Comments on: 18 Free {or almost free} Cool Features to Add to Your Backyard Playground

By: Mathew Wright

Mathew Wright — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 14:25:39 +0000

Awesome ideas! There are so many ways to improve the experience of kids in backyard DIY playgrounds, and it doesn’t need to be expensive at all. Kids are increasingly getting so attached to their gizmos and gadgets that play times are fast vanishing. It is a great idea to incorporate a backyard playground, in order to encourage outdoor activities in children, which is necessary for their holistic development.

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Mon, 30 May 2016 18:12:10 +0000

In reply to Anya.

Hi Anya. I always have a large bowl of soapy water on the deck for the kids to wash up in. That’s great for hands and arms. The garden hose takes care of legs and feet, and everyone always has a change of clothing here in case they need it. 🙂 The great thing about kids is they’re 100% washable. 🙂 Also, on days like this we only go inside for naps. Snack and lunch are eaten on the deck, or under the tree in our backyard. That keeps the indoor mess/traffic to a minimum as well. 🙂

By: Anya

Anya — Sat, 28 May 2016 17:24:29 +0000

Love the ideas on this post. Can you share how you ‘clean’ the kids when you transition inside? I love the idea of allowing kids to play with mud and sand and get messy, but I don’t want that all inside my house? Any tips you have would be great!

By: Beril

Beril — Wed, 18 May 2016 18:35:11 +0000

In reply to Kisenok. I totally agree with you. Hooligans are not a word I would use it for my day care/home kids or for any kids actually. Except the "hooligans " I love love love what you shared on here. I'm bookmarking this and will be making some of this for my son (I don't have a day home). Thank you. And please let me where you are located im looking for a day home for my son and yours seem to be perfect

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:49:47 +0000

In reply to Kisenok.

Hiya! So glad you’re enjoying our activities! I love sharing our ideas, and hearing back from followers who are inspired by what we do here! Thanks too for sharing your views on the name of my blog. I did actually have second thoughts about the name of my blog when I first launched it 4 years ago, and I wrote about it in this post: https://happyhooligans.ca/should-i-change-our-name/. The positive feedback that I received after publishing the post was such that I decided to stick with it, and I’m truly glad I did. I hope you read the post, and the comments that follow. You’ll see why I decided to keep it. 🙂

By: Kisenok

Kisenok — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:29:48 +0000

What lovely wonderful ideas!!! Thank you so much for sharing these, we’ll surely will use a few in our garden! I found that your blog provides the most doable creative and fun ideas for building outside playground for little ones. So, thank you once again!
p.s. pls don’t take it the hard way but you seem to be very fond of the word “hooligans” calling your little
charges this .. i find that very few people really know the history of this word (and therefore the exact meaning of it) – that is a surname of some real but utterly despicable character that used to mug, cheat, kill and vandalize (not a naughty sweet kind of guy for sure). The guy built a gang whose doings got into newspapers and that was how his surname became first known and then turned into a namesake. Later on there was a comic series depicting another Hooligan family – a family of Irish immigrants represented in rather ridiculous and offensive light. For some reason this information is although existing but a bit ambiguous in English. In my native language (we also have this exact word) this is a fact solid enough to be found in etymological dictionary and backed up by the pictures of newspapers of that time..

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 04:00:02 +0000

In reply to Brent. Wow, that's unfortunate. Where do you live? Jeepers, and they complain that kids don't get enough fresh air and exercise anymore. I wonder why...

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 03:19:21 +0000

In reply to happyhooligans.

Thanks for mentioning all of this….I know my last yard was only 80 by 125 and some of these could have been done in the fenced in patio area…but even with 5 acre lots now…most of these would have to be temporary, as the town does not allow most of these to even be in the yard overnight, let alone long term. Most areas have zoning laws about most of this being set up long term.

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 04:22:06 +0000

In reply to Cora. Yes! I would love to have a clear outdoor easel too!

By: Cora

Cora — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 02:53:13 +0000

I have been trying for years to fine something different for my day care kids to do besides play and these are all awesome ideas. another thing i have thought about was hanging plexiglass on chains on the fence for the kids to paint on,but I love all your ideas have the yard and fence to try all..

By: vftmom247

vftmom247 — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 17:00:10 +0000

Good ideas here – but since rainy, snowy winter is fast approaching, what kinds f activity things can move inside?

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 01:41:30 +0000

Great collection of outdoor activities, Jackie! I especially like the mobile mud pit and the tightrope – I think those may need added to our backyard soon:o) Sharing on FB and pinning!

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:36:49 +0000

In reply to Ashlee. Oh good! I'm so glad it was perfect for you, Ashlee!

By: Ashlee

Ashlee — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 12:44:34 +0000

Seriously such a timely and excellent post for me! Thank you! Thank you! Genius, really!!!

By: happyhooligans

happyhooligans — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:07:23 +0000

In reply to Sharon. We have a good-sized yard, Sharon, but remember it's my family's home, so this stuff isn't scattered all around the yard all the time. There are a few things like the tightrope, clothesline, bucket and tire swing that are permanently set up in the back corner of my yard. Everything else, like the wheelbarrow, whiteboard, tarp, water wall, balance beam etc. are brought out during play time, and tucked away at the end of the day. We don't have all of it set up all of the time. Maybe the white board comes out once a week. Same with the water wall. Smaller items like the water jug and storage containers/water tables are kept in the shed, and brought on days when we'll use them. The coffee table sits on my deck when it's not in use.

By: Theres Just One Mommy

Theres Just One Mommy — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:25:35 +0000

We love our water wall and tree stumps! So many fun ideas!

Pinned and sending my sister this way to check out ideas for her little daycare group this year! So fun!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:19:50 +0000

How big is your backyard? I’m trying to figure how in the world I can fit even two of these.

By: Jean Alam

Jean Alam — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:02:54 +0000

I love your running water idea. I actually did this for my daughter but used an empty bulk sized laundry detergent.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:29:00 +0000

I love the water and sand wall, I am going to make it for my son this this summer 🙂 thanks for the post, some great ideas!