My girls have never been big fans of playing outside. Through the years I have suggested they play outside each time the typical "I'm bored" comment escaped their lips. One of the reasons we bought this house was because it had a more kid friendly backyard than our last house. Sadly, I am quite certain my girls are convinced that wild and ferocious beasts roam the backyard, just waiting for the girls to come and play so that they can attack! So the backyard is pretty much unused. But - I finally have a kid who wants to play in the backyard!
A few weeks ago it seemed that Ben was emerging into a world of constant crankiness & frustration. Still a novice at raising a boy, it did eventually occur to me that maybe Ben needed something more in his world of play. He was bored with his toys, preferring to fight me for the broom every time I swept the kitchen floor. He seemed the happiest when he got to occasionally go outside with dad and help rake the leaves or just run around. And so began out project of "BENifying" the backyard.
I wanted Ben to be able to go outside in the backyard by himself, but he couldn't be trusted. Each time I opened the back door, he would immediately gravitate to the furthermost crevice of the yard where he was completely hidden from the mama's view. This, or course, would not do. I had images of my baby Ben hanging out with dead bunnies & creepy spiders (which did happen last fall - at least the dead bunny part). I wanted to keep Ben within the area of the backyard right outside the back door so that I could know if trouble was brewing. So Brad came up with a toddler-size, temporary fence, which he put up in just one afternoon. The next step was a little sand so Ben could use his shovel and pail to haul sand from one side of his now smaller yard to the other. We have little piles of sand everywhere!
I am happy to say that the once cranky & frustrated Ben is thankfully gone. Between the new Thomas magnetic train set daddy got him, and the "BENified" backyard, little Ben has just what he needs to stay entertained, busy, and challenged for hours. This is going to be a great spring!
Yes - he did figure out how to unlatch the little gate in about a day, so Brad got a small padlock to take care of that problem.
6 comments:
Yeah for Ben! He looks so grown up in these pictures. I guess he is going to be 2. He is looking like a 2-year-old. What a cute boy he is. I am so glad he has somewhere fun to get his play time in:)Yeah for Brad for coming up with the temporary fence:)
Isn't it something how boys and girls ARE just inherently different?? I love your Ben-ified backyard!
Cute, cute pictures & a fun, fun age!
Fabulous! The one thing I've learned about boys from my 3 (After growing up with no brothers) is they need heeps and heeps of "large muscle" play each day--the more outside the better. And so far, the older they get, the more they need. I think a benified backyard is brilliant. Good work!
where did you get that great sand? is it soft like a volleyball court? so fun!
This is so great, I might have to to this as well, my girls love outside, and have missed it so much....as well as their mother! I love what you did inexpensive but workable, and temporary! You guys are so smart! Pretty soon Ben is going to have that distinctive little boy smell....its coming! He is so dang cute...and really growing in just the couple of months since I have seen him.
Post a Comment