Gardens have to fulfil a number of requirements, but if you have children, the garden usually becomes their outdoor playground. When the weather is fine, kids love to play outdoors. They have the space to run around, chase the dog, and kick a ball around. The trouble is that a lot of gardens are totally unsuitable for children, so if you want a garden the kids can safely play in, read on for a few tips.
Install an Artificial Lawn
Grono artificial grass is perfect for a child-friendly garden. Natural grass looks lovely when it’s well kept, but with kids running around and indulging in rough play, it won’t be long before your perfect lawn has bald patches, gauges and holds.
This is especially true if your children like to play soccer. Artificial grass is ideal for sports pitches because it is hard-wearing and resilient to boots. Natural grass soon turns to mud on damp days, whereas artificial grass stays pristine, no matter what the weather. An artificial lawn is also useful if you have a swing set in the garden, as you won’t end up with a channel worn down the middle of the swing.
Create a Play Area
Children love to play on swing sets and climbing frames, so if you have the space, invest in a large frame and clear a corner of the garden for it. Fake turf will protect the ground, but bark chippings are another useful – and attractive – ground material worth considering. Your kids won’t suffer too many bruises if they take a tumble on to bark chippings, as it is a soft and spongy surface. However, you will need to replenish the bark every year because it rots down over time.
Build a Play House
A timber playhouse is great for kids. You can pick up timber playhouses to suit all budgets. Larger models have extra features, such as lookout platforms and cosy upper floors. Decorate your playhouse and plant climbers and flowers to camouflage it. It will be a useful storage space for garden toys.
If you have a raised decking area, consider building a playhouse beneath the deck. It is a convenient – and often unused – space. All you have to do is construct walls and add a door and window. It will make a perfect little hidey-hole for small people.
Use the garden to teach children about the local wildlife. Construct bird feeders using old tree branches and add small platforms where creatures can feed. Your kids will enjoy watching the birds feed.
Build a Sandpit
Kids love to play with sand. Plastic sandpits are cheap to buy, but you can just as easily make a sandpit out of an old bookcase. Put the bookcase on its back and remove some of the shelves. Fill one half with sand and leave the other as a store for toys.
It doesn’t take much time and effort to create a child-friendly garden, so why not make this your summer project.