Friendly Spaces for Kids (and Kids-at-heart)

Outdoor 0

Creating an engaging space for your kids doesn’t have to be difficult, complex, or even necessarily expensive…

We can all agree that encouraging kids to put their devices down and enjoy some outdoor time has tons of benefits. Spending time outdoors is essential for their physical health, mental well-being, cognitive development, social skills, and overall balance. It helps them grow into healthy, well-adjusted individuals with a deep appreciation for the natural world. We can also agree that it can be all too easy to watch your entire backyard overtaken by an army of playground equipment randomly strewn about.

Just as we adults enjoy having our ‘adult spaces’ in our backyards, having a designated area just for kids gives them the same sense of independence. Creating a curated area ‘just for them’ lets them know that within that area they’re free to play, interact, engage their imaginations, and just overall be themselves.

EMBRACE SOME BIOPHILIA

Backyard gardening has seen a surge in popularity for several reasons. Certainly the pandemic was an initial factor, but many homes in the U.S. (as in almost 55%) have come to the understanding, and continue to enjoy the gardening lifestyle. Gardening has been shown to reduce stress and depression. It promotes physical activity, responsibility and social bonding. And of course, let’s not forget the delight of Growing Your Own. So it’s not so surprising that what adults find enjoyable about this hobby, well, so do kids.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Here are some great ideas you can start right now…

If the saying “you are what you eat” is your mantra, why not add a small vegetable garden to your backyard activities?Begin by choosing a raised planter bed that fits your space (the one below is 36″x36″ and perfect for small yards). Next, fill it with some quality soil made for raised beds. We like Whitney Farms for their good mix of organic and natural ingredients including kelp meal, alfalfa meal, bone meal, and earthworm castings. A small set of multiple tools will allow for everyone to join in the planting experience, including making sure you remember what you planted with some plant markers (these ones from OwnGrown are a great biodegradable option). Of course, what little gardener wouldn’t love their very own apron? You can order one with your child’s name, like this one, from Zazzle.

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Veggie gardening not your thing? How about a wildflower garden? Square off a sunny patch in your yard, making sure to prepare the soil by removing any grass and weeds and then “turning” the soil (which simply means to stir the soil up so the seeds can germinate more effectively). If this is your first time planting wildflowers, you can take the guesswork out of overseeding by mixing your seeds with some play sand (it keeps the seeds from clumping). Once done, make sure to give a gentle soak immediately after sprinkling the seeds and continue with a good morning soak every other day (unless it has rained the previous day, then you can skip).

Once you and your kids have your seeds set, make some new friends by adding a nearby home (or two) for butterflies, mason bees (these gentle giants will not sting, but are considered better pollinators than even honey bees) and perhaps even a hummingbird (note: Mother hummingbirds are very territorial, so one nest per yard is usually recommended).

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LET’S GET PHYSICAL

We all need to move more, but as important as exercise is for adults, it’s even more so for kids. Why? Growing bones and muscles thrive on cardiorespiratory fitness to set them physically up for success as they move into adulthood. Additionally, it helps relieve anxiety and depression, which is especially helpful for children, as their minds are still developing and without the experienced coping mechanisms we have as adults. Finally, with Type 2 diabetes surging across the globe, keeping your kids active is one of the best defenses you can give them.

Here are some standard, and not so standard, ideas for your kid’s backyard space…

Tried and true, playground structures are among the most common physical activity structures parents purchase for their kid’s backyard space. Items like swing sets, slides and monkey bars are great, but why stop there? There are so many companies now that are designing unexpected elements like climbing walls, unique configurations, and let’s definitely not forget those cool inflatable options with water activities that are perfect for our hot summer days (check out the one we found on sale at Kohls for under $350!).

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Are playgrounds not your preference? Creating a mini sports area not only encourages active play but allows the whole family to join in the fun. Not enough space for a proper basketball court? Add a basketball game set instead, like this dual one we found.

Slickblue, Kids Indoor/Outdoor Basketball Game Set w/4 Basketballs + Pump $104.99

Love a good water balloon fight but not the messy clean up after? We found these super-soft silicone water balloons that splatter on impact and are 100% reusable (so the fun can last as long as you like).

Coconut Outdoor, SplatterBallz Reusable Water Balloons $19.98

Or create a multi-game sport area with a simple, adjustable net. This one from Slickblue not only adjusts from adult to kids height, it also adjusts for a variety of games including volleyball, pickleball, badminton and more.

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GETTING CREATIVE

Social/emotional skills, cognitive development and problem solving are just a few of the critical developments that happen when kids engage in imaginative play. The best part is? It’s fun.

If you’re lucky enough to have a tree line that allows for building a true treehouse, there are plenty of plans out there on the internet (Treehouse Supplies has several of our favorites available for purchase). If that’s not the case, these equally enjoyable structures will be a welcome addition to your child’s inventive space. You can go traditional, as KidKraft’s MCM inspired house does, or try something outside the box, like NSG’s suspended fort with climbable sides.

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Another great way to encourage creative expression while enjoying the fresh air is an outdoor art station. Creating this can be as easy as buying a pre-made easel and putting it under an umbrella or canopy, like these options…

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Or with a little DIY’ing, you can create your own, like this weatherproof easel. Simply screw the 4×4 posts (made for outdoor fencing) into the heavy post anchors, then screw or nail the 4×4 plywood sheet. Follow the manufacturer instructions for applying chalkboard paint on one side of the sheet and erasable whiteboard paint on the other. Now your kids have a huge “canvas” to work on for creating those masterpieces all summer long.

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That’s just a few ideas on setting up your kid-friendly backyard space. We hope you like our suggestions, and remember – encouraging kids to spend time outdoors is important for their physical health, mental well-being, cognitive development, social skills, and overall balance. It helps them grow into healthy, well-adjusted individuals with a deep appreciation for the natural world. Enjoy!

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