Are you thinking about creating a play area garden for your young one?
If you are looking to bring in more fun in addition to your kids sprinklers this summer, then building a play area is the answer for you. They allow your child to play in a safe and controlled environment.
Making a play area garden is not that hard. However, it is not as easy as designating an area in your backyard and calling it a play garden. So what do you have to do as a parent to create a play garden that is safe and fun for your kids?
Here are a few things to consider before you design the perfect play area garden for your kid.
Choose the Appropriate Site for the Play Area
It is important to get the location right because a lot of things can go wrong if you don’t do it.
The play area should be:
- Safe- You can fence it if necessary. Make sure that your play area is located away from overhead power lines, trees, and hard ground surfaces. If possible remove anything that might tempt your child to scale and jump.
- Within earshot and in the line of your sight. You want to be able to act quickly as soon as something happens.
- Clean- Clean out any trash and make sure the area remains clean at all times to discourage insects and rodents. Also, the dirtier the area, the more chances of getting your little one sick.
- Secure- Don’t leave gaping holes on the fence that could allow your child to slip out or that would allow something to slip in.
- Shaded against the elements such as direct sunlight.
Get the Right Building Materials
Not everything you can think of will make the best building materials for your child’s play garden. Some materials could cause harm to your child while some will not withstand the child’s curiosity.
For example, the barbed wire might be the wrong choice for fencing the play area if your child can easily get to the fence. Cardboards or block boards, on the other hand, might work well as long as there aren’t any exposed nails or screws that could harm your child.
Reduce the number of sharp edges in the play area to prevent the child, especially toddlers from running into them.
Get Child-Friendly Plants
Children tend to et things that should not necessarily be eaten. Therefore, even the most harmless plants could turn toxic if your kid ingests them. Your favorite flowers could also be harmful to your children.
However, that does not mean that you can’t have plants and flowers in the play area. You are also not limited to just lettuce in the event the child decides to put something in their mouth.
The best way to tackle this is to teach your kid not to eat plants found in the play area. This will allow you to create a beautiful set that your child will enjoy.
Create Different Zones
Zoning is another great idea to consider when creating a safe and neat play garden for your kid. You could have zones such as:
- A sitting area where you and your child can sit and relax
- Playing area where the child will play with their toys
- Grow area for children interested in planting seeds
You could use logs to separate these areas. Zoning encourages neatness within the play area such that balls, for example, are confined in the play area while gardening tools are confined in the grow area.
Get the Right Toys for the Play Area
High-quality toys for the play area mean fun and safety.
Make sure that the toys:
- Are made using highly durable material
- Have the required safety features
- Can easily be cleaned
- Are big enough not to be swallowed
Keep an eye on these toys as well and periodically check them for wear and tear, broken parts, sharp edges, and wobbly parts. It is also important to install safety features such as a net on a trampoline to prevent the child from falling off when playing.
Finding the right toys for your child is important because it reduces the chances of injury and also saves you money in the long run.
Conclusion
Creating a safe and healthy environment for a kid to grow and explore is one of the most important things every parent thinks of. Designing a play garden that meets these requirements is not hard. It only requires proper planning and your kid will have the best place to make as many memories as they can.
