We had glorious weather this weekend and we spent pretty much all of it having fun in the warm winter sunshine!
One of the main reasons we are able to spend so much time outside getting some more landscaping done was because the girls were kept so busy with a new feature in our sandpit.
His patient self finished off another little project for our outdoor playspace this weekend and it was made entirely from recycled materials so it cost us next to nothing!
I am actually still in awe of how such a simple piece of equipment kept the toddler twosome busy for an entire weekend!
Want to see what fun they got up to? No electrical devices required here!!
His patient self first dug into his used pallets stash (we have used them in so many projects so far!) then made a basic frame as you can see in the pictures below. He did of course take apart a pallet first so he had just the wood slats to reuse…a pretty simple activity, just a little time consuming!
With the frame in place he used part of another pallet to form a kitchen bench with a tray underneath which acts as an oven. Onto this he screwed a few different plastic lids i had saved to form hotplates.
We added some cup hooks underneath the roof of the kitchen and also onto the sides to hang utensils and anything else they decide they need to create magic in their sand kitchen.
He also added a few boards at the back for bracing (this is apparently very important!)
We set it up in the sandpit while the girls were having a nap and then couldn't wait for them to wake up and explore!
It was truly wonderful to see their faces and to watch how they played with their new sand kitchen. A little sand, a little water and lots of imagination made for a magical scene.
Tara was very intent on making her cupcakes and the batter in the pan had to be just right before she began ladling into the cupcake tray!
One of the things i loved the most about this outdoor fun was that it provided so many opportunities for the girls to play together and disappear into their own little world…no adults required!In the photos below they had set up a little cake shop! Ruby seems to love perching on a rock behind the kitchen and Tara loves the front.
Making cupcakes became a very important task…there was much mixing and ladling and stirring until finally the cakes were ready to go into the oven tray…..
A little turn of one of the oven knobs ….not sure if it became a timer or was just used to ‘turn the oven on' but either way it wasn't missed!
We did add a few different sized lids screwed on loosely so they could turn and act as oven knobs.
Ruby preferred to make some soup with her saucepan and various spoons…it was fascinating to watch the concentration and selection of materials….The addition of real cooking equipment and items the girls see me using often in the kitchen encouraged the exploration of real life play and imitation.
While the soup was boiling and the cakes were cooking it allowed us a little time to discover and hide new friends in our rock quarry …..
And do a little more planting around the rocks….both girls love to help dig holes and plant seedlings….yes it does take longer and can be a little stressful at times but it is worth it when you hear them ask if they “can go and see their plants growing tomorrow?”
I was particularly impressed with how Tara added some yellow stones to one of her plantings…with no prompting from me whatsoever….perhaps we have a future landscaper on our hands!
This planting will be part of our sensory garden….I chose different grasses – soft, tall, short, spongy, bushy, sparse. I also added a few different lavenders which the girls loved smelling as they planted. There is much more planting still to be done but we have made a start! By using small seedlings and punnets we can make our budget stretch a lot further too.
And of course there is always time for a little rock walking and balancing fun!
As the sun began to go down on our weekend there was just enough time to finish up a little more raking and planting…..
And to enjoy a quiet moment on a rock to appreciate a new play friend! What a busy weekend it was!
His patient self also managed to finish the new chook shed which has the best view any chicken will ever see…but that is a post for another day.
Do you know any children who could have fun with a pallet sand kitchen? Why not make one or something similar next weekend? Even a box or old table will work as long as there is some sand or dirt and a little water.
Why not help some outdoor magic happen at your place too?
Oh my!! I am pinning this gorgeous kitchen and putting it STRAIGHT on our to do list! 🙂 Hopefully we can grab some pallets free and this will make a wonderful addition to Miss Daisy’s outdoor play scape! 🙂 I am constantly inspired by your wonderful creations Jodie! x
Thanks Bekka…how lovely of you! I do so love the humble pallet…good luck with your hunt!
They just love it dont they, its the simple things that keep them amused for ages…my middle girl, is 10 and her favourite game outside still, is fake food cooking….her and her sister are out there for hours, chopping up anything and everything from the garden in little pots and making it all into the fake ‘food’…..
The kitchen and rock area look fabulous.
They really do love it, Miss Teen still joins in the play cooking, i think it’s such a lovely expression of freedom and creativity for all ages!Love that your 10 yr old still indulges in that play too!
This is brilliant. I am putting that on Mr Provincial’s to do list when we get to our new house and construct the sandpit!
lovely to see you stop by! I think I may be unpopular with many husbands at the moment as i am adding to the wishlists!!
What a wonderful play space!
Thanks Emma…the girls are loving it i must say!
This is brilliant Jode!! Love it, so clever. The girls are going to have hours and hours of fun!! What a great backyard 🙂
Thanks Kelly…the backyard has become my saviour with the toddler behaviour that’s going on at the moment 😉
I am going to show hubby this. He’s been at home with the girls all week (and has been meaning to get heaps done in the backyard). Guess how much he’s got done. Zero (all mums laugh out loud right now). I’ll give him this little hint to help him this coming week. *evil cackle*
Had to have a little laugh at this comment Penny!Would love to be there when you give him your hint, hehe. Can’t imagine why he didn’t get anything done? 😉
Very clever!
Isn’t your outdoor area expanding beautifully.
I love how simple your kitchen is to build, very cute & practical, just about anyone should be able to pull it off
Thanks Rez…it’s coming along nicely now although the rain is currently slowing us down!
What a great idea, it looks like so much fun to play with 🙂
Thanks Kylie x
Wow, that is brilliant – so simple, but hours of fun. I love your garden 🙂 Popping over from Country Kids xx
Thanks for stopping by Sara….I think the simple ideas always prove to make the most fun!!
Wow, your girls are going to have SOOO much fun with that outdoor kitchen!!
lovely to see you Amanda…they are indeed having so much fun with it and i love that it really didn’t cost us anything either!
You’ve created such a wonderful outdoor play area for your girls, they will have days of creative fun together developing their imaginations. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos and great ideas with Country Kids.
Thanks so much Coombe Mill…and for hosting your wonderful linky each week!
Giving you a little mention on this Saturday’s post. Hope you’ll pop over.
Yep showing it to hubby too 🙂 So fabulous. We’ve just (well he just) haha built Jack and Sar a sandpit, this can be our next project. Really love it. The pet store down the road gives away their pallets…. some for us I reckon 🙂
You are just so clever Jodie. Your family always have such great projects on the go. Thanks for sharing and I love the photographs,
i am sooooo pinning this in a moment!then i will show it to my OH and drop heavy hints! lol wow this sis such a fun thing to build for your children and no wonder they look to be having sooo much fun! brilliant x
Your husband is a genius. I’ve banned mine from power toolsm 🙂 Popping over from #CountryKids
This is great! So much inspiration here. Pinning … 🙂
This is great! So much inspiration here.