Playgrounds For Seniors Are Coming Soon To A City Near You
We all know that Zürich is not the cheapest place to live. However, Zürich boasts an impressive 160 public playgrounds which are free of charge...
Where in the heck have I been? Just about everywhere, but in front of the computer. We've had a lot of pans in the fire these days. And since I'm not the best multi-tasker, it has made me a little bananas. Okay, maybe a lot bananas. Anyway, we're still plugging away at them, and the backyard project is nearing the end. We had our pond removed after 14 years. We LOVED having it and loved the fish, and the beautiful sound of trickling water, but when our first grand baby was born over a year ago, we made the decision that the pond would go in the spring after he turned one. We didn't need the worry of having a pond that would be a danger to the little ones. So, we started thinking about what we wanted instead, and came up with the idea to extend our patio out over where the pond was, and to move the fire pit down to that area, too. So, these next several photos are what we began with. Keep in mind that these pictures where taken on April 5. I hadn't had the time to clean the yard up from the winter kill, so it's all looking a little drab. The lawn was still pretty grayish from the winter, too. This photo is looking from our cement patio out towards our pond. You can't see the pond here, but it's just after that horizontal row of rocks along the grass. And here's a photo of the boulders that lined the stream, which emptied into the pond. More boulder-lined stream bed... And this is the opposite end from the pond. We have a driveway in the backyard that goes to a garage outbuilding. So, this section of grass sloped up in a sort of ramp to the driveway. And this is a closer look at the pond.... looking a little green and full of leaves. These stairs and brick pathway were laid by my husband. He did a great job with that project! A photo from the pond end of the area, looking towards the other end. So you see, we had our work cut out for us. We had a couple of companies come and give us bids on removing the pond and rocks, and installing a paver patio. We found one that said he could finish in time for our annual extended family Easter egg hunt, so we gave him the green light and sat back and crossed our fingers. And that was 2-1/2 weeks before Easter. They swore up and down that they would be done, and we didn't have to give them any money beforehand, so I figured they must really know they could hit the deadline. We needed loads and loads of rocks hauled away before they could even begin removing the pond. After having them all hauled in 14 years ago, it was a little hard to see them all hauled away. That is, until I heard that the workers found a bunch of snakes (their words: a BUNCH) all in the rocks. After I heard that, I had a smile on the whole time they were hauling rocks away. See ya, wouldn't want to be ya. So, they hauled all the rocks away. It took them several loads in their trailer, and lots of hard work. This photo is from April 8. Still no change in the yard, and I was starting to feel panicky, but trying to stay optimistic. Finally, on April 9, they came and started hauling rocks away and moving dirt. This is a photo of the same area as above, the morning after they hauled a bunch of rocks away. Looking towards what used to be the pond. The tractor that plucked the rocks out and dropped them into the trailer The old pond area. This is about the time that my mom and sister happened to drop by. We weren't home, so they went around back to see the progress on our big project. Needless to say, I think they were dubious about the job being done in time for our Easter egg hunt and barbecue. My mom sent me an email later that night asking if I wanted her to try to do it at her place, bless her heart. I told her, "Oh no. The guys will for sure be done. No problem." All the while, I was hoping that those words wouldn't come back to bite me. Then, on April 15, we started seeing marked improvement. Four days left til the Easter Egg Hunt. Could they do it? The spot for the new splash pad! And on the 18th, the day before our big family Easter gathering, the guys were working til about 10:30 that night... These are the new stairs and walkway where our old stairs had been. This is a set of stairs that is right where our waterfall used to be, which dropped right into the pond. The stairs lead to a pathway that follows along where the stream used to be. Nice beautiful paver wall where the stones used to be. And it's low enough so that you can sit on it, which provides lots of seating. Since I didn't want a pool in our yard, we decided a splash pad would be safer and easier to maintain. And we're sure the grand kids will love it! The splash pad is in the circular cement area. The outer ring has the splash nozzles, and the inner cement area has a couple more nozzles and a drain. And there is the sweetest man in the world, picking up something or another that was leftover from the big Easter festivities. The stairs behind him lead up to that driveway that is in our backyard. Obviously I didn't have time to get plants in before our gathering, but that will come in good time. The yard was all usable, and beautiful, and mostly finished. The splash pad wasn't completely hooked up at the time, but we weren't planning on using it then, anyway. So, my doubts have been put to rest, and I have a renewed faith in mankind. I was pleased and actually surprised that it was mostly done and usable. The kiddos had fun hunting Easter eggs, and we all had fun eating and visiting on that incredibly lovely, warm day! And now that that is pretty much buttoned up, I can do the landscaping and we can work on our grandchildren's play area, Limberlost. Fun projects ahead! Splash pad -- up and running! By the way... the water pressure on the splash pad can be adjusted to any height. When they first turned it on, it shot up higher than our house, which is pretty high, considering the splash pad is on the basement level, and our house is two more stories above ground! We have it adjusted down to a nice easy-going height so it will be just right for the little ones.
Fun Rock Activities for kids for outdoor plau. 5 fun free play ideas for kids that encourages their creativity, team work, imagination and problem solving.
Fun and crazy outdoor game for PE classes - CRAZY BALL #PE #PEGames #PEclass
These indoor and outdoor group games for preschoolers are simple, fun and educational. Build social skills while having fun.
Our two year old loves her busy box! We take it out to eat with us all the time and it keeps her happy and active through the whole meal!
