Collaborative post
Creating a fun and safe garden for your kids is a rewarding project that will provide many hours of play. A child-friendly garden can be designed to encourage outdoor activity, imaginative play and bonding time for the whole family – and it can look really good too.
This article has lots of useful tips for turning your garden into a kid-friendly paradise, including essential safety considerations, fun features to install, and creative ideas to inspire you.
1. Safety first
Safety is paramount when designing a garden that children will be using. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
Play surfaces: Make sure falls can be cushioned with soft, impact-absorbing surfaces such as grass, rubber matting or mulch. Avoid concrete in play areas. Click Here to access professional gardening advice and services.
Fencing & boundaries: Install a safe fence around the perimeter of your garden to stop children from escaping. Childproof locks on gates and sheds will also prevent young children from accessing unsafe outdoor areas.
Shade and sun protection: Incorporate shaded areas to shield children from UV rays. Parasols, pergolas and trees can all be used to create shade. Don’t locate play structures in an area that receives lots of direct sun; as well as exposing children to UV rays this can also cause dangerous hot surfaces.
Toxic plants: Many popular garden plants are toxic to humans. Check that your current plants are safe and replace any that are dangerous. It’s also a good idea to teach children never to eat any part of a plant they find, and explain that some plants can also cause skin irritation.
2. Play structures and equipment
Outdoor playhouses, swing sets and slides: A play structure such as a swing set or climbing frame will get lots of use in a family garden. Choose a product that’s made from child-safe materials and designed to cope with outdoor conditions. Make sure all play structures are anchored tightly to the ground and inspect them for damage regularly.
Sandpit: A sandpit is a fun addition that can entertain your kids for hours and encourage imaginative play. Choose one that comes with a cover so sand remains clean and animals don’t start using it as their litter box.
Water: How about adding a “cooling off” and fun element to your garden by installing a small splash pad or water table? Make sure children are always monitored around the water, and that it’s in an area where drainage is good.
3. Creative play areas
Nature exploration zone: Children love to explore nature. Encourage this natural curiosity by converting an area of the garden into a nature zone. You could create animal habitats with a log pile, grow plants that attract pollinating insects, or add a bird feeding station.
Art & craft station: Messy play is a lot easier to manage outdoors! You could create an outdoor art and craft station using washable paint or chalk; a big chalkboard or washable wall will encourage endless creativity. You could even add a mud kitchen for imaginary cooking sessions.
Outdoor music space: An outdoor music area will foster creative play and provide a tactile, sensory experience for children. Wind chimes made from sticks or cutlery, DIY drums made from tubs or tin cans, and xylophones made from plastic piping are all easy DIY ideas.
4. Functional and fun features
Pathways and trails: If children are using a garden it’s a good idea to include safe paths to and from play equipment. The surface needs to be even, hard-wearing, and anti-slip. Click Here for experienced gardening related advice and services.
Seating areas: While kids like to burn off energy outdoors, it’s also important to have places where they can sit down while waiting for their turn, having a snack, or simply relaxing. Child-sized seating is a nice option but bear in mind that this will need to be replaced as your kids grow.
Gardening plot: Encourage their green fingers by providing them with their own little patch of land to look after. Kids can grow easy-care plants such as sunflowers, herbs, and salad, and learn about the natural world and why its important to take care of it. Seeing their plants thrive and other kids gardening projects offer a rewarding experience and will encourage children to head outdoors more often.
Summing up
Creating a safe and stimulating child-friendly garden is a worthwhile project in a family home. These tips and ideas will help you design a safe and fun outdoor space where kids can exercise, play, and learn.
Have you got any tips for creating a child-friendly garden?
The post Designing a child-friendly garden: tips for safe and fun outdoor spaces appeared first on Growing Family.
