There is nothing so alluring to a child’s mind as vegging out in front of a screen for hours on end. Something about the TV, the smartphone and the computer just call to little ones these days so if you want your kid to grow up flexing their muscles and their imaginations, you need to get creative.When the weather is nice, you should want your family to spend time in the great outdoors. Even if you don’t have much backyard space, there are a few projects you can do with your kids to get them up and out and enjoying themselves more than they probably expected.
Backyard Camping
You don’t have to drive for hours into the wilderness (and endure life without running water) to sleep under the stars. When temperatures are appropriate, you can set up camp in your backyard. Get your kids to invite some friends over and roll out the sleeping bags on the lawn. For a little privacy, you can also pitch a tent which will help everyone pretend you did journey deep into the forest. Tell ghost stories, roast s’mores and place a ban on technology for the evening, so you can all enjoy the great outdoors.
Swings
Swings never stop being fun, so adding a swing to your backyard is almost guaranteed to draw the kids away from their screens. You can even get your kid involved in building and suspending the swing, which can be educational and fun.While you can buy and assemble a pre-fabricated swing set, if you have a covered patio or an established tree, you might as well take advantage of these. You might hang chairs or benches under your porch, or you can hang a tire swing from a sturdy tree branch. As long as you have the right materials and a mind for safety, you can install a swing that will stay in use for years.
Treehouse
Speaking of things in trees, a treehouse is a quintessential kid hangout spot. Treehouses don’t need to be elaborate; while you and your little ones might lust over the veritable palaces seen on shows like Treehouse Masters, just a well-made platform off the ground is likely to excite and engage kids. Before you start construction, you should read your neighborhood’s HOA rules as well as zoning laws for your city. You might not be allowed to build a treehouse in your front yard, and there might be restrictions for the height of the structure or the proximity to your neighbor’s property. You should always consider the health of your tree when designing and assembling a treehouse, and you should get your kid involved in painting and decorating the structure since it will ultimately be their space.
Climbing Wall
If you don’t have any large, mature trees, you can still supply your young’uns with the joy of climbing by erecting a climbing wall in your backyard. It is possible to affix sheets of plywood to your perimeter walls, and on these you can screw holds. Bouldering sets (which should include a variety of holds as well as shoes and gloves) are relatively affordable, and you can move them around to give your kids new challenges when they start to get bored with the same old setup.
DIY Sprinkler
Water is a kid’s best friend, but it’s probably out of your budget to dig a pool. Fortunately, you can still give little ones the chance to play in the water by creating your own wild sprinkler. By simply punching holes in a two-liter plastic bottle and taping it to the hose, your young ones will have hours of fun jumping and playing in your backyard. Plus, giving your lawn an extra drink during the hot summer weather is good for lawn care, too.
Backyard Movies
Not all screens are created equal. If you can make watching television and movies a family affair, the effects on young brain development is positive. You can do this and get the kiddos outside by scheduling a weekly family movie night in your backyard. For under $100, you can buy a powerful projector that will work on an exterior wall of your house. Then, you can spread out blankets, pour snacks into bowls, invite over some neighbors and friends and enjoy a good film together.Getting up and outside is vital for proper childhood development but more importantly, it can be fun for the whole family. Hopefully, you gained some inspiration from the above projects, so you can get your kids playing in the backyard when the weather turns nice.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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