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Blog Entries - Child Directed Play
![A young blonde girl and a younger blonde boy peek out from a wooden structure. The girl is wearing a green coat and the boy is wearing a blue coat.](https://www.cincynature.org/media/blog/Kids at Cabin.png)
The Magic of the PlayScape
by Abbie Rinehart, Member The Cincinnati Nature PlayScape is a magical place to inspire wonder and curiosity in children and relaxation in their parents. We first discovered the PlayScape just after it opened 10 years
![Photo of a white woman looking at the camera. She has long brown hair framing her face and is wearing a green shirt. A taxidermy skunk is being held in front of her face.](https://www.cincynature.org/media/blog/Me and skunk.png)
Growing Up in Nature
by CB, a staff member Long before I came to work at Cincinnati Nature Center, I grew up here. As a kid, a neighbor would frequently bring me and my best friend (her daughter) to the Nature Center. We’d tell stories
![nest in tree](https://www.cincynature.org/media/blog/F1E91391-E4EB-44A6-93D2-5A2D9CCAE057-45.jpeg)
At Home with Nature: Nest Building (Ages 2-5)
Children can have lots of fun mimicking the creativity of birds and building with natural objects! You’ll need: A nature space to find building materials and an “egg” (a stone, pinecone, or other egg-shaped
![young boy pretend cooking with mud](https://www.cincynature.org/media/blog/65706782-A29D-4B58-8735-01902EA0ABC8-19.jpeg)
At Home with Nature: Mud Kitchen (Ages 2-5)
You’ll need: Old kitchen utensils, a pile of soil, and a bin of water. Optional extras: Paper and markers to make your own menu. Mix the water and soil together, either in the bin or on the ground, and let your
![The Power of Hmmm](https://www.cincynature.org/media/blog/ChildDirect_2_Final.jpg)
The Power of Hmmm
By Anne Horne, Trailside Experience Coordinator “Mommy, will you play with me”? In my house, this request is common and it used to be followed by a quiet pause from me. It wasn’t that I