Creating a Child-Friendly Garden Space
When we’re asked to design a garden, a frequent request is for a child-friendly garden space.
A family garden should be a safe, secure place where children can play, explore, learn about nature, and be creative. Being outside in the fresh air improves wellbeing and provides a place for children to exercise and to let off steam.
But where do you start designing a child-friendly garden?
The Basics of a Child-Friendly Garden
Natural Lawns
Creating a green space is essential, providing an inviting place for children to play or sit for picnics and storytelling sessions. Even a small lawn can be the site of a playhouse, tent, paddling pool or any combination of play equipment, often changing over the years as children grow. We can undertake turfing and grass seeding to suit your requirements.
Artificial Lawn
The lower maintenance alternative to real grass, which is always green and lush. Artificial lawn recovers easily from frequent use, with no muddy patches. We can suggest, supply and install artificial grass to provide you with a hardwearing lawn with a long life expectancy.
Paths and Patios
Surfaces on which to ride scooters, bikes and other ride-ons provide numerous possibilities for imaginative play and for developing balance and large motor skills.
A patio with a table and chairs not only provides a place for eating outdoors, but for playing games, doing crafts, drawing and painting, all in the open air.
At Gardens Galore, we can create all types of garden patios and paths using a vast choice of materials ranging from natural sandstone, slate, resin-bound gravel and concrete products.
Fencing
A sturdy fence ensures that children can explore and play freely. It also defines a clear boundary, giving parents peace of mind while allowing kids to enjoy outdoor activities in a protected space.
With the right design, a fence can blend into the garden’s natural beauty, becoming part of an imaginative play area—whether it’s a canvas for painting, a backdrop for a secret fort, or a structure for climbing plants to grow alongside young explorers.
At Gardens Galore, we offer a wide choice of garden fencing and gates in a variety of materials and styles your suit your needs.
Play Areas for Your Child-Friendly Garden
Playhouses
A playhouse can provide so many opportunities for imaginative play. From smaller plastic versions to more substantial wooden buildings, you can create a remote mountainous hut, a luxurious palace, or a castle guarded by a dragon.
If space allows, add a table and chairs, paper and crayons, a toy box, blankets and a blackboard for numerous pretend worlds to be created.
Climbing Frames
Whether for climbing up or handing off them, climbing frames help develop hand/eye coordination and large motor skills. Available as small, plastic cubes to large, free-standing wooden structures, there are endless opportunities for building a climbing frame in your child-friendly garden.
Sandpits
There are many options when it comes to building a sandpit, from stand-alone or larger covered freestanding sand tables or built-in versions. A sandpit and toys will offer endless hours of learning and creative play.
Water Play
A water table and toys or a series of tubes or pipes fixed to a board will provide endless fun and help children learn about the properties of water.
Paddling Pool
Perfect on a hot day for cooling off. Always supervise children when playing with water.
Pop-up Tent
Similar to a playhouse, just add a few props, and there are opportunities for imagination to run wild.
Swings and Slides
These traditional options provide plenty of fun in any garden, whether it’s for the children exercising their need for speed or to see how high their favourite teddy bear will go.
Climbing Wall
If space allows, a bespoke structure can be built with handholds that can be adjusted over the years as children grow. Maybe we’ll see them on the next Olympic speed climbing wall!
Trampoline
Sunken or free-standing, large or small, children of all ages enjoy bouncing and letting off steam. Always use a net on larger free-standing trampolines.
Play Kitchen
A wooden surface with some recessed bowls and utensils can provide a homemade kitchen area that lets the young chef’s mind run wild. Combine with a sandpit and some water for messy fun.
Play Bark or Rubber Matting
Typically installed under play equipment, bark or rubber provides some safety and would be a requirement if there is height involved and risk of falling.
Blackboard and Chalks
Boost those creative young minds with washable drawing surfaces that can open up learning opportunities–and a helpful place to list down the garden chores that need ticked.
Garden Games
From checkers to chess, garden games help develop hand/eye coordination and also encourage sharing and taking turns.
Rugs or Blankets
Cosy surfaces for picnics, storytelling, games and naps.
Ideas for Nature in Your Child-Friendly Garden
Bug Hotel
There are many versions of bug hotels available, or you can make your own with logs, encouraging insects and wildlife to the garden and allowing children to learn about nature.
Bird Bath and Feeders
Buy or make your own to help children learn about nurturing garden birds.
Shaded Areas
Even in Scotland, it’s worth having a sail, umbrella or trees to provide shade on those sunny days.
Gardening With Children
Raised Beds
The opportunity to plant and nurture seeds or to grow fruit, vegetables or flowers provides a wealth of learning opportunities for children. At Gardens Galore, we design and build raised planters of all shapes and sizes in a variety of materials, including timber, stone and brick, to suit your chosen style and space in the garden.
Child-Friendly Plants
Flowers, shrubs and trees that are non-toxic can add colour, scent, texture and movement to bring a garden to life. Birds, bees, insects and butterflies may be attracted to the space to bring another element of nature in as well.
Gardening With Children
Here are a few activities to inspire your little green-fingered gardeners!
If you are considering redesigning your garden space to be more child-friendly, contact our team to discuss your project, and we’ll be delighted to help.
Call us at 01738 553014 or complete our enquiry form.