Outdoor Inspiration for Kids

One would have to have been living under a rock to not hear the lamenting from parents with kids home all week due to ice and snow. So this week’s column is fodder for fantasy. Spring is only 28 days away, and this weekend you can use these ideas to plan ahead for creating a fabulous playspace for your kids OUTSIDE once the weather finally warms up! You and the kids can even start this weekend by painting some 12 x 12 pavers with brightly colored paint. Once the temperatures go up, just place them in a hopscotch formation and you are all ready for action!

For kids that love to play with trucks, this is a little corner of heaven. It is easily created by sectioning off a corner of the yard with old tires. FIll the tires with mulch and then fill the corner with pea gravel. Your kids will have hours of fun! When selecting used tires, be sure to check that they aren’t bald. When the tread wears it exposes the frayed steel belts which can scratch your kids and you don’t want that!

What kids doesn’t love making mud pies? Even as prissy as I was when I was a kid (and still am!) i made mud pies with the neighborhood kids. This outdoor mud pie kitchen is made affordable by recycling some old pallets. A used sink can be found at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Outfit the kitchen with old pots and utensils you no longer want or go to the dollar store for some inexpensive new ones.

I don’t know of any child that wouldn’t love a treehouse, but many homeowners aren’t blessed with a tree big enough to hold one. This is a fantastic alternative since no tree is needed, and it is also closer to the ground which protects your kids if they happen to fall out of it! It requires a bit more advanced carpentry skills than the previous ideas, but it is certainly doable with patience and the right tools! You can always hire a handyman to build it if it exceeds your skill or time allotment.

Now that you’ve got some inspiration, what kind of outdoor playscape will you create for your kids? Please inspire us all by sharing in the comments section below!

Barbara Green is the owner of Sensibly Chic Designs for Life and the host of Ask the Design Diva radio show. She believes you CAN have it all: kids, pets, and a beautiful home. Her showroom is located at
830 Lamar Avenue and is open by appointment only. Mention Charlotte Parent when you call to schedule your consultation and receive 30 minutes free!