Fun with Den Building

Children love den building - provide them with some space and a few basic tools, and they'll be off making great little hideaway dens. But den building isn't just good fun - it's also a great way to get children to socialise and practice their creative play skills.

The benefits of den building

Challenging & creative play

Den building is a challenge that tests children's physical and mental skills - from planning out the perfect den to making the most of the resources available to build a great hideaway.

Social & imaginative play

Dens are most fun when shared with others - children love to get together and act out stories, whether their new den is a hobbit hole or a fairy cottage. As well as encouraging imaginative play, the act of den building is great to get kids to cooperate and work together to build the best den possible. 

Independent play

Den building is a great way to get children playing in a safe environment without adult supervision, encouraging independent play and creative thinking.

Natural play

Den building is a great way to get children interacting with their natural environment - the best dens are those constructed from the world around them. Involve trees, twigs, rocks and leaves in your den building and get children involved in the natural world.

Some simple den building tips

Children really don't need much encouragement or many resources to start den building - they can build a den almost anywhere! Try taking them out to a safe natural environment and providing them with some simple equipment - sticks, poles, blankets, that kind of thing. You'll be amazed how quickly they can put a den together from next to nothing.

Red Monkey provide a great range of play equipment especially designed to encourage den building - from simple den poles to ready-made outdoor den environments. If you're interested in adding some creative den building equipment to your play area, get in touch in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter, or simply give us a call on 0116 366 9922.

Written by Tom for Red Monkey Play. For more play ideas and great play products, visit www.redmonkeyplay.co.uk.

Winter Outdoor Play Ideas

Winter is a great time for children to play outdoors. Wrapped up against the chill, children love to play out in the frost and snow. We've written about the necessities of keeping children's play safe during winter months - now we're brining you some great play ideas to help you make the most of winter playtime!

If we're lucky enough to see some snow this winter, here are a few games your kids will love:

Footprint tag

It's just like tag, with a snowy twist; the chasing player can only step in others' footprints! An extra bit of challenge that only the snow can bring - it's a wintery take on a classic outdoor game.

Snowball target practice

The first thing children do when faced with a garden full of snow is roll up a snowball - so why not give them some target practice? Set up a target and a point to throw from, and they'll have great fun honing their snowball-chucking skills.

Snow hurdles

Snow makes for a natural obstacle course - why not roll up some small balls of snow and use them to set out a hurdle course. Children will love running and jumping over snow mounds, and it's a great way for them to get some exercise too.

Hat frisbee

First you'll need a snowman - that's a whole extra game in itself! Then you'll need a hat. Children take turns throwing the hat frisbee-style onto the head of the snowman - they score a point every time they successfully land it on his head.

These are just a few of the ways you can make the most of the winter months. Winter doesn't mean your children have to stay cooped up inside - get out there and start playing!

Written by Tom for Red Monkey Play. For more play ideas and great play products, visit www.redmonkeyplay.co.uk.

Outdoor Autumn Games

Autumn is a beautiful time of year - red leaves on the trees, freshly frosted grass, and piles of leaves on the ground too. It's a great time for kids to play outdoors, and easier than ever to use natural resources to make some great autumn games.

We've already discussed how conkers is a great playground game for autumn. Here are three new ideas for playground activities you can introduce this autumn, all of which make the most of the natural autumn environment!

Apple Bowling

All you need is some apples and a single conker. The game plays out just like lawn bowls, or boules; the conker is thrown first, and acts as a 'jack.' Then kids take turns rolling their apples, and the player that gets their apple closest to the conker jack wins the round. An easy autumnal take on a classic lawn game!

Autumn Obstacle Course

Autumn provides all sorts of natural ways to turn your playground into an exciting obstacle course. Make use of all those fallen leaves by making piles to set out the course. If you can get your hands on some hay-bales these make great jumps, and you can hang up strings of apples for kids to crawl under. And pumpkins don't have to be just for Halloween - they can make great obstacles to run around too!

Bobbing for Apples

A classic English game! You just need a suitable container and some apples. Float the apples in the water, and have the kids try to pick them up using only their mouths - no hands allowed!

Our Water Tables are perfect for apple bobbing - and make a great water play addition to your play area at any time of year! Check them out here.

And that's really all you need - some simple games that make the most of the natural beauty of autumn. We hope you enjoy your outdoor play times this autumn, and if you have any other ideas for great autumn games, we'd love to hear them.

