Little kids love to dig. They get to use their muscles. They find cool bugs and rocks. They feel a sense of accomplishment. So I dedicated a space in my yard as the “digging spot”. My boys are free to mess that prat of the yard up as much as they like. Right now it’s 10 AM on a cold January morning and my boys are digging a pond, which they will line with a tarp. It’s a few feet deep.
I will admit that sometimes I’m annoyed by the digging spot because some stray rocks end up in the rest of the yard. And I know someday I’ll have to truck some dirt in to refill the holes where the loose dirt has eroded.
But I promise you my boys love that digging spot more than any toy or device. And it gets them outside. I highly recommend having one for your kids.