Your backyard is your family’s own little oasis. It’s where you have family get-togethers, neighborhood barbeques, and where your kids can run around and play without having to head down to the park. But certain features can keep your backyard from being as family-friendly as you’d like it to be. Here are a few ways you can transform your yard into a more kid-friendly area for family fun.
Add a sensory garden
Sensory gardens encourage kids to enjoy the outdoors in a way that’s fun and stimulates all of their senses. Bright flowers and multicolored greenery stimulates your child’s sight while fuzzy plants like sage encourage them to touch. If you’re interested in starting an herb garden to give your kids the chance to learn how plants go from the garden to the table, you can use a wood pallet from your local hardware store to create a recyclable herb wall your kids can admire. Wooden pallets last about five years and plastic pallets last for about 10.
Keep away pests by maintaining your lawn
It’s important not to let your grass get too long because long grass is a breeding ground for creepy crawlers like fleas and ticks, which can live for over 100 days without food. The optimal height for cool-season grass is approximately 2.5 inches and the best time to cut your grass is when it’s about 3.5 inches high. That said, make sure to keep your grass below four inches.
Keep summer going with an above-ground pool
Swimming in the local lake can be great summer fun, but it comes with its own unique set of problems. First, kids are more likely to get swimmer’s ear, which lasts seven to 10 days, when they swim in lakes for long periods of time. Second, the lake may close for the summer even when days are still plenty warm well into September. With an above ground pool, you can keep summer going as long as there’s a heatwave rolling.
Add a bike path around the yard
If your kids have bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters chances are they’ll find a way to roll around on any hard surface. While a patio can give your kids the hard, outdoor surface they need to move around and have fun, those patios are only so big. Consider getting more adventurous with your backyard and designing a curved track that your kids can play around on.
Incorporate play places into your hardscaping
If you’re thinking of adding some hardscaping to your yard, consider asking your kids for some ideas on what would make the space enjoyable for them. For instance, a sandpit in a rock garden can transform a peaceful spot into a play area when it’s your kids’ turn in the garden. Little water features like in-ground sprinklers that can turn toward your patio when you want them to can also give you a way to keep your lawn and garden looking fresh while keeping your kids happy on hot summer days.