Children's Play Areas - A Guide

Gardens provide a great opportunity for creative and imaginative children's play. Children can also develop a longlasting interest in gardening and plants.

A patio next to the house may be better than a lawn for young children to play with their toys, as small toys can easily be lost in the grass. Patio's are also good spots for paddling pools and sandpits where you can watch over your toddlers to make sure that they are keeping safe.

Sandpits and pools can be purchased already made, making them easier to move into the sun or shade as needed. Pools and sandpits should always be covered when not in use to protect them against pets or wild animals. Also, silver sand should be used for sandpits, so as not to stain clothes.

A paved path can provide circuits for roller skates, bikes and trikes. However, gravel paths should be avoided if your children are very young, as nasty injuries can be incurred, and the gravel can become embedded in cuts.

Older children will enjoy having secret corners in the garden where they can build their own dens, so if your garden is large enough to divide into areas with plants or trelliswork, then use this in your garden design.

There is a large range of garden play equipment available on the market, i.e. slides, swings and climbing frames. Better flexibility is offered by movable equipment types, which will allow you to position them in different parts of your garden, allowing your lawn some recovery time. It is not always necessary to purchase special play equipment for your garden though, as features such as pergolas and arches can be used for dual purposes. Old trees can be used for climbing on, and a garden shed can be taken over as a secret den.

It is important to use safe, secure surfaces in children's play areas, such as wooden decking and bark, however cordon off any area that contains bark, as pets will try to use this for their toilet area.

Lawns are excellent areas for ball games and general play for your children. They also have amazing powers of recovery if seeded and cut properly. However, try not to position a greenhouse next to a lawn, not unless you want to spend a lot of time cleaning up and replacing broken glass!

Always encourage your children to help with garden chores, as this will give them a sense of purpose, and hopefully instil a lifetime interest in gardening.