How To Create a Natural Playground at Home
Last Updated: Apr 13, 2025Did you know only 21% of kids are getting outside to play every day? Childhood playtime has decreased, as schoolwork has become more time consuming and free time filled with tablets, TV, computers, cell phones, and video games. But playtime isn't just for fun; it's an essential piece of childhood.
Kids learn valuable lessons while playing, including interpersonal skills, language skills, problem-solving skills, and how to manage their emotional responses. Studies show children benefit from time spent outdoors where they can be active and creative. Time outdoors is critical for both the body and for mental health.
There are tons of options in play structures, from swing sets to playhouses, but these all serve a set purpose and a limited age range. Alternatively, natural play areas are designed to fit into your existing landscape, encourage free play, and grow with your children. They can also be significantly more affordable to build and maintain.
Table of Contents
- What is a Natural Playground?
- Why Should I Build a Natural Playground at Home?
- How Big Does My Natural Playground Need to Be?
- Ideas for Building Your Own Natural Playground
- What Materials Should I Use to Build a Natural Playground?
- Tips and Tricks for Lasting Use as Children Mature
- Build a Natural Playground in Your Own Backyard
What is a Natural Playground?
Naturalized or natural playgrounds look vastly different from one to the next. However, they all have key characteristics that make them "naturalized."
Bespoke Design in Natural Playgrounds
No two yards are identical. Naturalized playgrounds are bespoke, each designed for its own unique yard. They might highlight a hill, making use of large rocks, weave around a garden, or even build up into tall trees.
If you're considering building a new natural play area, start by observing your yard and the features that make it unique.
Multisensory Experiences in Natural Playgrounds
Natural play areas aren't just a place to run off a case of the wiggles. They are designed to stimulate the senses to teach and challenge kids while they play.
A naturalized playground should offer a wide range of sensory opportunities and experiences. Leaning into the environment, you might build a play space into a fragrant flowerbed, mirror the colors in your yard, or hang wooden wind chimes.
Multipurpose & Evolving Natural Playgrounds
Kids change their interests by the minute. Naturalized playgrounds are more likely to grow with children when they are built with a broad sense of opportunity. For example, a swath of curved, sloped concrete could be used as a canvas for chalking, a skateboarding ramp, or a place to sit and relax on any given day. As children become teenagers, playgrounds can evolve into space to practice a curveball or serve as an outdoor gym.
Risky Opportunities in Natural Playgrounds
As a parent, risk may be the last thing you want to build into your kid's playground. But, children will take risks with or without your blessing. Why not create safe opportunities for them to take risks? Ropes courses, swinging bridges, and climbing walls are all excellent challenges to overcome at any age. Spongy moss planted underneath is also a fantastic, natural way to soften accidental tumbles.
Tips and Tricks for Lasting Use as Children Mature
It may be hard to imagine it now, but your little one will eventually grow up, and the way he plays will change. Unstructured playgrounds facilitate free play, regardless of age and are more likely to mature with your child.
Naturalized playgrounds also leave room for adding new features to challenge growing minds. For example, today's mud kitchen might evolve into a chemist station down the line.
Build a Natural Playground in Your Own Backyard
Kids thrive when given the opportunity to test their personal limits and explore creatively. Free play encourages independence, problem-solving, use of language skills, sharing, and so much more. If you're thinking about building a new play space to help your kids run off all that excess energy, consider a naturalized playground. Unlike common plastic playground equipment, naturalized play areas are designed to fit your yard's landscaping and use materials you probably already have lying around.
There really is no wrong way to design and build a naturalized playground, so feel free to run wild with your creative ideas. Don't be afraid to get in there and play with your kids either! Adults benefit from play, just like children do. Why not build the play equipment sturdy enough for you too? You'll benefit from the outdoor exercise, and your kids will love exploring the new dynamic in your relationship. Playing together helps build valuable trust, teamwork, and social skills.
Laura Bourland
Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.
