When our children are very young, they love nothing more than playing in the garden. They’ll spend hours digging in the mud, watering flowers, playing with a ball, or splashing in the paddling pool. Summers are filled with long days in the garden, exercising and having fun. As parents, having a safe garden means that we save money on days out, and keeping our kids occupied in the long summer holiday is much easier.
But as our children start to get older, the allure of the garden begins to fade. They’d rather be indoors playing on consoles, watching TV, or chatting to friends. As much as we try to encourage them to get fresh air, their old toys no longer offer any interest, and they pull away.
The good news is, despite the temptation of screens and computers, older children can still find joy in the garden. Here are some of the ways that you can create an outdoor space that your older kids still want to spend some time in.
Add Seating Options
Older children and teenagers are far less likely to play. They might still kick a ball about, but chances are, their days of playing with outdoor toys are behind them. They are more likely to spend time in the garden if they have somewhere to sit and read or listen to music. Look for garden benches where they can chill out, and find an outdoor table online that’s perfect for outdoor games and homework sessions.
Create a Shaded Area
Very young children don’t care too much about temperature. They’ll play in the snow for hours, they’ll sit in the sun, and they’ll paddle in a sea that would turn our feet blue.
Older kids might be more concerned about the heat in the summer months. They’ll be concerned about skin damage, and they might not enjoy being very hot. Add a parasol or cover to create some shade.
Upgrade the Paddling Pool
If you once had the space for a paddling pool, how do you feel about upgrading to a hot tub? Home hot tubs are cheaper and easier to use than ever, and they can be a great way to get older kids outdoors more.
Give Them an Area to Plant
Older kids might not be as keen to help their parents as they used to be. But they might still enjoy getting stuck into a project of their own. If you can, give them an area of the garden to do with what they want. Encourage them to plant, upcycle pots, add colour and even paint on the fences.
Create a Hangout Space
One of the worst things about our children getting older is that they no longer want to spend as much time with us. If you want your children to spend time outside, give them a private area with seating, tables and some soft furnishings, where they can invite friends to hang out.
Most parents are worried about how much time their kids spend on screens, indoors and not exercising. Making sure they’ve got an outdoor space at home, is one of the easiest things that you can do to help them at least get a bit of vitamin D.
*Collaborative post*
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