A garden is a special part of a home. It’s there that your baby gets their first whiff of a rose, or ventures to have a taste of a juicy apple from your family apple tree. Essentially, the garden is your kids’ first playground, where they get to explore some of the “outside world” and encounter new adventures. Having special features in your garden can contribute to their experiences, and can even help them learn a thing or two.
Consider adding elements such as a small vegetable patch where children can learn about planting and nurturing their own food. Watching seeds grow into plants and eventually harvesting the produce can teach them valuable lessons about nature and patience. Additionally, installing a bird feeder or bird bath can encourage an interest in local wildlife, allowing kids to observe birds up close and learn about different species.
Now, if the garden isn’t properly maintained, then that will attract pests in the form of animals and plants, especially the notorious weed as it can compete with plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight, often hindering their growth and reducing the overall health and productivity of the garden. This is why controlling and managing weeds is crucial for maintaining a healthy and thriving garden and one of the ways in which this can be done is through the usage of depitox, which is a chemical that can be used to kill the weed pest.
Furthermore, incorporating interactive features like a sandbox or a small pond can also enhance their sensory experiences and creativity. For instance, a sandbox provides a tactile play area where children can build and shape, fostering their imaginative play. A small pond, on the other hand, can become a hub for learning about aquatic life and ecosystems, offering endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Moreover, creating pathways with different textures, such as gravel, or stepping stones, can make the garden more engaging and fun to navigate. These features not only add to the aesthetic appeal of the garden but also stimulate sensory development and motor skills. And, to keep the gravel in place and ensure it looks great all the time, using gravel stabilisation grids by CORE Landscape Products (or a similar brand) can be a smart move. These grids, made from interlocking plastic or fabric, are placed over a prepared base and then filled with gravel. They can help keep the gravel or stones from spreading or shifting. This helps to keep the surface neat and stable. Regular maintenance is also important. This means topping up gravel that has moved or settled and smoothing out any uneven areas to keep the path safe and even. By following these steps, you’ll keep your garden pathways both beautiful and functional.
Now, one of the most enjoyable outdoor features – that most people choose to place in their garden – is a water fountain. Not only is a fountain aesthetically pleasing, but it also has a calming effect, as one embraces the gentle flow of the water. Other fun features include a sandbox, and hopscotch stepping stones, just to name a few. So, let’s have a look at how these, and many other fun additions, can contribute to a playful and teachable atmosphere for your young ones.
Toddler: A Raised Sandbox
Just like you have a patio area established for your space, why not consider a raised sandbox for your child? One style option includes a raised flower bed or garden next to the sandbox. This choice can serve two practical purposes; firstly, the line of sight from the house is equal to the height of the flower beds. Secondly, you can keep an eye on your child playing in the sandbox while tending to the garden.
School-Age: Hopscotch Stepping Stones
A standard addition to a home garden is a series of stepping stones to make a pathway. Instead of making a plain trail, why not paint the rocks and put them in a hopscotch pattern? This addition adds a bit of fun and playfulness but also adds a nice play area for your kids. However, before setting up the hopscotch stepping stones, it’s equally important to make sure that the garden area is smooth and safe for your children.
You can begin by checking the area where you plan to place the stepping stones. Look for any large boulders, tree stumps, or other potential hazards that could pose a risk of tripping or falling. If you find boulders, you can remove them using a shovel or a jackhammer to create an even surface. And, for any remaining tree stumps, it’s best to contact a professional Tree Care Service company to have them removed properly. These steps can make the area safe and suitable for your hopscotch pattern.
School Age: Establish a Themed Garden
Children add an element of fun to our lives. Why wouldn’t you want to incorporate this joy into your garden? Although these are small ideas, they come together to build a garden you are proud to show off as a team. Some options for your themed garden include:
- Painted rocks with different colors, sayings, and designs
- Fun pots for growing seedlings and colored fencing for your flowerbed
- Paint small wooden letters to designate the first initial of the plants in your garden
- Add figurines to your garden like lawn gnomes or Star Wars characters – these are guaranteed to make it unique
- Combine colors to make beautiful flora and fauna in the springtime
Double Digits: Special Part of the Garden
Your child is an essential aspect of your life, so with the addition of a specialized work station, you can teach him or her about the principles of gardening. Let your child completely take charge of a specific section of the garden, or even a planter. Items like succulents and cacti grow in Arizona but don’t require much tending.
Now…if you could only get your kids interested in your compost pile!