As a parent, there is no greater feeling than seeing your children laughing, smiling and having fun whilst at play.
Over the years it has been well documented why it is important that children play outside regularly. However, while playgrounds and parks are great places to do this, there’s nothing quite like watching this take place from the safety and security of your very own backyard.
Unfortunately, not all backyards are set up for outdoor play or use in general. Perhaps it is because you have just moved somewhere new and not gotten around to creating it yet. Or maybe it is simply down to you not understanding the scope of what you can do.
Whatever the reason, we want to inspire you to provide your children with a fun and functional outdoor space in which to enjoy many hours of play and recreation.
With that in mind, here are some suggestions for improving your backyard for your kids.
Assess Your Current Backyard
The first step in improving your backyard for your kids is to assess what you currently have. Therefore, take a walk around your yard and look for any potential hazards or safety concerns.
Are there any areas that are overgrown or need to be trimmed back? Are there any broken or unstable structures, such as a swing set or treehouse? Are there any potential tripping hazards, such as uneven ground or rocks?
Once you’ve identified any safety concerns, you can start brainstorming ways to address them. You might find Archipro’s landscaping products helpful when doing this.
Create a Play Area
If you don’t already have a designated play area for your children in your backyard, it’s a good idea to create one. This will help keep your kids’ play space contained and prevent them from wandering into potentially dangerous areas, such as near a pool or barbecue area.
Generally speaking, you don’t need a large backyard to create a play area for your children. Even a small corner of your yard can work, just as long as it’s safe and offers plenty of play opportunities.
Some ideas for creating a play area include adding a swing set or play structure, installing a sandbox or adding a playhouse or treehouse.
If your kids love to be active, you can also consider creating an obstacle course. You can even use items you already have, such as cones, hula hoops, and jump ropes, to create a fun and challenging course for them to tackle.
Incorporate Nature
One of the benefits of having a backyard is that it gives your kids the opportunity to explore and learn about nature. So why not encourage this by incorporating natural elements into your backyard design?
Gardening is a great way to teach kids about plants, insects, and the environment. Therefore, you should consider setting up a small garden in your backyard and letting your kids help with the planting and caring of the plants.
Additionally, you might also think about creating wildlife habitats for birds by adding feeders and birdhouses into its landscape.
Doing so will attract a variety of birds and other animals to your yard and give your kids the opportunity to observe them up close.
Another thing you can do if you have the space and resources is to build a pond. It can be a fun and educational addition to your backyard, as you can stock the pond with fish and aquatic plants and teach your children about the ecosystem that develops around the pond.
Provide Shade and Shelter
If you live in an area with hot summers or frequent rain, it’s important to provide shade and shelter in your backyard.
This will allow your kids to play outside comfortably and safely, regardless of the weather. It may also encourage them to read or do their homework outside, in the fresh air.
Two of the most popular structures you can add to your backyard are a pergola and a gazebo. These structures provide overhead covers and are available in a range of designs. You can also add curtains or screens to them to provide additional privacy and protection from the elements.
Other elements you can introduce include umbrellas or awnings. The former is particularly good as it is portable, and thus can be moved around as required. The latter can be attached to your property or left as a freestanding structure.
Alternative solutions for shade include planting trees or adding a covered patio to your property. The patio can also be used for outdoor dining, entertaining, or as an additional play area for your children.
Create a Water Feature
One of the best ways to improve your backyard for all the family, not just the kids, is to add a water feature.
Kids, in particular, love playing with water, so facilitating this in your backyard can be a great way to keep them entertained and cool during the hot summer months.
If you have the space and can afford it, installing a pool can be a great addition to your backyard. Pools provide hours of entertainment, particularly for kids, and can also be a great way to get exercise and relax during the summer. (All year round if it is heated).
For those who don’t have the space for a pool, a splash pad is another very good option. This flat surface shoots water up into the air and provides a fun and safe way for kids to play with water.
Fountains and sprinklers are other terrific ways to incorporate a water feature into your backyard without taking up a lot of space. Fountains can be a lovely design statement, while sprinklers are perfect for letting your kids run around and play with on a hot summer’s day.
Add Seating and Storage
Last, but not least, it is important to add seating and storage to your backyard to make it functional and comfortable for all your family.
A bench or swing is a particularly great way to add seating to your backyard. You can place it near your play area or in a quiet corner of your yard to create a relaxing space for your family.
Adding a shed is a practical option as you can keep your children’s bikes, toys or sports equipment in it, as well as excess garden furniture, tools or the lawnmower. It’s also important to store chemicals and hazardous substance away from children to avoid accidents, find out more here on how you can store chemicals safely.
Another thing you can do is create a dedicated picnic area. However, for a real touch of style, you can also add a fire pit, which you can eat around in the evenings and especially in winter.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to improve your backyard for your kids.
From adding elements that promote real play for children to providing shade and shelter, you can easily create a fun and functional outdoor space.
It might take a little creativity, commitment and strategic planning to organise, but it is definitely worth it.
Not least, because you’ll get to see your kids laugh, smile and have fun a lot more at home, every single day.
