In Your Own Backyard

Great adventures are waiting just outside your door.

More on:

• Backyards
• Happiness
• Family Life
• Parenting Kids

A Backyard Wonderland

I grew up in a house in a Boston suburb, with a yard that couldn't have amounted to more than a quarter of an acre. But through the eyes of a child, the backyard was pure wilderness, a wonderland that seemed to go on forever, with endless possibilities.

In the summer, every member of our family retreated to the backyard to pursue his or her own special interest. On the far side of the garage, my father kept the revered remains of an old Jaguar he'd bought through a local Pennysaver and was painstakingly restoring. Along the fence surrounding the yard, my mother turned rocky dirt into a perfectly planted flower bed, like an inspired artist creating beautiful landscapes in her studio.

For my younger brother and me, the yard was the ideal backdrop for our innumerable adventures. We built worm villages, constructed elaborate hideaways and gave some truly dreadful performances in our impromptu puppet theater. After sunset we camped out, counted the stars and made spooky faces illuminated by the flashlights we held under our chins. And as we listened to the night sounds, we weren't afraid ... the back door was always open.

In the summer in our backyard, time didn't exist.

If it's now up to you to lead backyard explorations with your kids, fear not. You'd be surprised at what you can do and learn in your yard, on your balcony or at a neighborhood park. With a little preparation, you can head up a science expedition or space exploration -- experiences that both you and your children will enjoy and long remember.

The first time a butterfly landed on my arm, I thought I'd been kissed by magic. And that magic is just the ticket to start exploring your backyard. All you need is a little curiosity and enthusiasm.

Go outside with your kids and take a stroll around the yard. Observe your surroundings. The youngest children love to search for any evidence of animals and their habitats, and are fascinated by nests, ant hills, owl pellets, deer prints. Have them take note of special scents and sounds in the yard; older kids might even want to jot down their observations in a journal. Back at home, your children can take a close-up look at any special treasures they've found. An excellent microscope is the Investigator Scout (Learning Resources, Inc., ages 7-12; $14.95), which youngsters will find easy to manipulate.

Williamson Publishing creates some of the best "doing and learning" activity books around, including The Kids' Nature Book (ages 4-10; $12.95) and The Kids' Natural History Book (ages 6-12; $12.95). With these books as a guide, kids can learn to estimate a tree's height using their shadow, build a sundial or hunt for fossils.

For a first look at bugs, try Bob Barner's cheerful, engaging Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (Chronicle Books, ages 2-6; $13.95) or the captivating video "A Day With Bugs" (A Vision, ages 2 and up; $9.93). If your budding entomologists have an artistic flair and consider themselves Weather Channel hopefuls, launch their careers with the Bug Thermometer (Creativity for Kids, ages 7-12; $15), a crafty way to get them to pay attention to the outside temperature.

Whatever your adventure, don't let the rain stop backyard exploration. With "Paint Your Own" Rubber Boots (Youngsters Inc., ages 3 and up; $29.99), you'll be set for a colorful adventure in any weather. The kit includes galoshes and non-toxic paint that does not run in the rain. Young explorers we know have even worn these boots to bed.

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