Best tips on how to make your garden kids friendly

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All parents try to lure their children outside the house without having to turn the entire garden into a playground. Sometimes it is not that easy to pull the little ones off of the gadgets, but there's nothing impossible, especially if your yard is properly set up. Many people think that a kid-friendly garden should be filled with numerous toys, but it doesn't have to be that way. Here you can get some tips on how to design a garden that would be suitable for both adults and kids.

Set up a playhouse
Buy a wooden hut or build a hideout where your kids can hang out with their friends away from the adults. Alternatively, you can turn your log cabin into a playhouse. Once installed or redecorated, use a magnet or metal detector to check the area next to your playhouse to make sure there are no nails left in the grass. In addition, your children should wear suitable shoes in the garden to protect their feet from cuts and stings.

Make sure there are enough things to keep your kids busy in their playhouse.
It can be basically anything related to your kid's hobbies and interests, but also something universal like board games for the kid's gatherings.  Of course, make sure that the playhouse is safely equipped and does not pose any risks to your children. These may include sharp edges, splintering wooden floors, electrical cables, etc. If the house will also be used in winter, you should install a safe heating system. A good option can be underfloor heating. This type of heating is beneficial for children's rooms because there is no exposed electrical line.
The same goes for the lighting. Prefer solar and battery-operated lamps.

Set up a separate garden bed for your kids
Due to natural curiosity, children love to watch plants growing. Children find it especially fascinating to see a tiny sprout developing into a huge plant. That is one of the many reasons to set up a personal garden bed for your children. Gardening will not only keep them busy outdoors but also will develop their love for nature and living beings. Apart from that, gardening is a good way for your kids to develop a sense of independence and responsibility for living beings. ​

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Believe me, your kids will enjoy having their private space in the garden where they set their own rules and play their own bosses. Of course, you should take care of their safety by getting kids-friendly tools. They should be of an appropriate size, weight, and not too sharp. It’s important not only to get the right tools but also to raise children's awareness of potential dangers, to explain to them how garden tools function and how to use them properly without getting injured.

Tip: Let your children work on their garden beds strictly in safety gloves and under your observation (at least till they develop an understanding of safety rules and follow them with determination).

Having a garden, you are likely to have leftover seeds to share with your child. Alternatively, you can buy some. It is important to keep children away from potentially dangerous plants, such as allergic and poisonous plants or those with thorns.

• Allergy alarm

There is no surprise that the allergic plants' category belongs to the dangerous ones, as more and more children are suffering from allergies and asthma these days. That is why, if your kids belong to the risk club, gardening can turn from an interesting adventure to a dangerous experience. It is important to record all allergies (relevant for gardening are food, plant and insect allergies) and provide a first aid kit. For example, my child develops a strong allergic reaction to a bee sting, that’s why we always have an antidote syringe at home. Ask your paediatrician for an allergy test for your children. 

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• Poison danger

If the first category makes perfect sense, the second can raise a question: Who would ever want poisonous plants in their garden? Well, It's not that simple as it may seem. Many plants have a certain amount of toxins and can be very dangerous if some of their parts are eaten, especially by children. So, if your children want to plant something less trivial than cabbage and lettuce, then you need to take a closer look at the plant choices they make and clearly explain to the children what plants they can eat. They also have to understand what plants are “wanted” and what are the weeds.

Poisonous plants include:
Hydrangeas, ivy, foxgloves, rhubarb (leaves), lily of the valley, rhododendrons, knight spurs, feather asparagus, milkweed, spotted hemlock, azalea, morning glory, bergenia, oleander, monkshood, hyacinths, lupins, begonias, tulips, daffodils and amaryllis (bulbs).
           
A good example of kid-friendly plants is fast-growing fruits and vegetables like strawberries. It's no secret that kids aren't patient at all -- this makes strawberries the best choice as it won't take your children long to see the results of their labour. And of course, this will also motivate children to plant more, as they can eat their crop as a reward.

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Don’t forget the sun protection
Make sure the kids' area is always in partial shade. Set up a garden umbrella if necessary. Even if your children spend most of their time in the shade, you shouldn't neglect to apply sunscreen. This is especially important in summer between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its hottest.