Imaginative Play for Kids [and a giveaway]

This givaway has now closed.  Winners are:

• Shelly - Tropical Mum
• Mum on the Run
• Trish
• tHIrteen
• Raelene graham

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Given my children are young, play is mighty important in our home.

They look to me a lot for stimulation.  To come up with ideas for them, provide them with things to do.

As a parent, I don't want every activity I provide to cost a fortune, and I honesty believe in the children having the opportunity to stimulate their own play.  This is often known as imaginative play.

The Natural Confectionery Company recently conducted a survey amongst parents and found they wanted more time for imaginative play, but majority were suffering from family fatigue.  I know that feeling.

Following the results of the survey, The Natural Confectionery Company in conjunction with Western Sydney Parklands and Blacktown City Council have rejuvenated The Kookaburra Playground at Nurragingy Reserve, creating a haven for kids, stimulating imaginative play.  Their aim in doing this was to create a playground featuring lots of natural materials, such as sandstone, river stones, recycled timber sleepers and shipping ropes and the list goes on...

If you're in Sydney, they are having the official opening and family day next Sunday 6th November.  They are providing a free breakfast, as well as fun filled family activities.  The official festivities will take place between 7am and midday.

If you'd like to go along, head to Kookaburra Playground, Nurragingy Reserve.  [Enter at Knox Rd, Doonside]

Unfortunately for us, we are in Melbourne, so going along to the family day is not a possibility.  That said there are plenty of opportunities for Imaginative Play in your own backyard.

Today we got our chalk out and decided to go hang out in our front yard.  We have a large concrete driveway and this is the perfect canvas for some chalk art.

Chalk is cheap, I always make sure we have a stash, so essentially this activity is almost free.  The great thing about this is you can take a number of different approaches.

# Our kids drew some pictures, this allowed them to be creative and use their imagination

# We drew a hopscotch on the ground which also allows for some physical movement

# The baby decided he wanted to ride his little bike around, so we decided to draw our own track too

 I also love that I can relax, as I Supervise them out the front.

Below is some other ideas for imaginative play in your own backyard:

• Provide your children with a scrapbook to record their adventures
• Challenge balance and co-ordination, providing things to climb and play on
• Create imaginative play settings [e.g. a sheet over a tree branch to create a cubby]
• Encourage natural art, using glue and loose objects such as sand, leaves, sticks

Thanks to The Natural Confectionery Company and Liquid Ideas I have 5 Natural Confectionery Prize Packs to giveaway.

To enter follow this blog and leave a comment below telling me what is your kids favourite activity when they're outdoors.

Details:

• Please ensure your email is attached to your entry, if I can't contact you I will redraw
• If you don't respond within one week, I'll redraw
• Open to Australian Residents Only
• If you share this giveaway via Facebook or Twitter, leave a separate comment telling me for an additional entry
• Competition closes Sunday 6th November at Midnight

Cheers

Mandy


Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive five prize packs in return for promotion of the opening of the Kookaburra Playground.