What would you do with my really crappy garden?

[Octagonchecker]

I hate my garden but I want the kids to be able to use it. There is a decking section outside the back door a few metres squared which is really old and falling apart in places but we can't afford to replace it. We were going to pressure wash it to make it nicer but the pressure washer just started breaking it apart so I think there needs to be some kind of solution involving garden rugs. Then there are some concrete steps and everything above that is just junk and falling apart overgrown planters. I'd like there to be things for the kids to do on the decking bit so that they don't feel the need to explore the rest of it. I have a 7 year old and 18 month old. What sort of stuff would you put on the decking to keep them busy? Need inspiration mainly.

What is under the decking?

If a pressure washer can break it apart then I'd worry that playing on it might have the same effect.

The decking is pretty much directly on the ground below it, there isn't a huge space to fall into. But anyway when I say it started to fall apart I meant just the surface of it.

B&M & other budget retailers sell large 'outdoor' rugs so maybe buy a couple of those.

Can you post a pic ?
Not sure about decking but I know there are cheap outdoor rugs mines falling apart as well so I'm looking at some.
Re planters tip them out dispose of soil.and get some new compost and manure and re plant them. Cosmos / trailing stuff etc .

Do you have any budget at all? Are you able to throw some muscle power at it in lieu of money? And could you post a couple of pictures so people can give ideas?

My first thoughts are clear it as much as possible. Remove the decking (assuming it is dirt underneath) and level the ground as much as you can. Remove the broken stuff past the concrete steps. You can often pick up paving slabs and even sand etc for free on gumtree etc so you could lay a patio for next to nothing if you were able to put in the physical effort.

The worry with the decking as it is, is that even if they can’t fall through it they could still get nasty splinters.

Sandpit and water table for the decking part and just clear the rest.

Could you just remove the decking? We got deck tiles from ikea that just click together easily. Then a nice garden rug on top.

If removing isnt the plan then a few garden rugs, or some of those children's colourful foam tiles things or else both.

Honestly I would try and clear the back bit up and remove the rotted decking otherwise you will just keep worrying the kids will get hurt. I would buy a few big thick wheelie bin bags and clear the lot out for the dump and then power wash it all and see what you are working with once its all cleared.

Doing anything structural or attempting to clear the upper part of the garden isn't really an option, we could only spend a couple of hundred pounds really and in terms of free time to do stuff we barely have time to clean the toilet at the moment.
I'm wondering about what kind of garden toys people would recommend for these age groups that would actually get used and be value for money.