Around 75% of Americans believe it is important to spend time in their yards, and the average adult spends approximately 10 minutes a day on lawn care. If you have a green thumb, then you may be happy with all the beautiful plants and flowers you’ve been growing over the years. When you start a family or kids grow up, of course, everything changes. If you have toddlers or children and you would love to spend more time outdoors with them, what changes can you make to your yard to ensure that there is a special place for absolutely everyone?
Cabbage Patch Kids
Children today spend less time outdoors than any other previous generation, according to the National Recreation and Park Association. One way to encourage kids to build their important bonds with nature and the Great Outdoors, is to build a small vegetable garden. You can use a wooden palette construction (or store-bought garden structure) to build a small vegetable patch with easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs like tomatoes, chilli, lettuce, rosemary, and basil. At mealtime, encourage your kids to reap what they have sown, and whip up a healthy organic meal that you all have made literally from scratch.
Aeroponics For Veggie Lovers
If you have a small garden and dedicating part of it to a patch is impossible, consider using an aeroponic tower. This system uses 98% less water than traditional gardens, and it grows veggies three times faster than soil based gardens do. These towers take vertical rather than ground space, and they use water and liquid nutrients to grow veggies efficiently. Best of all, you won’t need to worry about dirt or weeding.
Sun And Shade
Your yard should be adaptable to the changing seasons, and that means controlling sun levels with retractable awnings, sun shades, and the like. Electric or moveable features will allow you to move sun angles and intensity with the use of a remote control or switch, which will make spending time outdoors pleasurable even during the sunniest, hottest days. Make sure the awning or shade is large enough to cover a large space of your porch, so that children, adults, and pets can protect their skin from UV ray damage, while still making the most of the summer. Under the awning, you can place a large rustic, wooden table, which you can top with flowers, candles, and other décor pieces that will make everyone ask to enjoy all meals al fresco rather than indoors.
A Bit Of Me Time
If your yard is large enough, a cute playhouse will keep your child occupied and entertained for hours on end. Some constructions simply have a small slide, steps, and a ‘shed’ that kids can stand in. Others have a larger space for chilling out – more like a tree house. If the playhouse is large enough, you can create a space where kids can read, play tea, or simply lie down in their slice of paradise. Fill the space with colorful cushions, a small stereo, and other creature comforts kids can call their own.
Activity Time
If you and your kids would like to enjoy a bit of outdoor exercise, why not use part of a large yard for a mini bootcamp? This part of the yard can have exercise equipment, tyres, nets, and other little obstacles that can be used for family competitions. A storage shed will ensure you can safely keep equipment away when it is not needed.
Building the perfect yard involves creating comfortable zones as well as more active ones. In this day of ubiquitous connectivity, when kids and adults alike are often glued to devices, making spaces for a garden (traditional or nouvelle) can entice kids into the outdoors. Finally, make sure there are areas in which to stay active and play. Finally, make room for tents at night, when you and your kids can lie beneath the stars and enjoy a camping adventure in your very own home
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