Best garden things to keep 2 and 5 year old happy in the garden!

[milkyman]

We have a big garden and want to keep the kids amused for the summer.

Mine play with the slide a lot and their sandpit. (3 and 4). They also have an area where they can dig and make pud pies, not exactly a mud kitchen, more a patch. They ignore their fancy wooden playhouse most of the time, but it’s good to keep toys in. A cheapo tent from Ikea was popular until it blew away. They also have a Little Tike rocking horse which is largely ignored. I’m sure they’d love a swing, but I haven’t room.

I used to have a big wicker hamper of blankets, sheets etc for den building. When they were slightly older, they used to drag the hamper down the garden themselves.

Just in case you live next door to me, not a trampoline!

Sand pit (must be covered when not in use, otherwise cats will use it as a litter tray). DS had a table from ELC which had two basins, one for sand and one for water, he loved it (although he's now 15, so not sure they sell them anymore). He also got a raised plastic Wendy house with a little slide, for his first birthday, which has been outside (under trees so not in direct sunlight), and it's still going strong (his little sister now plays in it).
Important thing is to protect things when not in use!

This is the house we have, and the sandpit was something along these lines.

Also both DCs loved their little wheelbarrows.

Definitely agree with the hamper of old blankets.

We have a Little Tikes house which gets a lot of use, and an Ikea table and chairs which are popular too. Slide and swings are great also.

Mine are almost 3 and 4, and like doing obstacle races and sports day type races (think it was in a Topsy &Tim book), so I bought a sports day set from ELC which is really good

Mine use to love chalking on the patio too. I still have a bucket of chalk in the utility room even though they’re far too old to want to do anything like that!

I agree Sand pits, an area for digging ride ons, slides... We have a trampoline my two love it very good buy!

Sand and water table. Big paddling pool filled with water and plastic balls/water toys. Tent (just get a cheap two man pop up tent no need for a kids one, these are much more durable)
I’ve recently invested in a slide for this summer too so hoping that goes down well.

Yes definitely sand and water trays. DD has always loved watering the garden with a little watering can which also saves a job in the summer!
Squeezy bottle of water to make patterns on the patio, chalking on the slabs and going round with a plant spray also go down well.

Sand table. My 2 year old son loves it! Also, a mini wheel barrow and bubble machine. I can’t wait for summer to arrive.

We have a little tikes pirate ship which is always a hit. The downside is it seems to have an algae problem as soon as the water gets dirty ish so instantly and I have to Milton it out several times over the summer.

We had an allocated ‘mud zone’ for them to dig and play dinosaurs in which was also good.

This year we’re getting a play frame/slide/treehouse type thing hoping to get several years use from it. (Ds age 5 and 2)

How about a garden for them to dig and grow things in? Keeps my DD entertained for hours and she is very proud to share the strawberries she has grown with me .

We weeded it at the weekend and pruned her roses actually, she was well happy (and she generally ignores the expensive playhouse we bought her).