Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces That Connect Children with the Natural World

Building tree houses, climbing trees, and playing ball in backyards are many adults' favorite childhood memories, but structured and supervised may better describe kids at present, with more time spent in front of screens and less time outdoors. Landscape designer and early childhood educator Striniste offers up some good news, however, producing this resource after receiving inquiries from families, schools, early childhood programs, and municipalities looking for places for their children to play in nature. Striniste advocates activities in parks, schoolyards, common spaces in communities, and backyards. Everyday materials such as pizza boxes, duct tape, and PAM cooking spray are used for some of the projects, with others requiring more expensive items. Enjoying gardens that engage the five senses, creating yard fixtures to attract wildlife, and making a butterfly-friendly area are but a few of the ideas included in this eye-catching volume.