Families want to find a home with a decent-sized backyard. You don’t need something massive, but you’d ideally want a yard big enough for your kids to play in. Every parent knows how hyperactive children can get during the day, so it helps to have somewhere for them to let off a bit of steam.
Sure, you can take them out on walks or to the local play areas, but sometimes you’d rather stay at home. It’ll come as no surprise to learn that most backyards aren’t specifically designed for kids! When you move into your home, the yard you’ve got could be completely plain and not child-friendly at all. There’s work to do to change this – and we’ve got a few fun ideas that you can implement!
Put down some artificial turf
The sports fans reading this will know all about artificial turf. It looks like normal turf but without some of the major downsides. Most notably, there’s no soil or mud. This has some huge advantages for parents wanting to make a child’s play area outside.
Lay down some turf so your kids have a soft area to play on. It’s perfect for crawling babies, and you could put a little fence around the area so it becomes a playpen! Better yet, because the turf is artificial, your kids can put their toys on it all the time. There’s no fear of the toys being covered in mud, so they can play with their favorite things outside.
As a nice little bonus, artificial turf requires no maintenance. You don’t have to constantly keep it short or worry about the grass fading. It looks nice and provides the perfect setting for young children to have fun.
Get some mini goalposts
If your kids enjoy soccer, some mini goalposts will be the dream gift for them. They’re easy to find and fairly cheap to buy – plus, most of them can be set up in minutes. All of a sudden, your backyard goes from being fairly plain to being a mini soccer field.
The thing we love most about this is that it encourages your kids to be active. Instead of sitting inside on the computer or watching TV, they’re in the yard kicking a ball around. A soccer goal is something anyone can enjoy, whether they’re alone or with a friend/sibling. You’ll watch in awe as your child spends many hours in the backyard having fun.
Also, it’s the perfect excuse to play with your kids. You can go and play soccer with them, even in a small yard. Get on your knees and be the goalie as they try to score. It’s a wonderful way to spend time with children and create memories they’ll remember for a very long time.
Install a basketball hoop
Sticking with the sports theme, a basketball hoop might be more to your child’s tastes. It depends on what sports they like, though we also believe a basketball hoop is perfect in the smallest backyards.
If you don’t have space for a mini-soccer goal or to lay down a bit of turf, then a basketball hoop is a brilliant space-saving solution. You can buy freestanding ones with adjustable heights, which are excellent as your kids get to enjoy them as they get older. Or, you can buy a hoop on its own and attach it to the wall of your house.
The second idea is pure perfection when your yard is so small and all you have is a patio. Make sure the hoop is installed away from any windows on the wall, and your kids will be able to shoot hoops for days. Thinking about it, this is an idea that probably suits older kids a bit more than really young ones – we can’t see a little toddler playing basketball!
Set up a playset
If there’s only enough room in your yard for one thing, maybe it should be a playset. Loads of families install swing sets, slides, climbing frames, pretend houses, and so much more in their backyards. It basically transforms your yard into a mini playground for kids. Yours will be out there all the time swinging on the swings or climbing a frame to go down a slide.
Our advice is to shop around and see what type of playset will suit your yard the best. Then, think about using a playset assembly service to build it. Your kids will be using this, so it helps if you know the set has been built by a professional. The last thing you want is to do a shoddy DIY job and then see your children get hurt because of it.
Of course, if your garden is large enough, there’s no reason you can’t add multiple playsets to it. The choice is yours – and we’re sure your kids will love it.
Put up a tent
Okay, this sounds a bit weird. Why on earth would you put up a tent in your yard to entertain your kids? It feels like a strange thing to try, but kids absolutely love tents. They find them magical and it’ll make them feel as though they’re going on a fun outdoorsy vacation.
We believe this is more of a temporary idea than anything else. It’s something you can do now and then – maybe in the summer – so your kids can play pretend and have fun. If you really wanted, you could let them camp outside overnight and supply some smores to make it an even better experience.
As we wrap this post up, we’ll drive home the point that your backyard can become anything. It may look a bit drab and boring now, but with a few changes or additions it transforms into a place your children will fall in love with. Try any of the ideas in this post if you’re able to do so. If not, use them as inspiration for more cool ideas to turn your backyard into a child’s play area.
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