When you were young, you probably spent hours playing outdoors. Once the school bell rang, you and your friends would run towards the park and play for hours on the jungle gym, slide, or tire swing. You would just keep playing until the sun went down, or your parents came to pick you up.
But with the advent of PC gaming, fast internet, and mobile devices, it seems like most kids these days don’t get to experience the wonders of playing outside to the extent we did. Well, one of the solutions that can entice them to get a little bit of sunshine is to build a playground in your own backyard. Here are a few ideas to help get your started and inspired:
- Choose equipment that is right for their age
First of all, make sure that your kids can actually play with that rocking horse and playhouse. For kids age 4 to 6 years old, the Little Tikes slide from Tesco is more suited for them because their short legs can climb the small steps. For older kids, you may think about giving them a tire swing, trampoline, a bigger slide, or a basketball hoop.
- Install chalkboard walls
Click for a tutorial we found on Pinterest from tinysidekick.com
In order to explore their creative side, the little ones tend to color the walls of your home. Cleaning their doodles can be really tedious, so give them their own freedom wall by installing a chalk wall outside. That way, they will have a designated space where they can draw to their heart’s content. They can also use this chalkboard to record the scores when they’re playing group games like volleyball or basketball.
- Choose the right play equipment
As parents, one of our priorities is to make sure that our sons and daughters will have a good time while they are still young. However, it is also important that you consider their safety. When choosing play equipment for your kids, make sure that you don’t buy wood that’s treated with arsenic. If you do happen to buy this type of wood, seal it once a year using penetrating deck treatment.
Your swing sets should be made from soft rubber to ensure safety and comfort. The areas below the playground equipment, meanwhile, must be covered with shock-absorbing materials like sand and rubber.
These are just some of the ways to turn your backyard into a fun play area. Feel free to visit the comments section if you can share other useful tips to your fellow readers!
