Are you itching to make some changes to the design of your garden but worried it won’t fit with the family lifestyle? The good news is that there are plenty of ways to integrate the needs and demands of your children into a wonderful outside space you’ll want to spend time in.
Here are just a few ways you can consider your little ones when planning a revamp of your garden.
Illumination
Great lighting can serve multiple purposes in your garden. Not only does it provide an important safety feature by increasing visibility during darker times of day but lighting can also make a space feel more mystical and magical if chosen well.
Being positioned outside means that solar-powered lights work particularly well for the garden. You could consider hanging fairy lights in a particular corner of the space to create the feeling of a magical den.
Educational space
If you’ve got a bit of a green thumb and are inclined towards growing plants or vegetables in your garden, making some extra space for your children to get involved as well could be a great educational opportunity. Encourage them to take ownership of growing uncomplicated produce like spinach, spring onions or courgettes and let them learn about the natural world by doing so. The first time they sit down to eat something made with vegetables they’ve grown themselves will be so satisfying!
Sharing the space
Making space in the garden for the whole family to come together is a vital part of your design. Consider placing some comfy sofas and chairs for relaxing, or a nice table and chairs where you can share meals outside on nice evenings or deepen bonds and develop problem-solving skills by playing board games together.
Wildlife habitats
Most kids love animals, and you can teach them to look after the natural world by creating a space that will attract birds, butterflies and other creatures to your garden. One of the most helpful things you can do for the environment is to make your garden a welcoming place for the threatened but vitally important bees, by planting nectar-rich flowers and providing water stations or hotels for hibernation.
Play area
Nothing can ever keep kids completely organised but, to help prevent things from getting strewn all around the garden, a designated play area within the space is a good idea. Those lighting choices can play a part here in delineating sections of the garden, as can installing clear storage for outdoor toys to be kept.