Our Favorite Playground

We moved about 6 months ago and we're still getting acquainted with our new area. So, after reading a great post from Little Moments about finding the best playground ever, we accepted the challenge to go on a playground hunt! 

On our search, we found so many great playgrounds. Some were new, some were old, some fancy, some simple. But, after much exploring, we finally found it. 

 Our playground.

10 Awesome things about OUR playground: 

1) It's in walking distance to our home. This is a huge plus. I don't have to worry about packing up the car, parking, travel time... We just hop in the stroller and go. 

2) It's one large sandbox. This makes it fun even without the equipment. Yes, there's a little more cleanup required when the day is through, but I don't really mind. I also think the sand is softer than the rubber flooring in most playgrounds and provides a good cushion for Kz's frequent spills. 

 3) It's a tot park. I didn't even know they had public tot parks. Everything is small enough for Kz to practice crawling, climbing, pulling, and sliding ALL ON HIS OWN. There are only a few things I had to help him with and after some practice, he was able to move through the entire park with no help at all. 

4) There are permanent little toy trucks to play with. How cute is that? Kz LOVES these and knowing they are here means I don't have to buy them! If you're like me, you dread those awkward mommy moments when your child wants to play with a toy that another child has brought to the park. These trucks are park property so everyone shares them graciously.

5) There are developmentally appropriate manipulatives attached to small wall panels throughout the park. They are all just the right height so Kz can cruise around, stopping along the way to spin the wheel, listen to the chimes or peek in the mirror.

6) Chain link fences may not be chic but they are PERFECT for a cruising baby. They have tons of places to grab onto and the holes make for a nice scenic route. Kz does laps around the perimeter of the park. This is excellent exercise (and the ultimate prelude to a great afternoon nap).

7) There are lots of natural treasures to dig up and explore. On this day, we found another (not so natural) treasure that had been left behind and gave it some love, too.

8) There are lots of small crawl spaces for curious kids to explore. One of Kz's favorite pastimes is finding the smallest space in our home and trying to squeeze himself under, over or through it. You think I can install these tubes in my house?

9) There are still some challenges. While Kz can do most of the things at this playground, there are still some things he cannot do just yet. There is room to grow into this park and that means we can continue to visit for years to come.

10) It's never crowded. Before we moved, we lived in NYC and there was never a time when a park wasn't crowded. While I became used to that type of living, there is something so serene about the fact that this park is never full. There are usually one or two other children there and sometimes we even have it to ourselves.

Have you found YOUR playground yet?

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Play Space: Mini Centers

My last post about putting the entire bin of toys out for Kz to explore on his own sparked a thought about what my play space looks like on a typical day. If I don't have a special activity set up for Kz, I still like to put some thought into how his toys are presented. I've noticed that when toys are strewn about, Kz is more likely to ignore them. Keeping the play space interesting, fresh and inviting affords Kz the opportunity to get excited about his toys, even if they are the same ones he plays with each day.

I've found that it helps to divide the space into mini centers. This provides a clear space for Kz to crawl through and neat, exciting areas for him to explore. I may sort Kz's toys by shape or color and display them in a transparent container so he can better see their common attributes. Or stack them up so when he reaches for one, they topple over, making him giggle. Anything to entice Kz to crawl on over and get engaged!

When making centers, I like to think about some of the skills that Kz is currently working on. He's recently been pulling up and cruising, so on this day I made sure to make his favorite push toy accessible. I also was careful not to crowd is favorite places to pull up (like the couch) with toys.

On this particular day, I created 7 centers, which is a lot! I find that depending on the types of toys or materials I'm using, I can create more or less accordingly. Recycled, open-ended and real materials get the most play time. Familiar toys get the least. The best tip is to get in the habit of rotating your toys. Have those familiar toys take a two week vacation. This way, when they are reintroduced they feel like new again! If you hide them for longer, you'll find that your child plays with them in an entirely different way since developmentally he or she has grown.

 Kz loves taking apart his play mat. This is one of those things that I know I should encourage but it actually drives me nuts. Piecing the mat back together after he's gleefully disassembled the entire thing is irritating and time consuming. I briefly considered gluing this mat together but the truth is, its a great puzzle for Kz and he loves to tote the little circles around in his mouth while he crawls. To keep me sane, I take a few pieces off the mat and create a center.

