If your backyard is large enough, you can turn it either into an oasis of peace or into an outdoor sports arena. However, if you have kids, then it’s clear that the garden should be tuned into a provisional playground. There are at least 7 ultra kid-friendly amenities that will put a smile on your (and the neighborhood) kids’ faces.
A natural slide
Slides are fun and children go up and down for hours in the park or in winter. From an adult person’s point of view, slides the perfect improvement for backyards that are uneven. An ugly-looking hillock can be turned into a slide over the weekend, transforming the whole yard.
Safety is important when building the slide, so make sure that the sidewalls are sturdy and that children land on something soft, such as shredded rubber, commonly used on communal playgrounds.
Swings for children and adults
There is hardly a child who never swung on a tire swing. Swings, in general, are a lot of fun and present a fun addition to the backyard. They are so cool that even adults cannot resist their temptation and that’s how swings get broken.
After you find a suitable load-bearing branch for the swing, it’s time to be honest to yourself: you are definitely going to use it! Luckily, there are ready-made swinging chairs and benches that are suitable for adults but still fun enough to attract children.
A lawn to play on
Verdant and trimmed lawns are usually associated with the front yard, as the backyard lawn is often neglected. However, families with children know that the ground is far too tempting for their kids not to fall on.
If the lawn behind the hose is brownish and scorched, then the first rain will transform it into a mud pit. On the other side, if your grass is well maintained then it becomes a podium for children’s goofiest gymnastic moves.
Water games
Apart from sunlight, the backyard lawn requires regular and even watering. Once you install a hose reel and a spray nozzle with flow control, you’ll be able to regulate how much water each section of the lawn receives. This will prevent the grass’s roots from rotting due to overwatering.
A hose reel will be attractive for children to play with, so you can direct the water jet upwards and create a rain effect. If the little ones like this, then you can consider installing a splash pad in the backyard next summer.
Winding walkways
How many times have you warned your children no to run too fast or they might fall? You can stop then from running or riding their bikes too fast but you can construct a “racetrack” for them.
When paving the paths in the garden, design them in a non-linear way, so they wind through the backyard.
Children will find them exciting enough not to leave the property and run in the street outside where it’s much more dangerous.
Stimulation imagination through painting
When a child draws something on the interior wall of the house, they are basically damaging property. However, they are not to be blamed, as you haven’t provided them with a large enough surface to express their creativity.
A section of the fence or the façade can serve as an oversized canvas for children. Such a brad, blank space to draw on will definitely stimulate their imagination without the cost or repainting the home’s interior every couple of months.
Build a safe climbing wall
Speaking of walls, children lie to climb everything from chairs to tall walls. This is their second nature, so instead of scolding them for intrepidness, why not build them a real climbing wall! These can be bought in children’s stores and they come in all shapes and sizes.
The biggest advantage of a pre-made climbing wall is that it comes with safety pegs that make it virtually impossible for a child to lose grip and fall. Even when children let go on their own, the spongy floor softens the falls, turning “rock” climbing into a fun game.
A typical backyard shouldn’t be turned into a kindergarten, as adults use it as well. Therefore, most of the amenities listed above are aimed at joint use by children and their parents. In fact, every imaginable outdoor improvement, from a garden hose reel to an Olympic-size swimming pool can be altered to become kid-friendly and fun to use.