The following post is by editor Kara Fleck and was originally published May 2010.

Kids need spaces for playing and exploring.  A backyard can become a pretend jungle for your young wild things, a field for soccer or baseball games, or even a three ring circus.  It is a great place for running races or games of freeze tag. Backyards are places to make messes, release energy, and engage in sensory play. But, what if you don’t have a backyard? How can you give your kids those experiences?

Even with a limited space and resources, one can recreate some of the elements of backyard play, even without the backyard, by adapting them to the space and resources that you do have.

A Place to Splash

I grew up along the banks of a river and my grandparents had a swimming pool. We have a small kiddie pool set up in our backyard now, and my kids (and the dog) all like to run through the sprinkler, too. But not every child grows up in a place with those opportunities for playing in the water.

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The following is a guest post by Stephanie Trementozzi of Always Outdoors.  I’m so pleased to welcome Stephanie, who is sharing her expertise on camping and the outdoors with us. I thought her submission was perfect timing for Earth Day and for those of you who have been observing Screen Free Week with your kids. Enjoy! – Kara

In our busy world today, our children experience many different activities, such as sports, dance, after school clubs and all kinds of lessons.  These are great for the individual, but they don’t do much to “bond” the family together.  That is why a family camping trip is perfect for bringing parents and children together in a common goal and activity.

Preparation is key to guaranteeing a successful camping trip.  Preparation falls into three main categories:  planning the trip, getting there, and campground activities.

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