If you want your kids to spend a bit more time outside, once of the the best places to focus on is your own garden! And creating a kid-friendly space just outside the back door is simpler than you might think. Even with a relatively small space, it's totally possible to build a little outdoors paradise that kids will simply love spending time in. You can build a garden that has plenty of space to run and play, as well as plenty of textured experiences to indulge in - eventually they’ll want to be outside all the time! And if that’s the goal for you, here are some tips to consider.
Set Up Child Sized Planting Benches
Kids love to get involved with the same activities that you do. That’s why if you’re a gardener, let them be gardeners too! Set up a child sized bench they can stand or sit at and give them little pots to paint. Then hand them some soil, ask them what they want to grow in them, and then set up a care schedule they can follow to ensure the plant grows to its full size. They’ll love seeing it flower in the summer!
Place Some Fun Ornaments
Fun ornaments include garden gnomes, animals and sealife sets, and anything that’s got a bit of texture to it. Think of an old ‘adventure playground’ you’d get in a primary school, where there are wood climbing frames and monkey bars; apply this general idea to your own garden placements. Wooden stepping stones, for example, are a great fit. The kids can step on them, jump from one to another, as well as weave in and out if they want.
Create a Quiet Area to Relax
It might be hard to believe sometimes, but even kids get tired! So be sure to include a quiet, relaxing area in your kid-friendly garden design. Somewhere to set up some teak garden benches to crash on after all that running around, as well as a place to enjoy ice creams during the summer and hide behind in snowball fights during the winter. And as an adult, this is where you can sit and read calmly whilst the kids play around in front of you - what could be nicer?
Ask Your Kids What They’d Like to See
Maybe they’d like a swing or a hammock to play on? Or maybe they just want a good bit of mud to dig into - kids love to see what’s in the dirt, and even use the soil for ‘potions’ made out of anything they can find out there. Kids have huge imaginations, and if you foster that creativity within the garden, they’re going to have so much fun anytime they head outside. So sit down with them and ask!
If you want your kids to spend more time outside, give them a place to go! A kid-friendly paradise will allow them to play, plant, and have some messy fun without any barriers.
