A wild playground
29 August 10
Before there were houses and roads and shops and playgrounds, children played. They didn’t need toys or electricity — nature was their playground and they played with whatever they could gather. How often do I give my own children that gift?
Sometimes I become so comfortable in suburbia that I forget what it can be like for children to play in a truly natural environment. And I’m not just talking about an outing to the outdoors. How often do I let my daughters roam and explore a place that’s not landscaped for safety?
Today we took a walk on the wild side and trekked across cow paddocks, uncertain of what we would discover but enjoying the fruits (passion-fruit) and flowers (jasmine) along the way. We were led to a natural playground just fabulous for children to explore — a collection of fallen trees in a shallow, swampy marsh.
The girls clambered over fallen melaleuca trees whose branches provided pathways over the water. They tested their balance, found their own handholds and forged new games.
It was interesting to watch how the veneer of civilisation slowly fell away. At first, the girls were hesitant about getting wet. Soon it became inevitable, and their shoes filled with mud. Then the girls removed their shoes and played so much more freely.
After observing these steps to freedom, I should remember next time to simply suggest the girls take off their shoes in the first place! But, I, too, am often bound by the constraints of society and find myself out in the wild, still trying to locate a “clean” spot in which to sit down, so I don’t get sullied by the good, clean dirt that covers this whole Earth!
This was a fantastic spot to discover — our new favourite playground. And it’s just an easy walk away from our house! David’s talking about taking the girls camping here, next time I’ll definitely bring my camera and try to capture some “arty” shots, and the girls — well, they won’t even ask before they take their shoes off and wade into the swamp!
On the way home, we picked some mushrooms and cooked them up for lunch. This is what life should really be like — exploring and enjoying nature and then feasting on its delights! Thank you, God.
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1 · christine · 29 August 2010, 20:06
what a wonderful treat for your children! Life should be this way! This is how my children live everyday…I’d forgotten what life was like for them in the suburbs :) Blessings! Christine
2 · Amanda · 29 August 2010, 20:54
I love that 2nd photo… I have a thing about big old trees. It looks absolutely gorgeous there… what a blessing to have it so close by. When I was a child, we had many places around our home that was like that. Mostly it was up the road, or next door… and this was in suburbia but our suburb was new at the time. (Holland Park West ~ can you believe it?!) Showing my age now lol. Anyway, we played all day, with Mum having to call us in at bathtime. We used our imagination, built cubbies out of fallen trees such as you pictured and used broken branches as brooms. Those were the days. Wonderful memories. You are now building wonderful memories for your girls.
3 · SquiggleMum · 29 August 2010, 21:22
I think natural playgrounds are always more full of surprises, more inspiring, more open ended and more exciting to explore than man made ones. What a gorgeous day for your kids.
4 · Tea · 30 August 2010, 04:46
When my siblings and I were growing up our parents took us camping a lot and on hikes in the woods. We loved climbing and playing in the dirt.
5 · kerrie · 30 August 2010, 21:17
This is Exactly why we like to go camping! how wonderful for you to have such a lovely wilderness right behind your house!
6 · amandab · 31 August 2010, 08:55
What a great place to stop an play! I love that they just let go and took their boots off! Princess id the same at the park yesterday in the sandbox, running aroun in the sand in her stockinged feet, I bet it felt great :)
7 · Tina · 31 August 2010, 14:11
What a lovely place space! As a child, we sometimes when on bushwalks in central Vic, where we would help my grandfather collect mushrooms and search for the “best walking stick”! Great memories…!!
8 · Becky · 31 August 2010, 19:49
Love it! Life should be more like this more often!!!
9 · maryanne · 31 August 2010, 21:41
What a neat day out! Nature really does make the best playground!
10 · Katie · 1 September 2010, 07:04
I love that picture of the girls on the branch, it almost seems like they could be in a fairy tale!
11 · Stacy of KSW · 3 September 2010, 14:33
I can’t tell you how refreshing I find you site – your life, your family, your thoughts they all speak to me. I’m new to homeschooling – doing preschool this year and I’m still finding my way down the path, I have found so many wonderful resources through the blogs of other homeschoolers. I hope you have a wonderful time on your unchooling trip, I can’t wait to hear all about it.
12 · Chapter Forty · 4 September 2010, 21:10
Fallen trees really can make us see life a little differently. I remember playing in nature more than man-made playgrounds as a child, we had a creek and bush close to home. A grass slide sitting on cardboard down a hill is far more thrilling than a playground slide. It’s great your children are having this experience, wonderful memories and learning opportunities.
13 · Marita · 6 September 2010, 20:57
That looks like so much fun :D My girls would love it.
14 · Litiquette Boutique Baby Shoes · 26 July 2012, 03:47
Natural playground is fantastic! Its a great learning environment where kids can climb trees and rocks, jump in leaves, make mud pies or have fun outside in other, similar ways.