Collaborative Post
Summer is here and our kids are going to want to spend more time outdoors. Most of us are sprucing up our gardens to create fun spaces for them to spend time in. We’re mowing the lawn, checking the fence panels are secure and maybe even investing in a pool. But there are more steps you can take to make your garden a more sensory and educational space for your kids to spend time in. Here are a few options you might like to consider!
Make Things Bright
Many of us tend to follow outdoor gardening trends when it comes to designing our outdoor spaces. But you could actually go all out and make your garden design revolve around your kids. Choosing brighter and more child-friendly options can make your outdoor space much more fun for them. You can create a vibrant look with coloured decking. You can have brightly coloured bean bags for outdoor furniture (storing them away in the shed when they’re not being used). You can paint your sheds or fencing fun colours.
Plant Plenty of Flowers
Another simple way to make things bright and beautiful is to plant plenty of flowers in your garden. Creating a flower bed will provide your kids with a space where they can watch plants grow and revel in them when they bloom. Planting flowers can also attract plenty of butterflies and bees to your garden, as they’ll be drawn in by the pollen. Let your kids know that bees are in danger and that by planting bee-friendly flowers, your little ones are helping them! Some particularly bee-friendly options include Annual Scabious, Bee Sage, Rosemary, Sage, and Sea Holly. Before planting any flowers, make sure to check that anything you’re considering is non-toxic and child-friendly.
Attract Wildlife
Butterflies and bees aren’t the only wildlife you could attract to your garden. There are other species of wildlife that your children would be thrilled to see! Birds are beautiful creatures that are easy to tempt into your outdoor space. Set up a feeding table, a water station and (if you want to go all out) a birdbath in your garden. Different types of seed and bird food will attract different species. So, do your research and see what species, in particular, you’d like to draw in. Mealworms, chopped apples and berries can attract robins. Flaked maize and uncooked oats will attract blackbirds. Peanuts can attract finches. The list goes on and on. Just remember that as soon as you start leaving food out, you can’t pick and choose exactly what wildlife makes its way into your garden. So, if you don’t want particular animals in, don’t leave any food out.
These, of course, are just a few suggestions. Some may prove perfect for your family, while there are other options that may prove ideal for yours. What’s most important is that you create a functional, safe and appealing space for your little ones to spend time in!
