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Original poster

Small garden. What can I put in for my 10 year old?

18 replies

FlightDeckBuckarooo · 19/03/2023 10:42

Hi,
I’m looking for ideas of what I can put in my small back garden to keep Dd10 (only child) active and entertained. She likes football, but I don’t think we have space for anything football related other than a bit of space to do some ball control practice.

Ideally I’d like something she’ll continue to use as she gets older.

Ideas far I’ve come up with include:

a basketball hoop

an A-frame that we could attach a swing/aerial yoga bits etc to (I have no idea if this is a stupid idea!)

a slack line (we have a no usable trees but have a longish thin section of garden I could possibly do something with.

I’ve also been looking at Swedish ladders and similar but I don’t know much about them.

she likes the idea of monkey bars, but I haven’t seen anything yet that is suitable for older/ taller children.

Has anyone either got any experience with the above or any other suggestions?
Thank you!

OP posts:
Upwardtrajectory · 19/03/2023 10:47

How small is small? The most used garden toy around here by far are the trampolines.

Flatandhappy · 19/03/2023 10:48

Basketball hoop sounds like a good idea. Trampolines are great but not if a small one takes up your whole garden.

ItstheZwartbles · 19/03/2023 11:05

The most used garden toy at that age group here was a climbing frame a neighbour gave me, it was fairly compact but tall with monkey bars. My ds and his pals played on it for years. My garden is small, too small for a big trampoline. I found after 11/12 though that the garden doesn't really get used to 'play' in (my teen is more likely to be found relaxing on a lounger these daysGrin).

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Toys
Blankscreen · 19/03/2023 11:09

What about a swingball? That get played with quite a bit here.

Willowtre1 · 19/03/2023 11:25

Was going to say swing ball too

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/03/2023 11:33

In all honesty, I don't think there's much that will get used once she's at secondary school and able to go out to the park etc. with her friends, unless you have room for a trampoline?

If you do buy something, I wouldn't spend a fortune - or at least, make sure it has good resale value.

gogohmm · 19/03/2023 11:35

At 10 I wouldn't bother to be honest unless she is really asking. Basketball is the only sensible suggestion at that age

Soontobe60 · 19/03/2023 11:38

All I can add is that if your neighbours are very close by and your garden is small, a basketball hoop may annoy the heck out of them 😂😂😂
That aside, pretty soon she will just want a space to lie down and do nothing

TwoCoffeesandAMilkshake · 19/03/2023 12:16

Maybe growing plants/ vegetables?

Our garden wasn’t used the same way much after that age. Maybe make a great space to 'be'.

Marblessolveeverything · 19/03/2023 12:47

There is a training football on a strap that might be an idea. I would get her involved and out a tall tiered planting space and have her plan and take care of it together?

Emanresu9 · 19/03/2023 12:55

You can get those nets that rebound a ball for throwing and catching

CatOnTheChair · 19/03/2023 13:04

Swing ball gets used here.

DearMrDilkington · 19/03/2023 13:04

My 10yr loves her trapeze bar, it's just from amazon and attached to an A-frame.

Original poster
FlightDeckBuckarooo · 19/03/2023 13:12

Thank you for all the suggestions.
We could fit a small trampoline, but they’re just so intrusive and it would take up all the best playing/socialising space.

A trapeze bar is a good idea.
move not heard of the rebound football net things but that is certainly up her street so I will investigate.
Im definitely going to get her involved in planting and tending to some plants and vegetables too.

OP posts:
leccybill · 19/03/2023 13:12

DD, an only child, was 10 in lockdown. We've only got a small garden too. We bought a fold-up balance beam and swingball. Actually we also bought a cheap 2 man tent and she had fun chilling in there, arranging it, music on etc.

Slimjimtobe · 19/03/2023 13:15

A hammock ? She might like that and it will do her a few years

Slimjimtobe · 19/03/2023 13:15

Sorry meant to add things like a skipping rope are easy to pack away

Original poster
FlightDeckBuckarooo · 19/03/2023 18:28

Sorry I’ve just come back from an afternoon out and see I’ve totally ignored the first few responses. Apologies.
I definitely agree that she’s likely to grow out of most things in the next year or two. I think this is why I’m struggling. A lot of the cheap and cheerful stuff is too flimsy for her age, but the good quality items she might easily grow out of before we get value from it.
I think the beam might be a good idea. And a swing ball if we clear enough space (we are getting the garden redone in at the end of next month). When we get rid of the rotting decking she’ll be able to use a skipping rope etc which she’ll enjoy this summer coming at least!
We have a summer house which I’m going to do up as a den so that will hopefully have longevity.

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