PLANT CLUB: Plants for Play!

Definitions: Nature Play and Natural Play Areas:

Natural Play Areas are a defined space that encourages children to explore nature in a safe setting. Play elements should be made from natural materials such as wood, stone, or metal instead of plastic. Areas are best when they include places where children can choose what they want to do. Build a fort or play with building blocks, make mud pies, read a book or listen to story time under a tree, climb on a log, roll down a hill, pick a flower, watch a butterfly, the possibilities are great. It is easier to say what they are not. They are not sports fields and they are not monolithic play structures.

Nature Play and Unstructured Play are often the same. Both allow children to make choices, create their own stories and games, encourage them to take risks, and offer them opportunities to move…