Summer’s just around the corner, and with it, the opportunity to throw the kids outside for a few hours each day. How though, do you ensure that your garden is entertaining enough to make your children want to spend time in it?
That’s easy if you’ve got a bucket of cash to throw at it, but for those who can’t afford a heated swimming pool and tennis court, we’ve come up with a few inexpensive solutions.
Make sure it’s safe
Before you look into ideas like the others below. You’ll need to check that your garden is actually safe for your children to play in. If your children suffer from particular allergies, it might be a good idea to check for things like wasp nests that may not have been there last summer. If you do find a nest, don’t try to remove it yourself. It’s best to hire professionals such as those found at https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/ that will ensure that any danger is removed entirely.
Create a toy car racetrack
This is something that has grown in popularity over the last few years. It’s a massive upgrade on the old road track rugs that we’re all accustomed to. Young racers and toy car collectors will be thrilled to be able to test their miniature motors on a realistic-looking race track.
Creating the course is as simple as digging up the shape of the track in a lawn, and filling it with cement. It’s worth marking out your track with rope or something similar beforehand: freestyling with cement is not recommended. Once the cement has set though, you can go about decorating it.
You can paint your road markings on if you’d like them permanent, or let the kids draw them on with chalk each time. Small toy trees and buildings dotted around it will really set it off too. If your child is more into remote-controlled cars, just make the track wider and bigger.
Make a blackboard
If you’ve got an under-utilised area of your garden, a blackboard can be perfect for creative kiddies. It’s easy enough to attach a blackboard to a wall, or even paint the side of a shed or garage with blackboard paint. Kids can write messages to one another, or just draw to their heart’s content.
Invest in a hammock
If your kids are busy playing, why not set up a relaxing spot for you to keep an eye on them from? A hammock is perfect for lounging in the garden, and the kids will get a kick out of it too! Don’t worry if you don’t have two conveniently placed palm trees to suspend one from, today’s hammocks come with stylish stands that do away with the need to find a couple of sturdy trees to support you.
There’s a myriad of colour and material options available for hammocks now too. Whatever your garden aesthetic, you’ll be sure to find a hammock that fits right within your design scheme.
Plant a vegetable patch
A little bit of research here can pay dividends later on. If these will be the first veggies that your little one plants, you’ll want to make sure that they’re not too tricky to grow.
Fruits such as tomatoes are nice and easy to grow, and are a great option for any starter patch. Don’t get too stuck on the fruit or vegetables that are easiest to care for though. The plants that will really spark your child’s interest are the ones that produce food that they already like.
The best patch will have a mixture of vegetables that they already like, and some that you’d like them to try. Kids tend to be much more open to trying food if it’s something that they’ve had a hand in producing.
Create a sandpit
If you live fairly inland, you can bring the beach to your own garden with a sandpit. There are plenty of specially made sandpits available, but it’s easy enough to make your own. All you need to do is dig a hole, line it, and fill it with sand.
It’s worth noting that if you want it to stay in playable condition, you’ll probably have to devise some sort of lid to keep insects and animals out though.
Grab yourself a cheap bucket and spade, and you’re away! The best thing is, that the tide will never wash away your castle creations.
Whatever you do, don’t neglect that fantastic space at the back of your house. Here’s how I fell back in love with my garden.
You don’t even have to set a great deal up to enjoy your garden. Check out this list of garden toys from best to worst.