5 Tips for Designing a Kid-Friendly Garden
When it comes to gardening, it can be easy to assume that kids are the ones who will enjoy it the most. After all, they’re the ones who are likely to be excited to get their hands dirty and find a way to turn even the most mundane tasks into games. But for them to truly enjoy your garden, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before planting your first seed.
With that, here are some tips to consider when designing a kid-friendly garden:
1. Make It Colorful
Kids don’t need fancy decorations to feel inspired by their outdoor space. Make it minimalist but colourful. A few bright coloured items will make them feel like they’re in a different world! A simple way of doing this is by hanging colourful lanterns from trees or installing colourful stepping stones along pathways so that kids can run their feet over them as they walk around the yard.
For example, you may consider buying some colourful furniture from Home General or other stores for your child’s garden area, like chairs and tables with bright colours. To add a bit more creativity to your kid-friendly garden, you can also add colourful flowers and plants with bright colours, such as purple and orange-coloured flowers, in pots or hanging baskets around the garden area.
2. Use Low-Maintenance Plants
Maintaining a garden isn’t always an easy feat. Aside from watering the plants, you may also need to cut or prune them. And while it can be fun to involve your kids when tending to the garden, they may find the task challenging, especially if you have intricate plants that need extra caring. That said, it’s recommended to have low-maintenance plants in your garden. This way, even young gardeners can join in the fun of gardening.
For example, you can plant flowers like Marigolds and Snapdragon. You can also have an edible garden and encourage your kids to plant carrots, parsley, and berries.
3. Create an Active Play Space
Whether your kids love to climb, run around or play games, you can create a space in your yard that caters to their interests. This way, they’ll have an outdoor spot to move around and play and where they can burn off some excess energy.
For example, if your little ones love being active, consider adding an obstacle course with balance beams and jumps or building a treehouse for them to play in. If they like playing games outside, consider adding a basketball hoop or volleyball net so they can enjoy these activities whenever they want.
4. Ensure There Are Plenty of Places to Sit Down
Another thing you can do is to ensure that there are plenty of places to sit down throughout the garden, both undercover and in the open air. While kids would generally want to roam or run around the garden to explore the plants, it would still be a good idea to provide seating areas where they can play. For instance, you can have sandpits in your garden, where your kids can stay and have fun while you tend to your garden.
On the other hand, you can also install a bench or place outdoor seating furniture. This way, parents and the other members of the family can have a place to stay and relax while keeping an eye on young ones exploring the garden.
5. Provide Plenty Of Shade
Aside from having seating in your garden, consider also providing plenty of shade throughout the garden, especially during the hot summer. This way, you can prevent yourself and the children from getting too hot or sunburned when spending time outdoors or tending to the garden.
You can provide shade by having more trees or shrubs planted around the edge of your garden or by hanging baskets suspended from trees or posts at regular intervals along pathways. You can also install a pergola or canopy over your patio area to provide more shade.
Final Thoughts
Tending your garden can be an exciting activity. And what better way to explore your talent for growing plants than by involving your young ones in the process? Kids are generally excitable and can be up for anything. They’re also curious beings who would likely be open to new things, such as getting dirty and gardening.
A well-designed garden is more than just having a curated and aesthetically pleasing outdoor green space. And to make your yard a kid-friendly space to be in, making it colourful, having low-maintenance plants, creating an active play space, and adding more seating and shade can be a good start.
