Ideas for child friendly activities on allotment site?

[BarleySugar]

At our plotholders meeting tonight we were asked to consider providing activities for children that come to the site with their parents. We have a designated community area, which we are considering paving. Ideas that were put forward - a hopscotch layout, a maze (painted onto paving), a friends and foes display, with perhaps activitity packs for sale to parents with bug catchers/observation cases, printed sheets for bug surveys included. Also competitons for tallest sunflower, longest runner bean and fattest pumpkin (no need to weigh ).
Has anyone got any other ideas, or examples that have/ haven't worked on their site? We want to avoid children being left unsupervised, but also want them to be part of the allotment community. At the moment we haven't any building for the community area and so have a free reign with what we do there.

[kfan]

In my experience, having the children paint a bit themselves always helps to make them feel part of it all, for example if you re paving, give them all a designated area where they can paint their favourite veg or flower.

Then something where they can dig (especially the boys) such as a sand pit is always good, even if small. And maybe a 'workshop' where they can decorate pots for parents, sow things, make fun plant supports out recycled materials and also more seasonal stuff such as carving pumpkins, making flower/ herb wreaths etc etc

They can also (if you have people supervising) do little 'science' experiments such as wind power (paper DIY 'windmills'), survival of the fittest (sow different small plants in a box and make notes of what sprouts, what survives and what actually matures etc), growing potato shoots through a maze, listening to potatoes... endless possibilities and lots of books and online materials for ideas.

[Two_Sheds]

Hang on, do I have this right? The parents want someone else to look after their children? As in a creche?

[arpoet]

Get em involved with growing and picking things. I put my 8 year old grandson in charge of knocking the,,, er,, 7 bells out of the dandilions when they are in flower and it kept him amused for hours.
There are lots of jobs they can, and love to help with. We didnt have playgroups and play areas down the lottie when i were lad.
Roger

[meandmylottie]

my two have their own section onmy allotment, we dont have a community area, i give them their own tools, seeds etc and they do what they want to do, quick growing veg usually keeps their interest for longer, i have a tub in my shed too full of lego, colouring books etc.

[di]

Hang on, do I have this right? The parents want someone else to look after their children? As in a creche?

That's how it sounds to me. Or would the supervision be done on a rota basis with said parents?

A few years ago, when there were still a lot of empty plots, a few of us looked into converting a half plot into a play area, the secretary looked into it but, understandably, insurance made it a no go.

If I plan on spending any considerable time on the plot with my two, i make sure and go armed with pens/pencils and paper. Tubs or buckets for them to gather stones or treasures. They also love making insect/fairy shelters. I love watching them use their imagination...structured activities are all well and good but sometimes I think it does them good to find their own fun, too many kiddies don't know how to enter their own little worlds of fantasy anymore.

[Jeanied]

One of our lottie plot holders has a little childrens' tent up for her two - they play happily in there while she gets on with the work! They also help her from time to time, but the tent provides a safe area which they enjoy.

[chris]

I take my 2 year old to the plot with me. I get her to help me, she enjoys rooting around for bugs and snails. If she gets bored, I have a fold up swing in the boot of the car.

I also take the usual things, chagne of clothes, snacks, drinks.

Personally speaking, I'd say chill out a bit, stop stressing about getting all the jobs done and have fun with your kiddies on the plot.. encourage them to help etc. Who cares if your plot has a few weeds, if you don't have the time to sort them out, just de-head them. It'll help them enjoy the time their too, which will pay off no-end in the future.

I did stress when I first started taking my toddler to the plot with me, then I took a leaf out of my wifes book and took a step back and relaxed about it. Both of us enjoyed it much more so then

My little one asks to goto the 'lotment' now quite often. Mind you, 'lotment' also means omelete too

Obviosuly, there are times when you can't take them, I'd been laying big beams as raised beds which would have been dangerous but still, even if it's throwing it down odds are they're going to enjoy getting soaked and muddy

Anyway, if you have the space, swings are great for them - almost like going to the playground.

[BarleySugar]

To be honest, we thought it sounded a bit like they wanted a creche or playground with slide etc, which we vetoed on the grounds of supervision and safety. We do have public liability insurance, but without checking, I would hazard a guess this would not extend to a 'playground'. A hopscotch area should be OK, and I suggested the idea of surveying the bugs they found on their parent's plots, so as to put the entertainment and supervision back on to the parents. Also although we would consider putting the packs together, we would expect parents to buy them.
Several parents have sand pits on their plots, but asked about a communal one so they don't end up with all the kids on their plot. However I have to admit to serious reservations about this, as unsupervised sand play can be dangerous (sand in eyes comes to mind). I don't want the committee to provide facilities, and then find we are under an obligation to provide supervision too.
At the moment we are considering/discussing ideas, but I used to take mine to the allotment when they were small, and had to 'work around' their needs. Maybe some parents are so used to sending their children to childcare when they are at work that they feel this comes under the same umbrella!

[Two_Sheds]

some parents are so used to sending their children to childcare ...

I think they're taking the pee, tbh.

Get the children involved, play or work WITH their own children. Allotments aren't play barns, they're for growing food.

I take my nieces & nephews, and they do expect to be entertained all the time, but are gradually being trained into realising that sometimes they have to be quiet and be patient. They have their own tools in the shed, they can make mud pies or dig for worms. I have pens & paper in the shed, and lots of drinks/snacks.
Their favourite activity is watering ~ themselves, so a change of clothes is helpful.

[salome2001]

good thread

I tend to agree with most of what has been written so far. I am not sure a dedcicated playground is what allotments are really all about, although I'd jump at one being available!!!

I have a 3 year old boy and am currently hacking my plot out of nettles and a derelict chicken run, but have added a small grass area in front of the shed and a sandpit to the design plan. I also have an old ride on toy and will have a bucket of durable old toys (cars/ trucks/etc) in the shed. Also a his own "raised bed" (had considered doing a square foot bed for him) and his own mini tools.

Until all that is in, his favourite game is lifting bricks and squashing snails and looking for slowworms.

And when all else fails, his camp chair with snacks, a drink and an MP4 player...

[di]

Change of clothes and a bucket have to be the two most important things to remember...whether they're toddlers or not!

[Pies]

gardening end off

[di]

gardening end off

All well and good, but not many children will remain interested for quite as long as the adult would like, hence the on hand activities like colouring and collecting etc.

[rustylady]

Fine having a playground, but who is going to supervise it? This is not what allotments are about, and parents who want to drop their children off at the communal area while they go dig their allotment should be paying for said childcare.