If you have a very small garden what do you have in it for the children to do?

[used2bthin]

We have moved to a house with a teeny tiny garden. It also is half patio, half wood chipping atm, we are in the process of getting raised beds put in to grow plants up the fence and make it more private as it is also very overlooked.

We will be having patio over the wood chipping to create more playing space but no grass.

I am faced with this weekend staying home with DD, 5.5 because of some medical stuff I need to do for her, also have DC2 due any day so am trying to think of things to keep children entertained in such a small space, any ideas?

I thought maybe a small water try table thing for now, but am trying to find a cheapy one. Then maybe a very small hold on trampoline thing if I can find one to take the weight of a five year old. Any other ideas? Don't want the whole garden full of plastic but need creative ideas of things to keep children happy playing out there.

[RCheshire]

Can she have a raised bed and plant/water things of her own?

Small sand/water table to play at - can pick these up v cheap, e.g. larger tescos

No room for a plastic 'wendy' house, but could you create a temp. den for her to play in, e.g. using poles/sheets/clothes horse

...

[Pannacotta]

How about a small paly house with some cooking things in it?
Water table is a good idea, perhaps one which will take sand as well?

Can you get them involved in growing some veggies, or easy things like beans/sunflowers?

Why not post your question to the desinger/gardener who is doing the live chat on MN soon?

[used2bthin]

Thanks good ideas, will check out Tescos for water table thing. Temp den also v good plan for this weekend.

Ooh hadn't heard of the garderner live chat but that is a really good plan. Think she can plant some flowers this weekend but will see if she can have her own patch in the raised beds when they are done too.

[Harr1etJ0nes]

Pop up tent for a den?

[HexGirl]

We have a pretty small garden too so it was a challenge to think of how we could make the most of it for DS. In the end we opted for a patio area, raised beds around the outside of the garden and then astro-turf. You can lay it yourself and once laid it is very low maintenance. I must look a bit bonkers sweeping up leaves from the grass. This would give your DD a small soft area where she can play as well.

Ikea do some very cheap outdoor play stuff that can be easily stored away - we got the tunnell, play tent and a rocker from there. Also have a look at Amazon for small wooden sandboxes with built in storage and benches.

[used2bthin]

Harrietjones you ahve reminded me we have a pop up castle thing somewhere! Only thing is it would have to either go on patio or wood chipping which isn't ideal but will see if I can dig it out for short term, could always pad with blanket or something.

hexgirl that sounds great- we are going to have to just have patio though I think as the bit nearest the house is already done and then there is a path down the middle, hard to explain but no area where we could and no where to keep a lawnmower. The rest of yours sounds like our plan, raised beds round the edge to provide a bit of privacy.

Will check out amazon and ikea, wondering whether to squeeze in a very small playhouse to store toys in but a bench type thing or sandtable with storage could be a plan too thanks.

[used2bthin]

sorry brain just caught up! Astro turf not grass! That is what they have in playgrounds isn't it? What a good idea! Would still have the issue of where it would fit but will mention to DH as that would be low maintenance too.

[silverfrog]

Ooh, good thread! we are moving this weekend, and will end up with a garden about a third the size of the one we have now. also got a patio, which is staying for now. also due with dc3 this summer, so will keep a watch for some ideas here!
we have got a sand/water table somewhere - will have to make sure that isn't chucked out in the move. its too small for the dds, really, (its a toddler one) but they can always sit down!

POP up tents have worked well for the last couple.of years, and provide good shade too. I fancy a temporary/mobile basketball hoop for dd1 to practise aim/coordination with - think.there is one in elc, and have seen them in homebase in previous years - all stores up in the base, and is adjustable height wise etc.

[used2bthin]

Hi silverfrog! Ooh basket ball hoop a good idea, DD has one at her dad's, think it was from argos if you can't find it at ELC. I've just emailed someone via Gumtree about a sand table as really want something for this weekend as well as future. Have applied to family fund for help with trampoline as think the ones for older children taht are the handle ones are ££!

I'm wishing for a summer of being in the garden feeding this next baby while DD plays qietly (ha ha ha!)

[ItWasThePenguins]

We have small garden too, but first time we've had one at all so ds 2yr loving this summer. Dh is laying artificial grasps as we speak, and patio over half with raised beds round 2 sides too.
I think we need to think up some good games once we can actually use the garden next week!
Finding this very interesting.

[ScallyFloss]

We have a small garden - and yesterday two buckets full of water and some measuring cups entertained my two for a good hour in the sun. We have a trampoline too that is crammed in the corner - our garden isn't big enough to run around in, but the jump for hours on the trampoline.

Hula hoops, pop up tents, chalk for drawing on pario, bubbles etc.

[EdlessAllenPoe]

if i put out snails, mud, and watering cans, that would probably be enough.

they like making puddles and splashing in them.

[stubbornstains]

DS can be quietly occupied for hours pulling the plants out of the borders

[HexGirl]

It looks lovely as well and with the hosepipe ban there is no chance of it going brown/ dying off over the summer. It also doesn't suffer if you leave toys/ trampolines in one particular place for any period of time. You basically cut it too fit so it can be adapted for pretty small areas. Also handy as it dries out quickly and doesn't get muddy so I can turf (pardon the pun I couldn't resist!) DS out even when it's been raining.

You could always go on freecycle and see if anyone has any offcuts from doing a larger area - we did half of ours from offcuts from a friend's garden and ordered the rest from the same company they got theirs from.

[BlueChampagne]

If you've got an easel, move that out into the garden where you don't have to worry about where the paint goes!

[BigBadBear]

We have a sand table that doubles as a picnic table. Like this

[used2bthin]

I am definately going to mention astro turf to DH (who is in charge of actual garden work as I am clueless and he used to do gardening a million years ago!)

Will get chalks out for patio good idea.

Ah we did have an easel but it broke. I need an Ikea trip I think. My stupid computer is struggling today so not been able to open that link as yet but will try again later thank you.

[used2bthin]

ha ha edless and stubbornstains dd spends ages atm sweeping the wood chippings and searching for ladybirds!

[Fuchzia]

Buy a couple of lengths of guttering and pipe from a DIY place. My DS has hours of fun pouring water up and down and sailing bath toys along them.

[serin]

Oh I was going to say that too Fuchzia! I used to work in a school that had lengths of guttering attached to the walls and filled with water for the kids to float things on. Some of the lengths were on angles so they made great water chutes.

A homemade wigwam?