Nice weather is upon us which means it’s the best time to make your yard more appealing to the kids. Although it may be harder to get today’s kids outside for some play time, with a fabulous yard to get them interested in good old fashioned play, there won’t be any bribing necessary! This doesn’t mean you’re looking at spending a lot of money on renovations though! Many of these ideas are entirely frugal and some will cost you absolutely nothing if you have the supplies laying around the house. So, throw on your favorite pair of comfortable work clothes because after this read you’ll be ready to renovate and have some fun!
1. Swing
One of the best ways to keep a child interested in the outdoors is to place a swing outside. These toys are great for playtime, but also make a great way to relax and enjoy a nice day. Many parents simply go out and buy a swing set when they’re trying to entice their child to enjoy the outdoors. Although this can be helpful, you really don’t need to spend the money if you have a tree in your yard. All you need is a bit of rope, a sturdy tree branch and a seat to make this toy a reality. Some of the best seats around come from old chairs. If you have a broken chair or one you don’t use anymore then take off the legs and strap it onto the tree. You can also use a palette for a swing that’s big enough for more than one child to lay across. This type of swing can also make a nice place to read a book or nap on a hot day. Old tires also make a great choice for many as well as logs and other pieces of lumber. Another fun idea that looks cool is to take a skateboard without the wheels and use it for a seat. Of course, if you have no tree then you may want to consider looking around at a second hand store for a used swing set.
2. Obstacle Course
Kids love running around and playing, especially when they have obstacles around to keep them busy. You can easily turn your home into an obstacle course by simply using some old junk to make it so! One of the best ways to keep kids guessing is to string up a lot of rope between two trees. Kids will love trying to figure out how to get through the maze. Of course, this toy should be carefully monitored by an adult and the strings should be tied in a way that is safe if an incident occurs. You can also use old tires or pool tubes to create holes for children to crawl under or jump over as they tackle their course. A rock wall is also something that is easier than you think to make! There’s several tutorials online so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and find the perfect rock wall for your home.
3. Slip N Slide
With the summer heat rolling in you may want to consider getting a slip n slide in your backyard. A lot of the slip n slides on the market now are pretty pricey. Let’s face it, they don’t last very long either, especially if you got it at a price that almost seemed reasonable. Rather than spending money on a slip n slide you can easily make your own at home. Simply find a large tarp that you may not want to use again. Then, make sure there are no rocks or sharp objects on the ground. Lay down the tarp and oil it down with baby oil so you don’t have to use as much water to get the slide going. This will also help the children not get a friction burn while they’re playing. If you don’t have a tarp around the house then use some heavy duty trash bags and tape. When everything is set up then add water and let the fun begin. You can even keep the water to a minimum by using buckets instead of the sprinkler.
4. Kid Friendly Nooks
Kids love little areas where they can sit down with a book or simply have a secret clubhouse. One of the most popular ways you can achieve this is via a tree house, but this can be incredibly difficult and timely. There’s a few great options though that will also make your yard look absolutely fantastic. One fun way to give your child a nook is to plant sunflowers in the shape of a square. Once the flowers begin to grow your children will be able to walk into the floral box and enjoy some peace and quiet in the shade. You can also create a teepee using plastic piping or gardening wires. When you have the foundation built plant beans around the structure and shape them up the foundation as they grow. Any vine plant would work for this project though just make sure it is healthy for kids and animals! Finally, if you have a tree in the yard then hang a hula hoop from it. Then wrap an old sheet or shower curtain around the outside of the hoop. This will create a comforting and shady area for kids to cool down when playing.
5. Game Boards
If your family loves game night then this tip is for you. You can easily turn your yard into one giant board game! There’s a lot of options to choose from but one of the most popular is scrabble. All you need is several pieces of cardboard or old pieces of thin wood to create the letter pieces. You can also use scrap wood as planks that, combined with wire, will hold the pieces up. Another great option is bowling. All you need is a tarp, several bottles filled with water (add food coloring for fun) and a couple of balls. You might also want to consider kickball croquet. This only requires the use of cut up old tires or pool noodles to create the play area. With a kick ball, have the kids kick through each of the game pieces until someone makes it through without hitting the sides! You can also add a simple ring toss game to the yard using just about anything. To make things more interesting, add some glow in the dark items to the mix for a fun late night game.
6. Character Pieces
Although your yard may be ready for play time, it may not look as kid friendly as you think. A lot of the time a yard reflects the adults in the home more than children. This can easily be changed with a few kid friendly characters that will make children feel more like the yard is their domain. For instance, if you have rocks in your yard then you may want to give them a makeover. Try painting them to look like M &Ms and other fun pieces of candy. You can also turn your rocks into pet rocks for the kids. They’ll love painting their favorite animals on them! Of course, you don’t have to limit the creativity to animals only. Let your kids paint their favorite superheroes, cartoon characters and anything else they can think of! You may even want to make special rocks for the holidays, such as Easter eggs and pumpkins. Another option to bring some character to the yard is to create character’s using plants. You can easily cut shrubs to mimic the look of an animal, but you can also look for tutorials to transform smaller plants into furry creatures.
7. Tables
You’re going to want to make it so your children can eat, drink and play with their favorite toys outside too. This is easily done when you create tables for them! One easy table that won’t take up space in the yard is a foldable table that actually attaches to the fence. This is incredibly easy to make and will make kids feel like they have their own personal space in the yard. To make it even more kid friendly you can paint chalkboard paint on the top of it and let them have some fun drawing with chalk! You may also want to use tree stumps and other older pieces of wood to craft tables and chairs that will create a rustic look while also providing the kids with a place to enjoy their indoor luxuries outdoors!
8. Relaxation
Sometimes you just need a place to sit down and relax after a game of hide and seek. Of course, if you’re a parent you may not object to having somewhere to relax while watching the kids play. One easy way to make your relaxation dreams a reality is to craft a bench out of cinder blocks or other supplies you have lying around the house. Once you have the base made take plastic bags and pile them together to create a comfortable layer to sit on. When this is thick enough you can easily cover it with fabric or a table cloth material. If you do choose to use fabric then spray it so it’s water resistant! You might also want to consider making a hammock outside. These are very easy to make and can be made out of just about anything!
9. Beach
One way to get the entire family excited about spending time outdoors is to give your home its very own beach. This is actually easier than you may think. All you need is a tarp and a whole lot of sand. Place the tarp down where you’d like the beach to be and then place the sand over it. You can easily buy sand in bulk, so this expense shouldn’t set you back much. With the sand ready to go you can plan you backyard beach around the items you’d like! For instance, one great way to have some fun is to place a fire pit in the area. This is perfect for late night parties or sharing stories with friends and family. You may also want to consider a small kiddy pool for the little ones. You could also use this to place fish toys in so everyone can enjoy a fishing trip without taking vacation time. Finally, supplies for sand castles will always make this aspect of the yard a favorite.
10. Add Light
When it comes to yards, a little light can make them seem even more magical. If you’re proud of your flower garden or love your walk way then you can easily spice it up by laying down rope light. This creates a nice outline of the yard and adds light to make it seem more comfortable. If you have an old chandelier or other decorative light laying around the house then now may be the time to refurbish it. Hang it off of a tree or on your porch and fill it with solar lights. You may also want to pull your old wine or beer bottles out of the recycling as they make perfect torch lights for an evening free of mosquitos!
Spending time outdoors is important for everyone. With the fresh air and much needed sunlight improving your mood you’ll be glad you took the time to make your yard kid friendly. Best of all, with these easy tips you shouldn’t have spent much on your yard at all. With a little DIY your home will keep improving, one space at a time!
