5 Ways to a Child Friendly Garden

We’re coming towards the tail-end of summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it! Those August evenings are some of the hottest of the year, so there’s still plenty of time for playing in the garden. If you’ve got little ones, the outdoor area is often their favourite in the house. It’s such a healthier play-space than sitting them in front of the TV or video games. They’ll soak up the outdoors, and learn a little about nature and wildlife. Today, I’ll show you how to create a wonderful, child-friendly garden. Oh, and we’ve added a quick idea for the mums too!

1. Artificial Grass

I was sceptical about artificial grass. But, I have a friend with it, and you can barely tell the difference. Except now, she never has to get the lawn mower out! It stays perfectly green all year round. There are no pesky weeds to deal with, and it looks sharp and groomed every day. She got mine from George Hill building merchants, and my friend thinks she’ll never go back to real grass. The kids love it, and it’s easy maintenance!

2. Play Equipment

I don’t know about you, but my kids will turn anything into a game or play-thing. They’ll use the grass and pretend they’re on the moon. They’ll turn the patio area into a pirate ship (don’t fall into the shark-infested water!) But, they also love a traditional swing. I had one fitted at the bottom of the garden, and the kids love it. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a trampoline! If you’ve got younger children or toddlers, you can make do with a simple sandpit. It will keep them busy for hours, and help develop their motor skills.

3. Plants and Flowers

The garden is a fantastic way to teach your children about nature and the circle of life. It’s also a brilliant way to let them care for a living thing, and teach them responsibility. My children each have a small flower bed in the garden that’s theirs to look after. They need some prompting sometimes, but they’ve definitely built a sense of responsibility. Teach them about plants, flowers, and living things as you go.

4. Wildlife Features 

As well as teaching them about plantlife, introduce them to the garden’s most popular critters. I bought a bird bath for the corner of the garden, for example. It encourages the birds to fly into the back yard, and the children love them. We also provide a little food for the hedgehogs as they wander through the garden at night. It’s a great way to show kids how animals make up part of the ecosystem, and you can explain the food-chain.

5. Wooden deck for you!

We’ve saved the best idea for last. A child-friendly garden is lovely, but you need space for yourself too! (Just don’t spend a fortune, it’s hardly worth having luxury items with kids around!) There’s nothing better than relaxing on the deck into the summer nights. Invite your friends over, open a bottle of wine and chat away under the stars. Perfect!

The trick to a child-friendly garden is easy maintenance and plenty to keep the kids interested. But, don’t forget about yourself either!

Rebecca x

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