Nature Play Spaces

Parks & People values children’s play in outdoor green spaces. To raise awareness about the benefits of nature play, we install demonstration nature play spaces at events. We also install permanent nature play spaces at schools, recreation facilities, and day care centers.

What is a nature play space?
With free or inexpensive natural materials, any backyard, schoolyard, daycare center, or vacant lot can become a place where children play and explore nature for hours. The beginnings of a nature play space often include “loose parts” or individual items from nature including tree slices (pictured), tree branches, leaves, vines, and sand. Children can arrange and rearrange these loose parts in endless ways to create forts, fairy houses, or mud pies. They can turn over logs and discover insect worlds. They can use their five senses to explore a real place and connect to it in a way that can never be experienced through videos or computers.

Why do children need natural play spaces?
Nature play is an essential part of childhood and children who are allowed time to freely connect with nature have a much better chance of growing into adults who appreciate community, diversity, and the environment. Nature as teacher instills wonder, creativity and respect. Research has shown that free play in nature increases children's cognitive flexibility, emotional capacity, critical thinking, problem solving, use of imagination, self-esteem, and self-discipline.

Want more ideas?  Check out the Maryland Department of Natural Resources new Nature Play Spaces Pattern Book. It's a great resource for anyone interested in creating or updating a nature play space!

For more information on nature play spaces, email Mary Hardcastle or call her at (410) 448-5663.