We're OK with his indoor nature, but we'd like outside to not become completely unfamiliar. And he is over swings and slides at this point.
He generally does not like going outside or physical activity, so I was amazed when he spent hours building a scale with heavy wooden beams yesterday. We're OK with his indoor nature, but we'd like outside to not become completely unfamiliar. And he is over swings and slides at this point.
There was a scheme local to us called Scrap Store that provides these kind of materials for schools for kids to play with. I'm not sure how generic that term is but might be worth searching if there's anything similar local to you.
posted by crocomancer at 5:46 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by crocomancer at 5:46 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Seems like a wheelbarrow scaled to his size might be a useful tool.
posted by sardonyx at 6:46 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by sardonyx at 6:46 AM on April 3, 2023
Are there a lot of sticks around? Or could there be? Bamboo? (Check out bamboo scaffolding!) When I was a kid a long time ago I was in a scout program in which we learned to make outdoor furniture- tables and stools- using sticks and string and I remember it being lots of fun. Here's a video of a kid making a treehouse that way. Here's a manual from girl scouts that teaches knots.
I can imagine making orbs that roll around the yard this way...
posted by mareli at 7:15 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can imagine making orbs that roll around the yard this way...
posted by mareli at 7:15 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
What about several lengths of 1" PVC and assorted connectors to match? Add a blue tarp and you have the makings for just about anything.
posted by jquinby at 8:09 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by jquinby at 8:09 AM on April 3, 2023
Plastic milk crates? Clothesline?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:31 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:31 AM on April 3, 2023
A larger hard plastic swimming pool? Great for making into a fort or roof by turning it over.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 9:16 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 9:16 AM on April 3, 2023
Bowling balls. Stack them. Build a bowling ball race course. Hurl for distance. Bowl for accuracy.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 10:26 AM on April 3, 2023
posted by Midnight Skulker at 10:26 AM on April 3, 2023
If you are looking for temporary items, you could ask an upholstery store for some empty fabric tubes. You can also get even larger tubes free from a carpet store. You could also go to a grocery store and ask for one of those giant roundish cardboard boxes they use to sell watermelons, pumpkins, etc. They make great forts.
Of course cardboard items won't last long, and you will have to dispose of them once they get wet. Depends on the weather where you are.
You can look under craigslist free ads for nearby logs, and all kinds of other free items that might work.
Stay away from pallets, as they often have pesticides and other chemicals that would be harmful to your kiddo. It is impossible for you to tell whether a pallet has these chemicals or not, so better just to avoid them.
posted by KayQuestions at 11:14 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Of course cardboard items won't last long, and you will have to dispose of them once they get wet. Depends on the weather where you are.
You can look under craigslist free ads for nearby logs, and all kinds of other free items that might work.
Stay away from pallets, as they often have pesticides and other chemicals that would be harmful to your kiddo. It is impossible for you to tell whether a pallet has these chemicals or not, so better just to avoid them.
posted by KayQuestions at 11:14 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
"moving large objects into various configurations" made me think giant chess, though commercial sets look expensive.
The National Trust sells a den kit, though looking at the contents I'm not sure it is that great. It also has den-making advice, which might interest your son.
Teacher Tom writes quite a bit about outside play with objects, though he's talking about a younger age group. You could look at his posts on teeter-totters, gutters, tubes and balls, plank-walking, and this post, which has links about making a junkyard playground.
posted by paduasoy at 9:39 PM on April 3, 2023
The National Trust sells a den kit, though looking at the contents I'm not sure it is that great. It also has den-making advice, which might interest your son.
Teacher Tom writes quite a bit about outside play with objects, though he's talking about a younger age group. You could look at his posts on teeter-totters, gutters, tubes and balls, plank-walking, and this post, which has links about making a junkyard playground.
posted by paduasoy at 9:39 PM on April 3, 2023
More of a game and maybe not big enough, but "giant"/outdoor Jenga (or knockoff)?
Giant house of cards?
Large outdoor trash cans or recycling bins? Netting?
You can also search for outdoor/large building block/plank/fort sets (hollow wood, foam, lego, floor mat puzzle pieces that can fit into 3d shapes) and construction-themed backyard playground kits/toys. One example with modular parts is Imagination Playground, but you may not want to buy a bunch of plastic instead of getting more natural or available objects as suggested above.
posted by eyeball at 3:18 AM on April 4, 2023
Giant house of cards?
Large outdoor trash cans or recycling bins? Netting?
You can also search for outdoor/large building block/plank/fort sets (hollow wood, foam, lego, floor mat puzzle pieces that can fit into 3d shapes) and construction-themed backyard playground kits/toys. One example with modular parts is Imagination Playground, but you may not want to buy a bunch of plastic instead of getting more natural or available objects as suggested above.
posted by eyeball at 3:18 AM on April 4, 2023
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If you don't have such a place, you can probably get some by posting a request on Nextdoor or local FB groups, or by just keeping your eye out for dead wood left on the curb after tree removal.
The other classics are 50gal drums, large tires, and industrial wooden spools. None are easily available on Amazon but if you poke around your local networks as above, you can find them. Pallets are pretty easy to come by but you'll have to carefully inspect them for nails hanging out and splinter/safety issues.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:26 AM on April 3, 2023 [1 favorite]