Ensuring that a garden is child-friendly is a huge priority for parents, especially for those who love spending a lot of time outdoors.
You want to be able to enjoy your garden, which is something that you can’t do if you have to constantly watch out for potential hazards. From your choice of grass to the type of garden fence installed, it’s essential that you keep your little ones in mind at all times.
Looking for some child friendly ideas to create a garden that both you and your kids can happily spend time in? Here are some ideas to help you turn your garden into a safe haven for all the family.
Artificial Grass
When it comes to choosing between artificial grass and the real thing, we believe that parents should definitely consider choosing the former. Known for being durable and tough, it’s the perfect choice for children who like to play outside all year round.
Not only do you not have to worry about children slipping on muddy or soggy grass, it also means saying goodbye to those pesky grass stains that appear on children’s clothes so often.
High Quality Fencing
A garden fence has many important uses and therefore should be given careful consideration before purchasing. For those with children, it’s even more important that you find one that offers you both security and safety.
With children running around the garden on a daily basis, you need something in place to protect them from wandering off into other neighbours’ gardens, or even worse, into any nearby roads. You need garden fencing that offers you high quality and peace of mind.
Wooden fences are traditionally favoured, but they damage easily, leaving children susceptible to injuries from splinters or broken panels. Looking into alternatives, such as ColourFence, can save you money and give you that extra security for your little ones! Splinter-free and low maintenance, they make for an ideal solution.
Child Friendly Flowers
Keeping your eyes on small children at all times when they are playing outside is often easier said than done. No matter how hard you try, children have a habit of wandering off and getting up to mischief before you’ve even clocked that they’ve moved. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of dangerous flowers and the hazards of small children eating them.
Garden favourites such as Lily-of-the-Valley, Philodendron and Yew should be avoided at all times, as they are poisonous and can cause an irritant of the eyes and skin.
Stick to plants and flowers such as Lavenders, Daises and Sunflowers! Not only are they super safe for children, they look beautiful too.
A Secure Pond
Building a wildlife pond in your garden can really make it stand out, but how do you go about creating one when you have small children to worry about? Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out, you just need to make sure that you take all the necessary precautions.
A lot of people install grids or netting over their pond to divert curious minds, whilst others prefer to fence or gate it off completely until the children are old enough to learn about water safety.
Anti-Slip Decking
Good quality decking can give your garden the WOW factor, but how can you ensure that it is child-friendly at all times? When the weather is particularly wet, decking can become slippery, making it a nightmare for those wanting to spend time in the garden with their children as soon as the sun comes out.
Anti-slip decking is ideal for children who love to be outside even when the weather hasn’t been fantastic! Stylish, safe and secure, it’s worth spending that extra little bit of money.
Lock Up Your Garden Tools
Creating a child-friendly garden isn’t just about installing the right features – you also need to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep it a danger-free zone. This includes making sure that your garden tools are safely stored away in a secure place when not in use.
Sharp tools such as lawnmowers and garden forks should be locked away to prevent your children from accessing them. Children are curious by nature and will think nothing of making them their new toys! Garden chemicals should also be locked away in the same manner.
When using garden tools with children around, it’s imperative that you don’t let them out of your sight or leave them lying around.
Create Child Specific Spaces
When thinking about redesigning your garden, it’s always a good idea to keep your children in mind. Designing specific areas for them to spend time in is the perfect way to keep them occupied and entertained when out in the garden.
From creating a sandbox to making space for games such as football, it can make all the difference for your children. It doesn’t have to take up too much space either – just corner off a section of the garden that is their zone!
Having children doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the perfect garden. By keeping in mind the 7 pieces of advice outlined above, you can easily create a fantastic child-friendly space that everyone can enjoy!
If you’re looking to update your fencing to something that is child-friendly and stylish, contact ColourFence today on 0800 6444113. ColourFence offers a garden fence that is high quality, secure and durable – you won’t have to worry about splinters again!
