My husband did most of his growing up in the Pacific Northwest. Home to lush greenery, mild temperatures, and very few icky bugs. Heading outdoors was a joy to get to do, and as a result, he has a deep love for nature.
I was raised in the muggy deep South, where stepping outside 6 months of the year feels like taking a bath, and the bugs are as big as your fist. I, therefore, detested going outside, even as a child, and never really developed that love for the great outdoors.
Encouraging a Love of the Outdoors
I hope for something different for my girls. While the weather in Chattanooga is more similar to my growing up years than to Tim’s, it has enough differences to convince me to give outdoor time some priority in our daily schedules. And my girls both love to get to go outside. I’ve been thinking about what I can do to encourage that love and not squelch it with my own personal preference for being inside. Lately I’ve been considering adding a swingset to the garden. The kids need ways to get their energy out and I think a swingset would help immensely with this need. But this is something that is going to require a bit of saving up for, so I need a simpler solution for the mean time.
Want to see one of my main solutions? It is a work in progress, as it needs time to “grow” but here are the bones of what is going to surely become a source for many great memories for my girls:
This is the GardenFort, available exclusively through and sent to us by Magic Cabin. It takes about 45 minutes to get completely set up, and it is ideal to have 2 people working on it, especially as you work to get the netting secure around the frame. The kit also comes with 3 varieties of seeds that will turn into lush, blooming vines. The end result is going to be something truly magical. Here’s an example :
As much as I disliked being outside, if something like this had been in my backyard, I would have had a very hard time resisting it. My girls already love to play inside of it. Darah calls it her secret fort (though it is not exactly “tucked away” in the backyard!). We are enjoying bringing blankets, books and toys outside and sitting inside of this special space. I can only imagine how magical of a place it will be to my girls when it is covered in vines and truly starts to feel like a little secret garden.
Magic Cabin is, without question, my very favorite online source for imaginative play. The GardenFort is just one example of the imaginative finds there. Here are a few of my other favorite garden related items that would be ideal for encouraging more outdoor time:
1. Swing Seat
What do you think about the GardenFort or these other great outdoor items? What do you do to encourage a love of nature and of being outside? Is it something you struggle with, personally? I’d love to hear!
Brigette Streeper says
I absolutely love this! : 3-Tiered Woodland Plant Stand I would love to see a review and giveaway for it!
Richard Hicks says
would like to see the Spiro Hop reviewed
brich22 at earthlink dot net
Linda Petteys says
I would have loved this fort when I was a kid. I like the tents and t-pees that Magic Cabin has.
Suzie Williams says
The Super Water Slide!
Shelley P says
I’d like the Fairy Playtime Teepee reviewed : )
Diane Cooper says
I would love to see a review and giveaway for the Hugglepod Hanging Chair.
Gina says
Canvas hanging chair
shirley says
I like the Fairy Playtime Teepee, I think it would be fun.
liz l says
I like the Mushroom Cottage
Candice Hull says
The HugglePod Hangout is very cool!
Thanks
Meghan McFadden says
I’d like to see the Round-and-Round Outdoor Swing™ reviewed. Everything is so beautiful on that site. Makes me wish I was young again 🙂
Meghan McFadden says
I’d like to see a review of the Round-and-Round Outdoor Swing™. What an incredible website. Makes me wish I was little again 🙂
Melanie Johnson says
The Doll Pram
Deb S says
The AquaGlow Jellyfish Hideaway looks great.
Karen Propes says
Love to also have the Wood Storybook Play Cabin.
Thanks for the giveaway.
ncjeepster@aol.com
Savannah miller says
HugglePod Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair! I would love to own one of these it would be great for reading when my little guys were playing out doors 🙂
matt lehman says
Clear View GBOP™
Helen says
I like the Hammock Happy
Rebecca Peters says
I like the daisy bower
amy williams says
my kids would like the Blue Playtime Teepee
Diana Hatch says
I like the hugglepod
Lisa R says
HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
Georgia Beckman says
OHMYGOSH! The HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair would be fabulous!
Holly Storm-Burge says
omigod so many awesome toys! I would love to see the 3-Tiered Woodland Plant Stand reviewed. This would make an amazing fairy garden!
T.h.Ransom says
I love the Mushroom Table and Stools and would like to read a review on
Christy McMahon says
The hugglepod hangout!!
Tess Crosswhite says
The teepee and super waterslide are great!
Jessica O says
The Hugglepod looks really cool!!
kathy dalton says
id love to see a review of the Two-in-One Game Set
Adrianne B says
I absolutely love the AquaGlow Jellyfish Hideaway. It would be perfect for my little mermaid girl!!
tree says
the Tree Trunk Fairy Home! i love it so! thanks for the chance!
~tree
Teresa Thompson says
HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair
vickie says
I love the teepee’s
Paula Michele Hafner says
I love the Mushroom Table and Stools. It would look so cute in the garden!
Cori Westphal says
I know my kids would love the Clear View GBOP! Fun!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Jennifer Young says
I LOVE the HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair!!