Want to add a new fun activity to your next boot camp class? Try one of these great boot camp games that will both entertain and train participants…
Spring is a wonderful time of year to enjoy, explore and learn about the natural world, from new growth, buds and blossom of plants to animals nesting and raising young. Here are 30 fun and easy sp…
If you’re searching for fun activities for spring – indoor & outdoor, you’re in right place! Keep your learning spirit alive with our curated list of fun activities for spring – indoor & outdoor like indoor spring games activities for toddlers, DIY mason jar herb garden idea for spring, and simple outside easter egg spring […]
Outdoor activities, rollerskating, football, skateboarding, scooting, cycling, active kids, outdoor fun, family fun, exercise for kids,
If you are new to loose parts play it can be a little daunting to decide where to start. I decided to begin in a location that naturally inspires creativity while providing a plethora of free materials: the outdoors! In this loose parts play series post, we'll explore how you can enhance outdoor play with loose parts.
Ideas on how to combine movement and learning in the classroom and in therapy!
We all know how important Outdoor play is for kids but here are 5 Big Benefits of Outdoor Play and the amazing effects it can have on kids.
These incredible sidewalk chalk ideas for kids will easily bust through summertime boredom with fun games, learning activities, & cool chalk art creations!
Have you heard of all these different tag games for kids and chase games? These fun ideas are great for summer camp and backyard play.
Keep the kids moving, fit and having fun with these hilarious animal exercises! They'll love pretending to be one of their favorite animals!
Bring the joy of a traditional Brazilian pastime to your home with this colorful handmade Peteca toy! Crafted with care and attention to detail, this vibrant Peteca features a soft, durable base and bright, eye-catching feathers, making it perfect for indoor and outdoor play. Whether you're looking to introduce a fun, active game to your family or seeking a unique gift, this Peteca is sure to delight players of all ages. Peteca, a game similar to badminton, involves hitting the toy back and forth using the palm of your hand. It’s a fantastic way to improve coordination, agility, and reflexes while enjoying a playful workout. The lightweight design and soft materials make it safe for children and beginners, while the traditional crafting methods ensure authenticity and quality. Perfect for beach outings, backyard gatherings, or even solo play, this Peteca toy is a versatile addition to your collection of outdoor games. Embrace the lively spirit of Brazilian culture and create memorable moments with this delightful Peteca toy. Each peteca comes with 4 feathers installed They are made with vinyl and filled with synthetic filling. 🪶 Chicken 🐓 feathers 🪶 It's very soft to the touch and it doesn't hurt very light, they weight around 2 oz - 4 oz ⚡️ Safe for kids ⚡️ Soft padding ⚡️ Handcrafted ⚡️ Different colors to pick ⚡️ All family can have fun Check more beautiful items in our store and other peteca sizes as well: https://petecasartesaniamych.etsy.com
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Free Download! Please follow my page for updates on new products!!Wallball is a fun activity for students of all ability levels and a great activity for Physical Education! This download includes specific rules modified for indoor or outdoor play, equipment needs, set up, a brief intro to Wallball i...
Games promote team building, cooperation, and friendly competition. Active games also promote the BSA aim of personal fitness. Do you have a game that you would like to share? Contact me and I’ll share it here.
Get up and move and have fun doing it!
A Feel n' Find box is an amazing sensory activity that really challenges your toddlers to hone in on their sense of touch to identify hdden objects in the box...
Pendulum Water Blast: a visual tracking activity that combines water balloons, bats and paddles that is so much fun kids don't want to stop playing.
When we think back to our childhood, we recall fond memories of playing outside, often with siblings or friends and often engaging in pretend or imaginative play. These memories stick with us for a reason as outdoor play really is crucial to child development. Maybe we learned something while
IF YOUR kids haven’t used their trampoline in years, you may be planning to take it to the dump. But parents are being advised not to throw them away – and transform it into a comfy gar…
If you are looking for spatial awareness activities for kids, you've come to the right place! Give your child the opportunity to work on spatial awareness
This outdoor sidewalk chalk board game is the perfect outside activity for families. Simple to make and tons of family fun to play with. Spring is such a fun time to get outside with kids! We love to find fun games to play with sidewalk chalk, lawn games,
Parents: It’s your son’s birthday party. On the invitation, you wrote that the party would go from 12:00-3:00pm. It’s 2:00pm, and you’ve already gone through all the activit…
As Big Brother is getting older it's really interesting to see both his interests and skills develop into more specific skill sets. Lately he's been really interested in the building of things (mostly stemming from a love of Legos, Magnatiles, and our wooden railroad track.) As he leans that way I'm finding myself looking for other creative ways to develop those interests and skills. A few weeks ago he had the chance to observe a beaver dam up close with my husband on one of their nature walks. This lead to some great questions. A few days later I followed up with a drive to a local man made dam which he was able to inspect from a distance. When we came home I set up this building investigation in the yard. It was inspired by a great tinfoil river activity we did last year from the amazing book 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever by the team over at Kids Activities Blog. Similar to that experience, we used tinfoil to create a river (this time on our lawn.) This time we set it up on slight slope. The boys and I also collected natural materials from around the yard that might be useful in building the dam. We collected sticks, acorns, rocks, and old reeds from lilies. I added in a few non-natural materials I also thought Big Brother might want to use: modeling clay, popsicle sticks, and lumber scraps. Big Brother's goal was to be able to get his dam to hold enough water so that these three acorn boats could float. It was so interesting to watch his process, which mostly involved trial and error. First he started with just a pile of the wooden natural materials. When he observed the water move through those, he decided to try using more rocks. With each trial he would tweak his design a little, before trying again. In the end I encouraged him (although I was really trying to let it be his process to try using a little clay. I led him to the idea that he had seen mud on the beaver dams.) He started to get into the idea of building a space for the water to collect. He never quite got to the place where all the boats could continuously float, although his last design definitely best slowed down the water. He continued to tinker on his dam a few more days, and even brainstorm other materials he would like to add in. (Including trying to find some clay like mud on our property.) We'll definitely be looking for other ways to invite building experiences. What do your children like to build? This post may also have been shared at some of these terrific link parties.
