Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Creating an Outdoor Oasis for Kids: Magic Cabin GardenFort (Giveaway!)

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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.

Encourating 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.

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:

gardenfort without vines

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 :

gardenfort outdoor secret garden

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.

girl playing in gardenfort

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

swing seat for outdoor play

2. Child Size Garden Planters

garden planters for outdoor play

3. Elfin Garden Accessories

elfin accessories for outdoor play

 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! 

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a GardenFort from Magic Cabin!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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Comments

  1. I absolutely love this! : 3-Tiered Woodland Plant Stand I would love to see a review and giveaway for it!

    Reply

  12. 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 🙂

    Reply

  16. 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 🙂

    Reply

  24. omigod so many awesome toys! I would love to see the 3-Tiered Woodland Plant Stand reviewed. This would make an amazing fairy garden!

    Reply

  30. I absolutely love the AquaGlow Jellyfish Hideaway. It would be perfect for my little mermaid girl!!

    Reply

  47. I would love to see one of the teepee’s in s giveaway

    Ladyblueeyez1960 (at)(aol)(dot)(com)

    Reply

  54. my granddaughter has wanted one of these for a long time in royal blue,
    HugglePod%26%23153; Indoor/Outdoor Canvas Hanging Chair -865627

    Reply

  55. I would like to see a review and giveaway of the Eco-Friendly Snap-Together Sandbox and Sand Chef Set

    Reply

  67. 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.

    Reply

  83. 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!!!

    Reply

  91. 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.

    Reply

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