GARDEN PLAY
It’s hard to beat a more synonymous combination than summertime and outdoor play. Like peanut butter and jelly, summer means time outside mixed with sunshine and blue skies. The warmth woos each of us into nature, and this benefits us in multiple ways. We can capitalize on these benefits by integrating ways to play in our gardens and in our yards.
Benefits of Garden Play
When our eldest son was a baby, the cure-all for a fussy spell took only a simple step outside. Instantly, he would stop crying and with tears running down his chubby cheeks, he would look up into the sky in wonder. Most of us can relate to time outside reducing our stress. Similarly, our ability to focus and concentrate increases after outdoor activities. We see this embraced by a growing number of companies incorporating recreation into their work culture. Nike offers soccer fields and running trails on their campus. Once a month, MINDBODY gives its employees ‘adult recess’. There’s a ‘Let My People Go Surfing’ policy at Patagonia that encourages employees to participate in outdoor activities during the day.
Outdoor play facilitates building relationships and teaches children how to socially engage with others. Nature play simply puts us in a better mood. Natural light stimulates the release of chemicals in our brains that make us feel good. Vitamin D, produced by the body with the help of sunlight, is linked to happiness and depression relief. And if you’re struggling with sleep, get outside for playtime! Natural light plays a major role in regulating our circadian rhythm.
Ideas for Implementing Garden Play
With all these ways outdoor play fosters our well-being, how can such activities be incorporated into our own gardens? From super simple to complex, the list is endless. Experimenting with different edible plants is a simple place to start. This is doable no matter the scale of your outdoor space. Planter pots arranged on an apartment balcony, or a larger garden plot both yield activity in fresh air and sunshine. If leisure beckons you for outside time, try hanging a hammock or swing where you can lounge and read. Practicing yoga outside is another fun activity to try. It brings a whole new dimension to the experience of being in the open air without the confinement of walls and a ceiling.
On the other side of the spectrum, for those fueled with a little more energy, building a home obstacle course is growing in popularity. It’s a great way to blow off some steam for that stress relief. Maybe you have room for a sport court of some kind -Bocce, shuffleboard, pickleball? If you have the budget, pools and hot tubs are wonderful ways to incorporate outdoor connection. There’s nothing like gazing at the stars while melting in a jacuzzi.
RootBound Projects
Our team has had great fun with some unique projects that encourage outdoor play. Last year, we designed a natural playground for some special kiddos. The space included a rock scramble, tree-stump walk, slide, tree trunk balance beams, a variety of swings, and a vehicle track. Another project set for summer installation this year incorporates just about every outdoor activity you could imagine: bocce, shuffleboard, pool, cold plunge, basketball, tennis, kitchen garden, and walking trails. For another family, we designed a multi-purpose driveway that will also serve as a pickleball court. The purchase of an extra, unbuildable lot by another client posed a unique challenge to create a usable space with a purpose. The answer took shape with a game yard equipped with half basketball court, shuffleboard, life-size chessboard, fire pit and a sunken trampoline. Ponds and meadows are common elements we love to build into our larger properties. They facilitate activities like fishing, hiking, and bird watching.
Garden play is the yin to the yang of our modern lifestyles. It nurtures our health in multiple ways, benefiting us physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally. By embracing this reality, we can all improve the quality of our lives by implementing playtime in the exterior spaces that surround us.