The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

Outdoor Play Area – Build a Mound/Hill Slide!

by 34 Comments

The latest addition to outdoor play area is something I have wanted to create since we first began landscaping the yard to turn it into a child friendly environment.

We are fortunate to have the space to be able to include these sort of elements and I love being able to finish products I have been seeing in my mind for what seems like ages!

Build a Mound or Hill Slide

Regular readers will know we have a huge pile of dirt to move out of the yard after the retaining walls were erected. Some of this dirt we decided to put to good use as a mound for a slide area…..

We haven't really had a slide in the backyard apart from this little plastic one from a climbing frame…it is often propped up against the sandpit boulders to provide a little slide into the sand….
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
But this space has been crying out for a little makeover and I have known for quite some time what I wanted to put here!
Eventually, (when someone fills my purse with actual money that is ) we will be planting some lovely shade trees along the fence boundaries to enclose the area and provide natural shade from our harsh Summer sun….but for now the mound slide project was something we could complete to provide another little area within the yard.
We chose to place the slide here because we wanted to be able to utilise the natural slope of the yard.
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
His Patient Self used the excavator to transport some soil (although there were quite a few wheelbarrow loads too!)across to the slide site. Ruby decided she needed to do the same on their excavator in the sandpit (Can you believe a $2 buy from the op shop?!) while Tara chose to perch in her favourite spot and observe all the action intently.
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
There was a lot of hands on shaping of the mound and getting it to just the right angle and fall for a good slide speed! Luckily we had two little toddler helpers that were happy to be testers for us.
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
Once the mound was firmly packed and in the shape we wanted it was time to add some steps. We had thought of a few possibilities including a pallet ladder or climbing board but decided to use materials we had leftover from other recent projects.
So the steps were made from a few small boulders and wood offcuts. His Patient Self made small trenches before placing each step in and making sure they were close to level…we then filled in the dirt around them.
Stepping on them bedded them really well which I guess makes sense since that's what steps are for!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
There is no real need for the steps, It is only a small mound so children are able to clamber up the side easily but I felt this added a little touch of whimsy and is something else to climb and balance on!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
As you can see in the picture below they are by no means perfect…or even straight but don't you think that just adds to the charm?
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
As soon as we gave the ok, the toddler twosome were straight onto it to test out their skills! They were so excited and there was much risk taking and exploring with different ways to slide!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
Ruby seemed to particularly enjoy the sensory aspects of the slide…climbing, sliding and swinging always calm her down when she is entering sensory overload. Using her large muscles during play has the effect of centering and calming her and she slept so well this night!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
Lots of discovery and imaginative play occurred all afternoon…even Miss Teen had to join in!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
I decided to finish the mound off the next day as I just didn't have the heart to ask the girls to get off as they were having so much fun!
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
To save money I scoured our established front gardens and was able to get a little collection of plants to add to the mound.
We could have left it for the grass to eventually grow over it but his patient self pointed out that it it would be quite difficult to mow so I decided to turn it into a sensory garden.
There are grasses that will grow and move in the wind…some soft and others broad and strappy, some succulents that will grow down the mound and withstand the heat, and a few smaller plants that offer different aromas as they are brushed against or picked. All are hardy plants and able to withstand the trampling of little feet once they are established.
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun

A little softfall mulch to hold everything together and provide a softer place to land and our new slide and mound are finished! The mulch and plants offer their own opportunities for sensory play and exploration…..the rest of the discovery I shall leave to the children…they will know just what to do, I plan to enjoy sitting back and watching!

Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun

Do you have a slide in your backyard or an idea of how you would like to incorporate one?
Hill Slide Fun from The Empowered Educator! Add a climbing challenge to your outdoor play area with this simple DIY mound or hill slide. No hardware required and easy to remove when no longer needed! Perfect project for parents, educators and early childhood teachers who value engaging outdoor play spaces! #outdoorplay #diy #outdoorspace #backyard #naturalplay #hillslidefun
For more kid friendly backyard ideas why not have a look at my Pinterest board…Kid Friendly Backyard Ideas

A Little About Me

Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.


Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.

Comments

  2. Hannah says

    That is awesome! I really want to do something like this. Thanks for the tips. I’ve just put it to the top of my to-do list 🙂 Hannah (Paint on the Ceiling)

    Reply

  6. peacefulparentsconfidentkids says

    Wow! what an amazing play space. I love that kids of all ages are able to join in safely without the need of a hovering parent. Great job. I can see this getting lots of use in summer with the addition of a trickling hose haha!

    Reply

  8. Twins Squared says

    LOVE the slide! What a cute idea and great job! When my littles were two we got a swingset that included fort and slide and I have never regretted it. They are now 5 1/2 and the big girls are 9 and they all still use it. Except this week they’ve dragged the hose out to it and made it a water slide. Lots of fun but a little scary how fast they go!

    Reply

  9. Kate Lloyd says

    How adorable and it looks like so much fun. You have the most creative mind and can see such potential in everything. It’s great you have a hubby who makes it all happen. Great job and thanks for sharing. Totally jealous. lol

    Reply

  10. Cheryl says

    I bet your girls were so excited and couldn’t wait to try it out. I love that it will grow and change over time. Plants may hide it, so little ones will discover it. What a lovely sliding experience!

    Reply

  12. Coombe Mill says

    We have a slide like this made from the natural slope of the valley at Coombe Mill. They are great fun. We have carved steps into the bank for ours but a similar idea to you. Thank you for sharing your latest garden developments on Country Kids.

    Reply

  14. karen says

    this looks so good and gets around the issue of having to have deep soft fall under high playthings. Nice and safe and fun:)

    Reply

  17. Deborah Alter-Rasche says

    This is fantastic Jode! We actually have a split level yard with retaining walls that I have been meaning to set a slide into for ages so we can get from one level to the next without walking down the steps.. thanks for the inspiration 🙂 oh, ps. I’ve featured this post on this weeks Tuesday Tots. 🙂

    Reply

  18. Aly says

    I prefer this kind of slide for kids.Our local pre-school had one built so kids wouldn’t fall or push each other off.

    Reply

  19. Lizbeth says

    It looks really nice but have a question: How do you keep animals away from the sand box if it’s always open? How do you keep it clean?

    Reply

  22. Alison says

    how did you secure the slide? I’m trying to create this same effect in a school playground, but know that it will need to be secured to something in order to be permitted. Any ideas?

    Reply

    • The Empowered Educator says

      You just need to pack some smaller rocks in around the top and then the plants and mulch seem to hold the rest in place fairly well 🙂

      Reply

  26. Ashley says

    This is really fantastic! Would you please share the manufacture of the slide? It works perfectly here and I would like to recreate!

    Reply

    • The Empowered Educator says

      Hi Ashley, we just got our slide from Bunnings warehouse in Australia. Good luck with your recreation!!

      Reply

  27. Victoria says

    Its been so long since you posted this I’m not sure if you’ll see this question or even be able to answer but… we are finally able to revamp our yard and I love so many of your ideas. I am dying to build a hill to put a slide in but hubby and I are arguing how steep it should be. Do you have any idea what the angle of your slide is? It looks exactly what I want

    Reply

  28. Alechia says

    This is adorable! I didn’t see how you attached it to the hill. Did you just dig a trench and pack dirt in around it?
    Thanks!

    Reply

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