While grassed areas are great for games, they don’t offer the same opportunity for imaginative play that interactive gardens can. With a little planning you can create projects that are good looking, fun and imaginative.
- Climbing trees can offer hours of fun. See Sabrina Hahn’s suggestions.
- Create features that allow children to hide. Ferns, native shrubs and fallen logs can offer kids a place for imaginative play.
- Children love sand, water and mud but they can be messy. Sand pits are a great way to contain the mess and when children out grow the area, the sand pit can be filled in and reclaimed as part of the garden.
- Soft grasses can be great for younger children. See Sabrina Hahn’s suggestions.
- Stepping stones are great for games. Consider using cross sections of wood or concrete blocks. Try and make sure they sit relatively flat so that children don’t trip.
- Bird feeders allow kids to learn about animals. For hints on making your own bird feeder there are lots of suggestions online. Try researching the best types for your yard.
- Bridges offer great opportunities for play and are an attractive garden feature. They can be as simple as lying a log over a hollow in the garden or can be purchased pre-made from garden stores.
- Consider making a path for trikes and bikes in the yard. A winding path looks attractive and is a safe place for young children to play.
- An area of concrete or stone will offer kids a place to play ball games and skip.
- Chalk boards are a great way to bring an inside activity into the garden. (Simply paint a piece of plaster board with chalkboard paint from the hardware store. If you have an existing wall that would work, simply paint over it with chalk board paint and start drawing.)
- Consider creating a “room” by planting a circle of plants of flowers with an opening in the middle.
- Most importantly, let them have fun. Make a rope swing, a cubby house, a hide out in the undergrowth, try and allow their imaginations to run wild.
Plants kids will love
When you’re creating a child friendly garden think about the things they love to do. Kids like to smell, touch and pick plants, so choose varieties that will allow them to experience the garden with their senses.
Space for play
Making your garden kid friendly is not just about having fun. Outdoor play has been proven to improve both physical and mental health. Play in natural environments improves motor skills and helps kids perform in the classroom. Finding some space for unstructured outdoor play will help to set your children up for success.