::: miniature playscape fences
You can make fences for your imaginative play areas with a wide range of materials.
At our miniature playscape workshops we have taught people to create them by using pop sticks…
twigs …
bark …
wooden beads …
dowelling …
bamboo …
skewers …
grass …
palm fronds …
and brush.
We have discovered that any imaginative play props need to be free standing so the children don’t get frustrated, so when you make fences, make sure that they either have a stand, like this bark one …
or are bendable like this one.
To create a free standing fence using wire …
simply take a strip of pliable wire a little more than twice the length of your desired fence and bend it in half . These plastic coated garden twist ties are ideal.
Place your first ‘stick’ into the fold and make one complete twist of the wire. Add the next piece of ’stick’ and twist the wire again.
Continue the pattern – stick – twist – stick – twist – stick – twist, until you get to the end. If the wire is too short you can easily attach another piece onto each end to extend it.
As you will need two rows of wire to give your fence strength you may find it easier to do them simultaneously but that is entirely up to you!
Tags: pop sticks, sticks, wire
It’s very interesting and beautiful.
::: Thank you Ofelia.
I love all these fences. I’m definitely making some for my block-crazed kids.
::: Perfect! Block crazed kids LOVE fences Scott AND they could make them themselves … they’re that easy!
Fantastic. I’m going to add a link to my Facebook page about “Giving Ugly Fences a Makeover.” Who cares these are of the small world variety. Thank you.
::: Good on you Juliet … after all a fence-is-a-fence-is-a-fence-right?!
STOP I can’t keep up with all the ideas! Since finally aquiring a glue gun I have made the paddle pop stick fences for preschool and they have worked really well – although mine didn’t have a stand I have been putting them in sand trays or in our grass play tyres – the ends poke into the soil and sand really easily to make them stand up.
::: Sand and soil are perfect Jenny for those little pop stick fences … we never did come up with a successful stand solution for those ones!
Love these fences, and all the possibilities for play! My 7 year-old son would love the construction side, my 5 year-old daughter would love the associated imaginative play and my 1 year-old son would just love to be part of the action. We will have to have a go!
::: Karen we learnt the wired fence technique from one of our five year old boys, so perhaps your son’s could have a go at making their own!
I think that this was a very fun post. It was fun to see how someone could make creative works of art out of just the simplest things. I especially was drawn to the fences that were made. This is because always when making art it is important to protect it and any little but can help.
::: Thanks Jessie B.
A great collection of fences and thanks for the construction tips
::: Thank you Christie and you’re welcome!
Oh wow… so many amazing ideas here. I just don’t know which one to try first!! You girls really do make even the littlest things irresistible.
::: Awww … thank you Cath!
Fantastic! I’ve been meaning to make the popstick fences ever since i saw them on here. But where could I get bamboo from? I’m assuming I could get the garden ties from Bunnings?
::: Tracy you can also get bamboo stakes from Bunnings or even $2 shops!