Written by Tom for Red Monkey Play. For more play ideas and great play products, visit www.redmonkeyplay.co.uk.

The Red Monkey Guide to Conkers

It's the season kids everywhere love - conker season! The game of conkers has been an English pastime for generations, and there're few things more natural than some healthy conker competition on the playground. To give your kids an edge this autumn, we've compiled a quick guide to the game so you know they're conkering the right way!

First you need a conker! From September through to November, your local Horse Chestnut trees will provide for you - you can find conkers lying beneath them in abundance. Extract the conker from its spiky green shell and you're ready to go.

You're looking for a conker that is roughly round and symmetrical. Make a hole through the centre and thread through a piece of string about 25cm in length. Now you're ready to play!

Players take turns striking at each other's conker, with the goal being to shatter your opponent's conker with yours.

Flip a coin to decide who strikes first. If you are the player whose conker is to be hit first, then let it
hang down from the string which should be wrapped around your hand. The striking player chooses the height at which your conker should be held.

The striking player should wrap the string around one hand, hold the conker in the other, then flick it towards the defending conker. If they hit, and the defending conker remains intact, then play turns over to the other player. If the striking player misses their opponent's conker, they are allowed up to two more attempts, then play turns over to the other player.

Conker pro tip! If the striking player hits their opponent's conker in such a way that the conker travels in a full circle on its string, then that player gets another strike. This trick is known as 'around the world.'

Advanced rules:

If the strings get tangled after a shot, the first player to shout 'strings' is awarded an extra shot.

If a conker falls to the ground at any time during play, then the opposing player can shout 'stamps' and jump on it! However, if the player who dropped the conked shouts 'no stamps' first then stamping becomes illegal, and that player can retrieve their conker in peace.

And that's all there is to it! Player continue to take turns until one player's conker is completely shattered. The victorious player can go on to challenge other players, and become the conker champion of the playground. Who knows; one day they could be competing in the World Conker Championship!

Conkers is a simple and fun game for children to play in the playground; it makes use of natural resources and can teach kids a little bit about nature at the same time. And for anyone worried about the health and safety risks of conkers, the Health & Safety Executive has some reassuring words for us.

So now you're equipped with all the conker knowledge you'll need; get conker hunter and see if you can't forage up a champion conker!

Written by Tom for Red Monkey Play. For more play ideas and great play products, visit www.redmonkeyplay.co.uk.

Case Study: Delves Infant & Nursery School

Our favourite part of any job comes after installation is complete, when teachers and children see their finished play area for the first time. Seeing the looks on their faces makes all the hard work worth it!

Red Monkey recently completed work on an ambitious Outdoor Play and Nature Garden project at Delves Infant and Nursery School in Walsall, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results! And seeing the look on Head Teacher Emma's face when she first saw the new play area, we know the children are going to be even happier than we are!

The brief

Our brief was to create two new outdoor areas at Delves Nursery School - an 'outdoor school area', which was to feature a dedicated outdoor learning area as well as challenging play equipment, and an 'eco zone', a natural garden area with scenic water features and outdoor shelter for learning and relaxation.

Project Manager Richard designed the new areas by combining play products from the Red Monkey catalogue with some bespoke designs created specifically for Delves - including rustic nature houses and a completely original water fountain.

The result was a comprehensive new outdoor area that's completely unique to Delves - you won't see anything quite like this anywhere else!

The reception

Project Manager Richard reveals the new play area to a delighted Emma.

Delves' Head Teacher Emma Ingram loves the new areas - here's what she had to say after we unveiled them:

"Outdoor learning is an important part of children’s physical, social and cognitive development. At Delves Infant & Nursery school we wanted an outdoor area which would inspire and excite our young minds and develop children’s confidence and inquisitive spirit. 

The team at Red Monkey completely identified with our vision, aspirations and ambitious plans. Their professionalism and commitment was consistently exceptional throughout, from the initial pulling together of ideas through to the bespoke design, manufacture and installation of our amazing ‘Eco Zone’ & ‘Forest Schools Area’. We now have an outdoor area that is both unique and extraordinary. We are thrilled!"

Emma Ingram, Delves Infant and Nursery School, Walsall

We certainly can't argue with that - thanks Emma! If you'd like to see how Red Monkey can bring a creative flare to your school or nursery, just give us a ring on 0116 281 3975 to book your free site visit today!

Written by Tom for Red Monkey Play. For more play ideas and great play products, visit www.redmonkeyplay.co.uk.