outdoor activities for children Archives

Reducing Backyard Safety Risks for Children

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on reducing backyard safety risks for children. Nothing beats letting our youngsters loose to explore the outside world. And, what better place for safe explorations than your backyard? So, any safety issues must be addressed to ensure your children don’t get hurt.

For example, children can trip and fall over items that should be stored. Furthermore, do you have bushes or vines that can cause rashes or have thorns that could be harmful? What about swing sets that should be replaced or pieces upgraded to ensure everyone is safe or an old delipidated tree house on the property? Of course, you can’t remove all risks, but you can avoid unnecessary outdoor injuries with a little maintenance.

Reducing Backyard Safety Risks:

# 1 – Weed Your Lawn and Gardens

Kids running on the lawn without shoes is a childhood memory many of us hold. If you want this memory for your children as well, make sure there are no broken glass, sharp items or thorns in your grass. Furthermore, garden areas can have poison ivy, thorny shrubs or other items that can cause harm to children. To avoid this, you must mow your lawn regularly and stay on top of that chore. In addition, weeding garden areas should be done regularly too. Unfortunately, many of us lack the time or energy to mow and/or weed regularly. As a result, I suggest that you contact a professional weed control company. They can keep your lawn mowed, fertilized and weed free. In addition, they will maintain your gardens. Coming home to a well manicured lawn and beautiful garden areas is a dream of every home owner. Make that call!

# 2 – Define Garden Areas

Having bugs in your garden is necessary if you want to encourage blooms on your flowers and vegetables. Bugs help pollinate our plants as well as rid our gardens of unwanted other bugs. So, encouraging bees and bugs to your flower gardens or bug hotels is necessary.

As a result, make a notable distinction on where your flower beds meet your lawn. Without boundaries that children can see, they may unknowingly run into your garden trampling your beautiful flowers or possibly encountering a bee, which could sting them. Make sure that doesn’t happen by implementing barriers that will notify kids not to enter.

For example, you can line your garden area with bricks, stone, railroad ties or another material that will make a boundary. They also help to make your gardens visually appealing too.

# 3 – Increase Your Outdoor Living Space

Your backyard may be a safer exploration spot than the local park, however, you must still ensure your children are safe. So, install a patio where you sit and watch the children play at times. You can extend your outdoor living space by adding an area where your children can eat, draw or play games. This increased outdoor living space is a winner, especially if you have toddlers. Patios, decks, sunrooms and other elements give your garden an undeniable wow factor.

Your children playing outside having fun, getting fresh air and sunshine and enjoying a snack or family meal is what all parents want. However, backyards have risk. Start by reducing those in your backyard, and you and children will be ready for warm weather when it rolls around.

5 Ingenious Ways to Encourage Kids to Play Outside

There are many parents who would like to see their kids spend more time playing outside. Modern children love their gadgets, but they must also learn that the great outdoors is waiting to be discovered. Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on encouraging kids to play outside.

Let Them Care for the Plants

Is there a chance that your little ones might be interested in caring for your plants? Most children love to water plants, dig out weeds, and anything else to keep the plants healthy.

Many youngsters really enjoy looking after plants because it gives them a great feeling of responsibility. Why not try this out to see how much they enjoy doing it for a few days.

Eat Together Outside

Eating outside is something that most children enjoy doing when given a chance. Put a lunch together, and eat at the picnic or patio table. Can you imagine how much fun they would have.

By doing this you can introduce them to the pleasures of being outdoors. With a bit of luck they will then carry on playing out there once you have all finished eating.

Add Some Outdoor Toys

Possibly the simplest and most effective way of getting children to play outside is to add some outdoor toys in the garden for them. After all, they may simply not go outside because there is nothing for them to do.

Some cool garden toys such as kids trampolines, balls, tennis nets and other exciting stuff will give them lots of new ways to have fun outside. You might even find that some of the grownups in the family enjoy playing outside as well.

These toys will give them a terrific option when they have friends over or when you plan a birthday party for them at home.

Grow Vegetables

Another hobby that can get youngsters outside more often is growing vegetables. This is a wonderful activity that can bring the whole family benefits. For example, healthier eating, lower shopping bills and the chance to live a more environmentally friendly way of life.

This is something that should be suggested rather than forcing them to do it. If they enjoy growing their vegetables then they will probably start to spend more time outside doing other things as well.

Get Some Pets

Some pets can also do a terrific job in getting the kids to stray outdoors more often. For example, a rabbit is the kind of pet that most youngster love to play with in the garden.

An alternative to getting your own pets could be to make your garden more bird or animal-friendly. Encourage local wildlife to come and visit the property. The kids can then enjoy getting out to look for their little visitors.

There are many clever and practical ways of encouraging younger members of the family to put down their gadgets and head outside to play. Why not give a couple of these ideas a try and see how they work?

Katrina, is a proud mom of two gorgeous girls who loves writing about home improvement, decor and contributes regularly on various blogs and online publications like Mother2Motherblog.com