Our kiddos may work hard around here, but they get to play hard too! And one thing I’ve learned is that when farm kids play, dirt is always involved!

Mr. Fix-It has put in a go-cart track around our vacant sunflower patch–which for a go-cart is just semi-cleared dirt! (BTW, check out how little Penny was in that old post!!)

I just wouldn’t want folks to get the impression that it’s all work and no play around here. There’s lots of work around here, but there’s some pretty darn fun playtime too!

The boys aren’t able to drive–yet–but they ride along with the Ladybug. The Cowboy takes about twice as many laps because Speedracer gets a little tired of the bumping and dust. (We’ve also discovered that he gets car sick and that might have something to do with it.)

And apparently the track is faster in one direction than the other, so the older two drive one direction when they’re together, then do a 180 and take laps in the other direction when Speedracer climbs in.

I have to admit, I find all this tractor/atv/utv/go-cart/various other wheels and motors/driving anything at their age rather overwhelming. We didn’t have anything like that when I was growing up. Sometimes my dad would take us to a vacant parking lot and let us steer the truck while sitting on his lap and he would work the petals. But that was about it.

But it was quite a sight to see the Ladybug out there peeling around those turns.

Just goes to show that you don’t have to go far from home to find entertainment. {smile}

I know not everyone has room for a go-cart track (or a Mr. Fix-It to keep the thing running!) but a couple other super-fun activities (that fit in the backyard!) we’ve found lately in our search for more recreation are:

• Archery. Beginner sets can be very inexpensive a spacing is minimal for targets.
• Nature Walks. Doesn’t take anything to get started, and it’s available in all weather, seasons, climates, and locations.
• Stick Forts. Our kiddos have discovered the joys of playing in the woods alone this winter. Mr. Fix-It wanted to build them a cool tree-house, but they made their own fort out of stacked sticks (simplest design ever!) that they’re so proud of it we decided to leave them be.
• Walking the Dog. Ok, this is kinda funny, but Penny is pretty much never on a leash around the farm and the kids get the biggest kick out of being “in control” by putting her on a leash. Who knew, right? (BTW, we’ve trained her using a prong collar {like this} for the kids walking her and she behaves like a dream–no chasing the cat, no chasing chickens, no darting off after rabbits, nothing.)
• Soccer. Mr. Fix-It just mows a rectangle and then uses spray paint to mark a field and goals and we scrimmage together. It’s a lot of fun and field doesn’t have to be a certain size or anything just to get out there and exercise and play together. (If your kiddos are good with boundaries, you might not even need the spray paint, but our boys need to practice stopping at the lines and the white paint makes it worlds more fun for them.)

Do you have any simple, backyard fun ideas?