Creating a Yard for Your Kids
Creating a kid-friendly yard that will promote outdoor
play is important, as more and more children prefer to stay indoors and play on
their game console or PC. Getting kids out of the house to play is an important
part of their physical development, and it is essential that you entice them to
play outside. Not only will it help them to get more physical exercise that
will keep them from becoming overweight, but it will also give you a few
valuable moments of peace and quiet in a world of noisy children.
Creating the yard will take a lot more than just putting
up a few wood
playsets together, though that is always a good start. Playsets are the
perfect place for kids to play, as there is space to run, jump, climb, slide,
swing, and crawl. Playsets can be dangerous if they are too tall and your
children are too young, but adding a soft cushioning beneath the playsets will
ensure that your children are safe. You will find that your kids are much more
likely to play around outside if they have fun activities to do.
You will find that open space may also be incredibly
entertaining for children, as this open space will give them a place to run,
tumble, and wrestle around in. Kids love to do gymnastics, play tag, or even
take up some sport, and having flat open ground is the best way to encourage
that. You can mark lines in your grass with chalk dust, and setting up your own
sports field or open area playground can be a good way to use your lawn without
spending a fortune.
One great way to entice kids out into the yard is to
plant a number of flowers, vegetables, and green plants in their yard. If the
kids know that the plants are "theirs" and need to be cared for by
them, they may be more interested in being outside in order to check on their
garden. You can build your own small greenhouse, or you can have a special
section of the garden that is reserved for their plants alone. Getting kids
interested in gardening and landscaping is a great way to teach them more about
nature and science, and you may find that giving your kids the responsibility
of planting their own gardens will be just what they needed to interest them in
the environment.
Remember that safety is important when letting your kids
play around outside, and you should take all of the necessary safety
precautions to ensure that your children are as safe as possible. Filling in
holes, removing sharp objects, storing tools, etc. will all be essential parts
of keeping your kids safe when playing out in the yard, and you should avoid
using chemicals or strong fertilizers if your kids play in the yard often.
Give your kids a space that is theirs, and they can do
whatever they want with it. They can dig tunnels, build a fort, climb trees,
and have the general run of the place. Giving the kids their own space will
usually be a great way to get them out into nature, as they will be much more
interested in playing outside if they have a "secret area" or
"hidden fort".
The most important thing when giving your kids the run of the yard is to help them use their imagination when running around outside. Imagination is the most powerful tool that any child has, and you can encourage the development of their imagination by creating a special outdoor place for them. If you can afford it, build a tree house together where they can play on their own. The most important thing is to ensure that the kids feel comfortable playing around outside, which will help them to get off their computers and game consoles in order to enjoy the natural beauty around them while they are still young. Older children may no longer be interested in playing around outside, but keeping the younger children interested in nature and the world around them is the best way to ensure that they are as healthy and happy as possible.
