How to build a cubby in your own backyard

The school holidays may be over, but fun activities at home don’t need to be. Cubby building is a great way for kids to express themselves and tap into their creative sides. It’s also a great way to get them outside into the fresh air – and to have a break from technology.

Cubbies are all the rage

You’d have to be living under a rock – or a stick – if you didn’t hear about Nature Play SA’s Cubby Town 2017 event held at Belair National Park during the school holidays. It was so popular it sold out in just four days!

If you missed out on the event, or just want to try cubby building at home, here are some ideas and inspiration to get you started:

• Create a teepee using sticks or bamboo and cover it with a sheet, thin sticks, hessian or big pieces of bark or leaves.
• A thick bush that is hollow inside is a great location. Add a rug on the ground and the kids will have a great spot to play alone, have a tea party, put on a show, or pow-wow with their friends.
• Create a corner by pushing furniture or garden items together – just add a sheet, a large towel or a tarpaulin over the top.
• Use a table, covered with a large sheet.
• Set up a simple a-frame on the back lawn and cover it completely with a sheet or some sticks or leaves.
• A fence makes a solid wall, so just drape a sheet or tarp from the fence to a tree or stake.
• Provide boxes, crates, blocks, tyres – any loose materials that stack can be built on.

These tips were reproduced with permission fromNature Play SA.

Do you have any tips on constructing cubbies at home? Share them with us in the comments below.

(Main image courtesy of Jason Tyndall, Nature Play SA.)