With the summer months fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for all the long days in the sun with your family. The garden should be a place for all ages to enjoy, a place for the children to play safely as well as an area for the adults to relax and entertain.
A growing family does not mean your garden has to be a wasteland full of plastic toys however, and with good planning and some professional help, you can strike the perfect balance between a child’s play area and a relaxing haven for your days off in summer.
From grandchildren, to your own children, having little ones running around your garden is the perfect way to spend your Sunday afternoons. Therefore, making your space child friendly is of the upmost importance. To help you, we have put together our best tips when designing a child friendly garden.
1. Safety first
Trimming hedges, pruning flowers, mowing the lawn - all these common garden tasks can result to a lot of dangerous equipment. As tiring as gardening can be it is always important to take care when putting all your equipment away.
Make sure this is in a safe and secure place so that the little ones can't get to them and injure themselves. A garden shed is the perfect solution, the ability to lock the door is reassuring and practical, it is also a great place to store all your kid's garden toys to stop them getting ruined by the weather. A shed can also, if big enough, be a great place for hosting friends and family on those rainy days.
2. Child Friendly Plants
When designing your garden it can be exciting looking forward to all the exotic and colourful plants you hope to grow. However, when it comes to developing a child friendly atmosphere you should be careful to choose plants that are safe for children.
Flowers with thorns and plants that may cause skin irritations should be avoided. Nasturtiums are a beautiful, non toxic flowers that are easy to grow and are bright in colour, these flowers are so safe for children in fact, they are actually edible.
The iconic Sunflower is a also a great non toxic option, great for many different activities with your children such as: growing competitions, as well as using the seeds as bird feed once they have bloomed.
When it comes to choosing plants that are suitable for children it is also a good idea to avoid flowers with delicate heads, and fine petals as they can be easily destroyed by a football or a game of hide and seek!
3. Climbing Frame
Having an activity for your children to enjoy is a great addition to the garden. Watching them do the monkey bars or slide down a mini fireman’s pole is an amazing way to see them learn and grow right in front of your eyes. Ensuring the climbing frame is safe is also important, so buying good quality apparatus is essential as well as ensuring it is built on a solid, secure foundation, with plenty of cushion of course.
4. Zoning your garden
When they're little it's worth designing a small area close to the house that will give your kids the perfect place to play, whilst being easy for you to see and observe.
A barrier will keep different areas of the garden contained, making it safer for your children to feel free to explore and investigate in the part of the garden devoted to them. Creating a low maintenance space filled with non-toxic and hardy plants, suitable for toys and games will also put your mind at ease. The barrier also does not need to be permanent. A temporary instalment which can be easily removed or altered as they grow older and more independent is a perfect option.
Creating a zone devoted to wild flowers and plants can also be a great way to get your children interested in nature, as they will be able to see the different creatures and pollinators that come to visit.
Another great way to get your children interested nature is an area designated to growing vegetables and herbs. Allowing your children to reap the benefits of gardening first hand, it is also an educational opportunity for them to witness the life cycle of a plant. It also might encourage them to eat more vegetables!
5. Creative Control
Give your children some creative control when designing your garden, there no better way to making a child friendly garden that they will enjoy and use than taking there ideas into consideration.
Enabling them to give their own creative input will make the idea of playing in the garden an exciting and creative endeavour. Whether it means putting up a pirate flag, or setting up a goal, investing in your children’s ideas for the garden will be a worthwhile task when you see them out playing in the long summer days ahead.
However, is it also important to implement the things they might not think of, like a shaded area for when the sunny weather gets too much. Working together on your families garden is a brilliant way to spend time together, ensuring your patch of land is a delight for every member.
Some of your children’s best memories will be made in the garden, learning to ride their bike, scoring their first goal or even learning how to walk. It is an important place for child’s development so providing a safe environment to do so is vital.
