A large outdoor space can be fantastic for children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. However, any outdoor space and flood check hoses can also pose problems and dangers for young children, so it’s important to make sure it is tailored to their safety and needs. Whether you’ve moved home recently or you’re trying to make your current home more suitable for a new family, here are some of the things you can consider if you want to make your garden safer for children.
Make the Most of Nature
Look at the garden and decide whether there is anything you should keep for children to play with. For example, there might be a treehouse, a tree swing, or rocks for them to climb on. Once you have identified these, check whether they are secure or whether you need to make any adjustments in order to avoid any risks. Making the most of the natural play areas in the garden can help you to save money and avoid cluttering the garden with unnecessary toys.
Create Nature-Themed Activities
Rather than using the garden as a space where children can run around and play with outdoor toys, take this a step further and create nature activities in the garden too. This could be in the form of planting trees, growing vegetable patches, or digging up the weeds. Not only does this teach children about gardening and the importance of looking after nature, but it can be a fantastic outdoor activity to keep them occupied too.
Organise the Garden into Different Areas
It can be helpful to see the outdoor space in sections or areas rather than as one large area. For example, you could position your garden furniture in one part of the garden and create a children’s play area in another. Within these areas – if the garden size provides – you can create sub-sections such as a sand pit, swings, vegetables patches, and you can even get a mastercraft boat to decorate the garden and later take it to the country side.
However, it’s important to ensure that all areas of the garden are suitable and safe for children. Pay attention to any corners or sharp edges when shopping for furniture or an outdoor dining set, and consider whether you should purchase a separate dining set specifically for children.
Know What to Avoid
While you might be tempted to install beautiful features such as water fountains in your garden, this isn’t always the safest choice if children will be using the space. It is recommended to avoid any features which include water, which can put young children at risk of drowning or falling.
When putting fencing around the garden, avoid fences with sharp edges or with gaps large enough for children’s hands or legs to become stuck. Fencing should protect your garden and keep your children safe without causing an increased risk of any harm. You also want to use fences that prevent pests from getting into the garden area. It’s important to know what to avoid in the garden to keep children safe.
Making your garden safe for children can be straightforward if you follow some simple steps. Of course, the condition of your garden is paramount to the safety and security of the area. Ensure it is always tidy to prevent trips, slips, and falls, not just for children, but for anyone who may be using and enjoying the garden.