Sometimes, taking toys out of context makes them feel brand new! Kz's bath toys are usually only explored during his short baths. For this center, I've taken them out and put them in a basket for him to get a closer look. Some still had a bit of water that surprised him when he squeezed! Besides being hilarious for me, I like to think this reminded him of where he is used to seeing them.

Sometimes I think that Kz's most colorful toys get lost on the bright colored mats or busy rugs we have. Placing a solid blanket underneath makes them pop.

I always like to reserve a space for recycled materials and homemade toys. These sensory bottles have provided endless fun for Kz since he was about 5 months old. Now, at 9 months, he likes to shake them to feel their different weights and hear their unique sounds.

It's important to provide some challenges for your child. Just a little something they can work towards mastering. I have been working with Kz on posting. He is way more interested in dumping things out. Is this a boy trait? Anyway, I have been providing a center for him to explore shape and color while encouraging him to put pieces IN instead of just taking them OUT.

Last but not least, books! I dream about having a place to store books that allows Kz to go and get them as he pleases. Until then, I like to choose a few of his current faves and prop them up in a snuggly corner for him to read. For older children, provide pillows and proper lighting to make this library nook even more inviting.

How do you set up your play space?

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Texture Runway

Kz is officially moving! He crawls in and out of every nook and cranny that he can squeeze himself into. I've tried to carve out some extra space for him to roam in our apartment but finding a good stretch of land for him to tear through has been a bit challenging. He inevitably ends up crawling towards the corners of the walls, the bathroom, the standing lamp, the electrical cords...just about anywhere that is bound to have him bumping his head and crying for help. (Yes, our apartment is "baby-proof" but there are just some things that can't be safety-fied).  Anyway, I decided that I would create a space that Kz would be free to explore without having to worry about me coming over and pointing him in another direction. While Kz took his first nap, I scurried around the house gathering different materials that had unique textures. My mind started racing as I imagined creating textured floor boards with glued objects, textiles and strings. Then, I got ahold of myself and settled on some crumpled packing paper, an oversized plastic bag, some reused bubble-wrap, a thick blanket and my underused yoga mat.

I set Kz at the start and watched, poised with the camera ready. He sat up, carefully eyed the runway and looked up at me, puzzled. Right. Some incentive. I ran to the other end and motioned for him to come. And he did!

He was a little uneasy at first as he tentatively covered the foreign terrain. He moved slowly, occasionally stopping to prop himself up on each of the different textures. He would touch them, crinkle them and shake them before venturing onto the next. 

 I learned a little something about Kz during this experience. While he participated in the activity and seemed interested enough to play, he was a bit cautious. I'm not much of a risk-taker but part of me expected this little boy to barrel right through the runway without reservation. It was interesting to see how instead, he carefully navigated his way through (and sometimes around) the different materials. I was most curious to see what his reaction to the bubble wrap would be.  I specifically placed it on the end because while I was making the runway, I accidentally stepped on it and the popping noise scared the living daylights out of me. I figured that Kz would either hate it or absolutely love it, but putting it at the end would at least ensure that he would try the rest of the runway before making the decision. 

Drum roll please...

 

Wait, oops. I should have taped that down. Let's try again. 

Do you know what this face means? Me neither. But it isn't accompanied by tears, so we have to assume that he doesn't totally hate it. 

He hung out on this section for a while trying to figure out what was making all that racket. I showed him by popping one or two of the bubbles with my fingers. Then I picked him up and set him down at the start again. He crawled with much more vigor the next few times and all in all I think the texture runway was a success.  Here is a closeup of the different textures I used but be creative! Anything goes (as long as it wouldn't be uncomfortable or unsafe for your child to crawl on, of course). 

Temporary Play Spaces

It's been so fun watching Kz learn to sit up steadily on his own and teeter on his hands and knees in the beginning stages of crawling. Unfortunately, this means that the days of propping him up on the floor while I run to the bathroom or grab a snack from the kitchen are now over. In a bind, I grabbed this sturdy cardboard box and Kz had a brand new play space that kept him from getting into mischief around the house. 

Momentarily, at least.

We added a few toys after the excitement of being in a new space wore off.

I saved the box so that I might use it for a quick change of scenery when we are stuck inside the house. Although, I may have to invest in something a bit larger since a few more inches on Kz will have this box bursting at the seams and feeling like a jail instead of a new and exciting play space...