SPECIAL SECTION: OUTDOOR & GARDEN
COSTCO CONNECTION
Find kids’ outdoor play equipment on Costco. com. au.
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An enticing yard
If we want to encourage more outdoor play in our kids, then it makes sense to create an outdoor sanctuary that kids can’ t resist getting amongst.“ It might have a grassy bit, some stones and the ability for imaginative games to happen,” McCormack says.“ Ideally it’ s not just one flat environment, but apart from that, you don’ t have to spend much energy or money to create an outdoor environment that lets all of that happen.”
Landscape architect Eva Porter, from Porter Designs in the City of Moreton Bay, loves to let the natural environment set the scene for outdoor play, creating spaces that are aesthetically pleasing for adults and children alike.“ Use different types of plants, including trees, shrubs and ground covers of different sizes, textures, colours and fragrances,” she suggests.“ Using different-sized rocks, such as boulders, pebbles and steppers, and log steppers can promote balancing and mobility. If you’ ve got a line of drainage running through your property, you could create a dry creek bed that becomes a river when it rains for water play.”
If you only have a small outdoor space, Porter suggests doing away with grass, instead planting gardens with paths for exploring.“ It’ s not really worth [ planting grass ] for the space you get, so use the local park for turf,” she suggests.
Porter also loves to include quiet retreats and social zones in her garden designs.“ You might have an area where they can sit amongst the plants and read a book,” she says.“ You can also create a‘ gathering area’ with flexible seating options, such as hammocks, benches and picnic tables, and if you have the space, a fire pit for family storytelling or bush poetry.”
Keep it simple
If you’ re not inclined to do a complete backyard redesign, Porter suggests starting small.“ Choose a section of the garden to start with, planting some different plants and a rock or a boulder,” she says.“ You could create a small fairy garden or lizard hotel, using natural elements that are affordable.”
Bringing music into the garden can be another lovely detail for children.“ You could use wind chimes or drums or have a panel of little timber batons that they can run along with a stick,” Porter suggests.
Sometimes all it takes to get the kids outdoors is a little preliminary assistance from a grown-up – that might mean grabbing some containers from the kitchen for making mud pies or setting up a tipi and a picnic rug for a teddy bear’ s tea party.“ There’ s also a wonderful episode of Play School where they build an obstacle course with Humpty, which is worth checking out,” McCormack adds.“ My favourite activity for toddlers is simply blowing bubbles – they’ ll spend 25 minutes chasing them and watching them float away.”
KIM GILLAN
Kim Gillan is a freelance health and lifestyle reporter. She is based in Melbourne.
36 | MAY / JUN 2024 COSTCO CONNECTION