Nature-Based Play: Indoor Camping
My daughter happens to love the outdoors AND her favorite thing to do is to partake in self-led imaginary play. She will create all kinds of fantastic scenarios and uses anything she can get her little hands on as her props. "Where did my oven mitt go? Oh, she needed a catcher's mitt again, I should check the dress up box"... Sound familiar to anyone?
Sometimes one thing leads to another and I find myself following her train of thought and collecting materials that might inspire further play. This time she was "camping" out in a rolled up yoga mat in the sunroom and I asked if she'd like a campfire too.
Of course, I was met with a resounding, "YES!" and "don't forget the marshmallows". : )
It's so easy to get into imaginary nature play, especially when you are exploring things that are not able to be experienced within the current season.
Here are your CAMPFIRE ESSENTIALS:
Sticks or Wooden Blocks
Red and Orange Construction Paper
Rocks
Twigs
Mini-Marshmallows
To really ramp of this imaginary play try acting out the following:
COLLECTING FIREWOOD
Take a hike around the house to find your firewood. Put on backpacks and grab your buckets to set out on this adventure. It helps if you spread out sticks or wooden blocks before you begin! Then cart everything back to the campsite feeling very accomplished.
PREPARING THE CAMPSITE
This one is a perfect way to get the kids to clean up their toys, bonus! In order to make sure the campsite is safe, everything must be cleared away from the area where the fire will be created. Fire safety talks ensue...
CREATING THE FIRE PIT
Make a circle out of rocks on the floor to mark out your fire pit. Then pile in your sticks and / or blocks to create the base of the fire.
BUILDING THE FIRE
Have the kids tear and crumple enough construction paper for a roaring fire. Then save this paper in the campfire bin for future use. Arrange the paper so that the flames are "just so" and warm your hands up.
COOKING OUT
Break out the pretend food and kitchen utensils for a cook out!
ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS
And of course, no camp-out is complete without roasting marshmallows over the open fire, right? Use real marshmallows for this and let the little ones take the lead loading them onto the twigs, roasting to perfection, and sharing with friends.
For EXTRA FUN, build a tent out of pillows and blankets. Then lay out under the stars - counting, catching, and wishing - before heading off to sleep.
