Building an Indoor Play Area Board for Your Child - Part One of Five

Here in northern Michigan, outside play is limited to just a few things in the winter. Little boys love to play in the dirt and the grass with their action figures, but can't do much of that in the winter. We tried; have you ever tried to find a 4 ½" tall Star Wars guy in the snow? Well, I have, and that is the reason I decided I had to do something. I had to figure out a way to play in the dirt and the grass ... inside.

I built what we call The Play Board. Because the instructions are lengthy, this will be a multipart series.

This will be my second How-To Series. The first is a publication titled Decorating With Color ------

which is a four part series. I have imbedded links in these directions to related information. When you click on the links, please do so in another window, or return to this page for complete instructions. This is a great project the share with the kids, and you will all love it. While lengthy, you will find all the information you need to build one of these play boards with your child

I decided to use as many natural products as we could, and spent several days, several hours, walking together in the woods looking for mosses and grass and rocks. This really makes the kids use their imagination as they look for things to use on the board. You can make any kind of board you wish, city, country, or medieval. Our next project will be a play board that is a dirt bike track and also a play board modeled after Star Wars.

Little girls would have fun with a Barbie City board, with houses and stores. The board I built first was for a boy, so the directions that follow will be more for a boy's play board.

Decide where you will place the board.

I strongly suggest that you decide where you will place the board before you build it. Once it is completed, it is fairly difficult to move. I can be done, but takes two people, and must be moved flat. Once you have determined where it will be, you can decide how large or small you want it. I decided to place the game board in our 4 season sunroom so that they kids would still have a playing outside feeling. Our sunroom is all glass on three sides, so they get a real feeling of being outside. I placed the board on a kitchen table that I no longer use to get it up off the floor. If you have a table with locking wheels this would be perfect. We have a Cairn Terrier named Tucker and a kitty named Buddy. Tucker and Buddy would enjoy the game board as well as the children! It is best not to place the board on the floor if you have pets, because this will have dirt and grass on it. Wouldn't want them to think it is a potty!

Buy and Prepare the Board

Because I was placing this on a tabletop I decided to buy (or cut if you can) a board that is approximately 4'x4'. I decided to use cement board, thinking that it would allow for better adherence. Bring the board home and place it where you have decided it will be. I have moved the board around in the room, so there is a little flexibility if you have help to move it. Once the board is in place, rough sand the surface to break up any finish and to increase adherence ability.

If you would like more photos, leave a comment below and I will be happy to email photos to you.

To continue click here: Indoor Play Board - Part Two

To continue click here:Indoor Play Board - Part Three - Foliage

Click here to go to: Indoor Play Board - Part Four - Buildings/Castle

Click here to go to: Indoor Play Board - Part Five - Buildings/Log Cabin