Glorious Gardens: Create a Back Yard That Your Kids Won’t Want to Leave!
The garden is where childhood memories are made- it’s a chance to run around and play, learn, explore and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. If your garden isn’t up to scratch but you’re keen to make it a place that your kids can spend time in, here are a few things to bear in mind.
REMOVE ANY HAZARDS
Home might feel like the safest place in the world, but it’s not the case. Our homes and gardens are rife with hazards, especially for children and so if you want peace of mind and to ensure your little ones are safe you need to take precautions. Ponds should be fenced off or filled in, even small ponds pose a drowning hazard for children. All it would take is for you to look away for a minute and disaster could strike, don’t take the risk. Cut back brambles, remove stinging nettles and be aware of toxic plants. Some popular plants can be poisonous when ingested so this is something to be aware of. Your garden should be securely fenced or walled and gates should be locked. Sheds need to be padlocked since things like tools and chemicals could pose a huge hazard.
LAY DOWN A LAWN
A lawn is always going to be popular with families. It provides a soft place for children to play, whether it’s sitting out on the grass or running around with a ball or frisbee. Choose a turf or lawn seed that’s designed for family life, these tend to be tougher mixes that can withstand being walked over and grow back quickly. You could overseed your lawn with a tough grass seed blend which will help it to look more lush, or if you’re starting a lawn from scratch choose your turf carefully.
INVEST IN GOOD OUTDOOR TOYS
Once the garden is tidy and free of hazards, your next step is providing your kids with things to do. Outdoor toys can be expensive but if you use vouchers and discount codes you can often get the price right down. Anything from a swing set or slide, a trampoline or a sand pit would all work well. Of course you could always come up with cheap and free games to play outside- teddy bears picnics would be a fun way to eat lunch in the garden or you could draw a hopscotch on the patio with chalk. You could play catch, swingball or frisbee as a family.
ADD A WENDY HOUSE OR SUMMER HOUSE
A wendy house or summer house is like a dream come true for most kids! It’s useful for particularly hot days as it provides shelter while still allowing them to play in the garden. Not to mention when it gets a little drizzly too. You could kit it out with some big bean bags to sit on and put out some books, games and other quiet activities that they can enjoy in there. Wendy houses make great hangouts for kids and is something they’re sure to love spending time in when their friends come over too.
DISCLOSURE: this post is a collaboration. Thank you for supporting the posts that make this blog possible.
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