How To Make Your Backyard Kid Friendly This Summer

Does your backyard need some reorganizing? Perhaps you’re expecting (if so, congrats) and need to make your backyard kid friendly this summer. Or, maybe you already have children, and they’re getting more adventurous with the outdoors. 

Either way, you need to remake your space so that you and your children can enjoy every minute of outdoor play. There are several ways to do this. Here are some ideas:

1. Get your kids gardening 

One of the cheapest ways to get your kids outside is to plant a garden. It’s also a fantastic teacher, as it teaches your kids responsibility and attention to detail and engages all of their senses. If you decide to do this, you’ll want to ensure that you involve your kids in the entire process, from picking up some soil to digging the bed space. 

Get them a couple of small shovels and have at it. Planting a garden is a great way to get your kids in touch with nature. It’ll also teach them where food should come from and perhaps give them a great start in a future gardening career.

2. Sand doesn’t have to be a beach-only thing 

We all remember the sandboxes of our youth, don’t we? The hours and hours we spent toiling away on our most perfect sandcastles, only to have a cousin, brother, or pet come and kick them over. Many, many tears were shed. 

Well, it’s time to give your kids that same experience (hopefully without so much destruction.). Four pieces of 4×4 lumber, some wood screws are all needed, and some sand, of course. Affix the 4x4s together and fill the space in the middle with sand, and voila, a sandbox. Add some sandcastle-making tools, and away they go.

3. Put in a small swimming pool 

As all property developers know, a swimming pool setting will also help increase your home’s value. Sometimes, when people think of swimming pools, they think of large, lavish, and expensive. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. 

Pools can be any size; you don’t need to get the biggest one possible. You simply want to ensure the pool is accessible and, most importantly, fun for the little ones, with pool toys suitable for their age group. 

And when your kids are just starting swimming, more minor is better. Smaller means shallower and less surface coverage area. A splash deck is an excellent option for younger kids just starting to hone their swimming skills, while the larger (but still relatively small) and deeper lap pools offer the more advanced young swimmer plenty of space to have fun.

4. Pitch a tent 

If you don’t have the space for a pool but still want to give your kids a taste of the outdoors, consider pitching a tent outside and making a fire to give your kids a true camping experience. 

You can even set it up so they can sleep outside as desired. Another great option is to pitch a tent and put a little blow-up pool inside it filled with balls (not water). This is particularly great for toddlers and young children. It might get messy, but they’ll have a blast.

5. Build a patio 

This idea might require more funding than the rest, but a patio is a great way to encourage your kids to spend more time outside. Make your backyard kid friendly by adding furniture, decorating it, covering it with a roof, or leaving it open to the elements for more warmth. 

Make it big enough for riding bikes on. And if you use concrete slabs as your base, your kids will have a concrete canvas to do chalk art. This will also give them a hang-out space with their friends over cold glasses of lemonade on the hottest summer days.

6. Outdoor playground 

Once your kid is old enough to explore the outdoors, one of the best investments is to build or buy a pre-built outdoor playground, preferably complete with swings. Sand can be an excellent base for this, as it mitigates any falls — and we all know how privy kids are to hurting themselves. 

If you can afford it, throw in a climbing wall once your kid gets old enough. There are plenty of great ways to ensure your kid has a great time this summer out of doors, no matter your budget or yard size.

Final thoughts

Upgrading your backyard is a project that will reap you benefits for years to come. And, to make sure that your kids will be able to enjoy the space for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to protect the outdoor toys, kiddie pool and other accessories in a self storage unit during the cold season. We hope you will try some of these tips to make your backyard kid friendly.

We hope you like this post! Read more from Eighty Mph Mom on this topic. 

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