When you have children, you need to rethink your use of the garden. The delicate bushes and lovely flowers need to make room for a more entertaining area. Indeed, as a parent, create a space for your children to relax and play is essential. However, creating that space in the garden ticks a couple of other crucial boxes for their health.
Indeed, for a start, children nowadays spend less time outdoors than prisoners – who have scheduled outdoor time throughout the day. Aside from being a worrying statistic, it can also dramatically affect the growth development of children. Indeed, spending time playing outside guarantees regular intakes in vitamin D – which is crucial at this time of the year to fight seasonal affective disorders – as well as energy expenditure. Did you know that our children are not active enough? Additionally, children need a private space where they can create their own world and ideas. While the bedroom is often used as a door to their imaginary realm, encouraging them to use different areas to be creative and relax can avoid the “closed-door“ phenomenon during their adolescence.
Create a sheltered space to relax
The easiest and quickest way to gain space to play and relax in the garden is to extend the porch. You’d be surprised by how much a simple decking area can transform your front yard. If you’re not sure about the best decking material, you can read more about the different options for your household here. Ideally, you want the decking part to create a cozy and sheltered space where children can invite friends, do their homework, or simply play board games on warm days. When the temperatures drop, a heated lamp can keep the spot warm and welcoming for a cup of hot cocoa after school.
Build your own playground
Young children love nothing more than a fancy playground they can call their own. You can find high-quality slides and structures that are suitable for residential use. More importantly, you can also build your own playground, with the help of a technician – who can advise on weight pressure and material. In a large garden, you can even consider building an elevated house – on top of the slide, for instance. It could become the next meeting spot for your neighborhood kids! As a rule of thumb, for young children, you want to avoid gadgets and equipment that could be potentially dangerous. The beloved trampoline, for instance, is best kept for older kids who have strong coordination.
Convert the shed
Finally, if you’ve got a garden shed that is falling out of love, now’s the time to give it a new function. Have you considered transforming the shed into a cozy library that kids can use to read their favorite books in peace? A lot of children could benefit from a quiet space where they can focus their minds and develop their imagination. After all, daydreaming is good for the soul!
It’s time to bring your garden back into your household lifestyle. Building a garden that works for your kids is a fun challenge for parents. There are so many options available that you might be tempted to try them all! However, if you’re unsure where to start, a wooden playground is always a brilliant idea for a child-friendly garden.