Backyards for Kids: Playhouses, Sandboxes, Tree Forts, Swing Sets, Sports Areas, and More

by Ziba Kashef

A colorful handbook on how to create a safe and memorable backyard environment for children of all ages provides a host of creative design ideas, along with step-by-step instructions for building a variety of play structures, including playhouses, swings, sandboxes, tree houses, and water features. Previously published as Kids' Places to Play. Original.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2008

About the author

Ziba Kashef is the senior editor for health at Essence magazine. In addition to editing monthly articles on medical news, fitness, alternative medicine and psychological and spiritual health, she writes features. Her work has appeared in such publications as the New York Post, and Good Housekeeping. Ziba is also a contributing writer for The Black Parenting Book. Formerly a senior editor at Sesame Street Parents magazine and an associate editor at McCall’s magazine, she is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. A graduate of Wesleyan University, Ziba lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives the basic instructions for building kids' playhouse, tree house and bike and skateboard ramps. It also gave ideas on kid friendly gardening, pools, water features and backyard sports fields. Many creative ideas to make your backyard the yard all the kids want to hang out in. My only disappointment was it did not explain how to install drainage under and in-ground trampoline set up.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome! i'd love to go and play in these playhouses as an adult.. does anyone want to build one for me?

[Krin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If we only had a bigger yard... some nice ideas for play spaces, Sam enjoyed looking at it too, imagining what could be....gets the creative juices flowing.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
giant playhouses dominate the book
wish there were more ideas for small yards