As the weather is getting warmer and we’re starting to spend more time outside I thought I’d show you one way my girls love to play in our garden: in our Dinosaur Land. Big recently did a ‘show and tell’ at school about gardening and the Dinosaur Land proved to be so popular an idea with her classmates, that several of them have gone home and made their own – so it comes highly recommended.
This kind of ‘small world’ play is fantastic for young children: they get to be the boss of the world, create characters, role play situations, use their language skills, be imaginative….. I love watching children engaged in this kind of play as it really gives you an insight into where they’re at, what’s concerning them, what they’re exploring at this present time. Big’s characters are often having battles at the moment, as she works through ideas of ‘being fair’ and negotiations. Little’s play in nearly always focused on a family group and playing out familiar routines – her dinosaurs get tucked up in bed and read a bedtime story.
As always, this idea is easy to make and you’re likely to have most, if not all, of the things you need around your home.
Start by finding a big plastic storage box and making some drainage holes in the bottom. Then let your children fill it up with soil – good, messy fun. Add a few rocks – we have one big one, which the dinosaurs like to stand on to survey their territory, and some smaller one to sit on. How about some plants for the dinos to eat and hide in? Have you got one to spare somewhere in one of your borders? The grassy one we used works really well – low maintenance, pretty robust and won’t get too overgrown. You can add any other props which catch your children’s eye: glass pebbles, fir cones, sticks, water too if you’d like a swamp area.
Then it’s over to the kids to get playing.
If your children are enjoying the garden, have a look at our Sunflower Club for more outside play ideas.
Again such a great idea, the boys will love this. I am honored to be in the top 5 for the MAD Family Blogger with you Cathy, well done and you will be getting my vote
Thank you Mrs. Mad and congratulations to you. I feel it’s an honour too – that people have taken the time to nominate us. It’s a great way to help spread the word that play is great for kids.
What a terrific idea. My kids at preschool love making little worlds of all kinds – we use shallow containers of sand and lots of natural bits and pieces and small animals / dinosaurs much like you did. Something they love to add is water – sometimes we add small dishes or containers in amongst the plants. I love yours – it looks like somewhere dinosaurs would love to live!
Thanks Jenny. Adding water is a great idea. We have another ‘world’ we’re working on at the moment which I’ll be posting soon – something with a touch of magic!
This is just so much fun! And CONGRATULATIONS on being a MAD finalist – that’s just brilliant!
Thanks Zoe – I’m very surprised but delighted.
I saw a wonderful ‘indoor’ version of this in a book somewhere, which you created by chopping the tops off leafy root vegetables, and placing them in a shallow tray of water for them to grow in, thus creating trees and islands in a swamp. I haven’t tried it, and it would of course take a week or two to grow, but it’s supposed to last for a few weeks.
Jude, I like the sound of that. We might give it a try – make our dino’s a little holiday home.
My girls will love this!! They were just gifted with a set of small plastic dinosaurs from the science center… fun!
I love this idea! Need to figure out space for this dino garden, but I think my daughter will love it.
Just spent a pleasant half hour watching my grandchildren playing!
Love your blog especially how to build a fairy garden.
Love Mum x
Ooooh, a comment from my mum!!! How very modern – will you start tweeting me now too? xxxx