Easy, Cheap, Natural Play Ideas for Boys

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In Waldorf method a child's play area should consist of natural play that allows children to mimic a home-like setting. Typically a Waldorf play space will have a play kitchen, broom, mop, ironing board, cradles, etc.

Since I have boys this home-keeping method only seems to work for us until they turn around 3 years old, and then they are no longer interested in mimicking homemaking skills but would rather mimic more "boy" oriented areas.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately since I'm getting ready to re-do my boy's play space. Here are some of my thoughts;

Building space

Create a building area with wooden blocks, sticks, twigs, flat river rocks, and large feathers. Include things to fasten pieces together such as small sections of rope, play silks, and clothes pins.

Transportation Space

Create small ramps with boards and wood blocks. Creat small bridges with straight wooded boards and blocks. Have a basket nearby with a selection of cars and trucks.

Garden Space

Go to the Dollar Store or craft store and the local garden shop and stock up on (plastic) flower pots, small shovels, watering cans, and fabric flowers and plants. For the play "dirt" you can use brown tissue paper, marbles (for older children), wool, cotton, stuffing from an old pillow or scraps of brown felt.

Fix It Space

Go to the hardware store and look for wrenches, washers and bolts that are large, solid and have no sharp edges. Store them in an old tool bench, a small case, box or basket. Provide a log with holes drilled in it for "fixing."

Frontier Space

Build a teepee with some wooded poles and a sheet. Place inside some bead craft supplies (for older kids), cowboy hats, stuffed horses, horse shoes, a saddle, woven baskets, dried ears of corn, a metal wash tub, etc.


Space Adventure

Use an old fridge box, turn it upside down, cut a hole and leave a door flap or hang a dark blanket over the hole. On the inside of the box attach glow in the dark stars or paint it with glow in the dark paint. This will fit easily in the corner of a room. The outside can also be painted as a rocket ship or space craft.

The High Seas

An old canoe or small inflatable raft can become a pirate ship! Make some paper hats, wear scarves, get an old compass and fill a jewelry box with foreign coins and you've got everything your boys need for adventure!

Camp Out

Try setting up a small pup tent in your child's room. Add some flash lights, maybe a sleeping bag, a pole and string for play fishing, stuffed fish, and some sticks for a pretend fire.

Neat ideas for boy-based art work include pictures of wooded cottages, gnomes, Robin Hood in Sherwood forest (1) (2), Knights, Pirates, Peter Pan (1) (2), King Arthur, etc.

Remember to check your local thrift shop and freecycle for supplies!