Samantha Daleo says
I love the Blue Playtime Teepee. That would be a great one to review and give away.
Kristin Duncan says
Deluxe Marble Run Set, 66 Wooden Pieces with 6 Marbles
Carolyn S says
Enchanted Garden Wall Tent
Mary Jensen says
Canvas hanging chair!
Jackie Griebel says
The Enchanted Woodland Wall Tent would be interesting to see reviewed http://www.magiccabin.com/Play-Spaces/Enchanted-Woodland-Wall-Tent.htm
Idella Thomas says
this look like fun once it grows in
Idella Thomas says
I love this fort
Mary Somerville says
I’d like to see a review of the Indoor/Outdoor Kid Cart.
jessica edwards says
round and round outdoor swing
rod jackson says
The round and round outdoor swing
Linda Meyers-Gabbard says
I would love to see one of the teepee’s in s giveaway
Ladyblueeyez1960 (at)(aol)(dot)(com)
Debbie Fitcher says
I would like to see a review on the HugglePod HangOut.
christine jessamine says
I love the HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair
Debbie Clauer says
I would like a chance to win the AquaGlow Jellyfish Hideaway.
Misty Smith says
I would love to see a review/giveaway of the mini baking set.
Jaclyn Reynolds says
Round-and-Round Outdoor Swing™ looks like a ball!
erin, maker of chimes says
the Fanciful Fabric Butterfly Wings are cute!
Dorothy Teel says
my granddaughter has wanted one of these for a long time in royal blue,
HugglePod%26%23153; Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair -865627
Vivian Sun says
I would like to see a review and giveaway of the Eco-Friendly Snap-Together Sandbox and Sand Chef Set
lisa says
Love the teepee and the fairy items
Pamela Halligan says
The Super Water Slide
Saver Sara says
The HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair looks like a fun and interesting product!
alicia Whybra says
mushroom table and stools are so cute
kelsie says
The super water slide (:
Jen S says
http://www.magiccabin.com/Play-Spaces/Fairy-Playtime-Teepee.htm looks like it would hold up better than a lot of the tent type items we’ve gone through. Would love to know what you think of it.
Charlene S says
I like the Two-in-One Game Set.
Stephanie Larison says
I’d like to see the Fairy Playtime Teepee reviewed, and giveaway!
Nikki Lynn Hanna says
I think my daughter would love the Fairy Playtime Teepee
greenday14fan@yahoo.com
Kelly D says
I would like to see the Sand Digger reviewed, I think my kids would love it.
Emillie says
Would love to see a review/giveaway for HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair!
Rhonda S. Tenderholt says
I’d love to get the 3-Tiered Woodland Plant Stand Made in Latin America, The Tree Fort Kit, Handcrafted Felt Beehive Fairy Cottage, and so much more for my niece.
lisa lo says
http://www.magiccabin.com/Plush-Dolls/Rubens-Barnand174;-Rubens-Kids-Doll.htm
These dolls are adorable.
nikki b says
fairy play time. i love fairys and thats so cute!
Sunnie says
I like the jellyfish hideaway
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I love the Fairy Playtime Teepee!
Monique Rizzo says
I love the pink teepee.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Paol Trenny says
I would like the Austrian Wooden Sandbox
Britni Bradford says
I love the AquaGlow Jellyfish Hideaway
Tamar says
The super water slide looks like so much fun.
Katherine says
Blue Playtime Teepee
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
Rubens Barn® Baby Doll Changing Set
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Jennifer Rogers says
I would love to see the Two-in-One Game Set reviewed and given away!
fancygrlnancy (Nancy Partin) says
Two-Piece Click Clack Track with Trains
April Brenay says
my boys would love the Blue Playtime Teepee
Shannon Baas says
two in 1 game set.
Jeanna says
I really like the Fairy Playtime Teepee!
renee says
They should let you review and giveaway the super-cute Mushroom Table and Stools!
And I laughed at and can totally relate to your version of growing up in the south! It is no fun to shower, dry and fix your hair, only to walk outside and have it plastered to your forehead after three minutes–that was EXACTLY what happened to me yesterday!!!
McKim says
I like the Blue Playtime Teepee.
melissa Resnick says
The Hugglepod hangout looks fun
Wehaf says
I’d like to see a review and giveaway of the Hugglepod hanging chair.
Sarah G says
Hugglepod indoor/outdoor canvas hanging chair.
Kristina Best says
Blue Playtime Teepee
DEBIJOT says
Love the Hugglepod Hangout.
Paula Lee says
The Super Water Slide would be great!
Heidi Daily says
My first choice was the HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair, but when someone else already answered that I went back and found the HugglePod™ Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair that would also be nice to be reviewed, and given away.
ChrissyB says
My kids would love the Sailboat seesaw swing!
Samorjj says
The Hugglepod hangout looks cool. Would it fit an adult? Lol
Sherry Compton says
This looks fun and I would love to read a review on it – Sailboat Seesaw Swing