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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

What gets kids/teens out into the garden?

21 replies

AalyaSecura · 15/02/2018 22:16

We're in the process of designing our garden since it's been trashed with building work - it's not massive, but enough space to work with. We've never had a garden so far that draws us all out - kids have been happy to play out for a little while if we are out too but gravitate back in. They're now 8 and 10 (boys), and the ideas so far are:

  • already got a trampoline, but only a year or two left of use and interest, so not going to design around it, just stick it on the lawn
  • shaded seating area that's good for reading - very sunny garden
  • lawn for garden games like swingball, badminton etc - not enough space for football!
  • small veg plot for them to have a go and growing things to eat, but managable enough for me to take over when they ignore it for a while.

What else gets your children using the garden? All ideas very welcome!

OP posts:
isthistoonosy · 15/02/2018 22:18

Football?

Qvar · 15/02/2018 22:20

girls living next door

USB sockets

GlitterBurps · 15/02/2018 22:22

As soon as I read your title I thought of swing ball! Can’t think of the name but this game where they have a type of ball with a timer and water balloon inside which they throw around to try to avoid holding it when the timer goes off and pops it. Smile

Bythebeach · 15/02/2018 22:25

Well our nearly 13 and his mates love the trampoline-but they are are parkour-y, flippy types. The table tennis table gets decent use and playing fetch or hide & seek with the dog also holds the 13 year olds attention outside!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/02/2018 22:29

Mine sat on the lawn sunbathing or chatting with mates or each other quite a bit as teens. We also have a shady area under a pergola with a table and chairs where DD2 did a lot of her revision.

Have to say our garden is not very child friendly though. It is very much my flower garden, but my offspring seem to find it a nice place to spend time.

PurpleTraitor · 15/02/2018 22:30

If you are meaning things that are built in, in a small space I’d go for a single high bar or ring for climbing, flipping, acrobatics, pull ups, or a high wire/tightrope (not very high though!)

A hammock is another good one. Fire pit (and let them have actual fires)

For general stuff to get them outside, rather than football and bikes which need the park, for mine a big draw has been stilts/juggling/devil sticks type stunt and circus stuff.

AmIAWeed · 16/02/2018 08:36

Our long term aim is for a summerhouse and pergola covering a pool table and dart board. Their bedrooms are right next to our living room as we live in a bungalow so giving them a bit of outdoor space they can call their own is important

Original poster
AalyaSecura · 16/02/2018 09:28

Loads of good ideas, thanks! DS1 has just mentioned an outside table tennis table - having spent a lot of time in French campsites! But they need a lot of space, will have to see if it fits. Hammock or swingy chairs is good too.

OP posts:
Cantspell2 · 16/02/2018 11:17

Do you ave somewhere you ca put a basketball hoop?
My boys spent hours on theirs nd still like to shoot hoops even though they are grown now.

Original poster
AalyaSecura · 17/02/2018 09:55

Good idea - we have quite a lot of glass now so will have to think where a hoop would work.

OP posts:
Taffeta · 17/02/2018 15:07

Pop up badminton net from Decathlon
Yy to hammock
We have football goal, table tennis

Yy to seating area, sunshade, deckchairs

SallyLockhartsDog · 17/02/2018 15:13

Love the idea of hammock and fire pit for teens.

A decent weather station - electronic.

I also have a "rule" that all ice-creams/lollies must be eaten outside, this gets them out there and then they tend to find something to do and stay out for a while.

Ffsnothingworks · 18/02/2018 11:06

Grow things they would like to eat. Peas/mangetout that you can pick off and eat. We have guinea pigs, and grow stuff for them too.

snewsname · 18/02/2018 11:13

Beware the wind in sunny UK.

FeedtheTree · 18/02/2018 11:14

Hammock
Trampoline
dining table

Regular BBQs, bonfires

The cat :)

SundaysFunday · 18/02/2018 11:15

Turn the WiFi off?

TeeBee · 20/02/2018 13:59

We have trampoline, hot tub, gym, darts board, bbq, fire pit, sofas, dining table, loggers, basketball net. I'm going to install a trapeze, slack line and monkey bars in the summer.

elQuintoConyo · 20/02/2018 14:04

A couple of giant bushes to smoke behind and some plantpots ashtrays

Or give them buckets of water and giant brushes so they can "paint" the fence, seems a popular idea on MN.

Oh, have you seen Heathers? Strip croquet, anyone? Wink

Original poster
AalyaSecura · 22/02/2018 21:07

Just seen some more ideas have appeared, thank you! TeeBee I want to come live in your garden!

OP posts:
museumum · 22/02/2018 21:10

A firepit. We have an old low bbq we burn wood in as a firepit (and a gas bbq for actual cooking so we don’t need to light it hours ahead of time).

Clankboing · 01/03/2018 03:45

Free rein of the hose! Useful in summer but not the winter...

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