Simple, inexpensive, eco-friendly structures for the backyard seem to also be the ones that get the most used.
We also have lots of moving boards that can be made into ramps of balance beams that are slightly more challenging. Here a little 2 year old braves the distance quite skillfully. It is very important for children to have movable pieces in their environment rather than all fixed pieces like a purchased play set. We can all think of a few politicians that seem to have challenges with fixed ideas and fixed thinking. haha! Children for 100's of years created their own play areas and only in the recent generations has that become a think of the past. Many of us don't live in the country or near wilderness, but here are some simple ideas to transform a small suburban yard like ours. I mean, we live in 'The OC' backed up against a strip mall! Hardly the garden of Eden.
Healthy feet and healthy toes. I love barefeet!
Hay bales provide and ever changing playing platform that ends up either feeding the rabbits or as mulch for the roses.
But the real hero of the backyard is the tree! A great big mulberry tree is definitely king of this little plot.