Tell Homebase how you will get your kids in the garden over the summer - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

It’s a common worry that our DC don’t spend enough time outside, especially with teens glued to their phones and toddlers insisting on watching their favourite movie for the 1000th time. Homebase would like to find out how you will encourage your DC to get out in the garden this summer.

Here’s what Homebase has to say: "No matter how big or small your garden is, you want to create a haven that can be enjoyed by your family all year round, especially in the summer months. You don't have to be a professional gardener to plan your own landscape, which is why we have put together useful advice guides and top tips containing plenty of garden ideas to give you the inspiration you need to begin.”

So how will you get your DC in the garden this summer? Will you get them to help you plant fruit and veg so they can get excited watching them grow? Perhaps you’d like to recreate activities you did in the garden when you were a child? If it rains will you be determined to stay outside and play games in a shelter or craft decorations that can be put in the garden when it’s dry again?

Whether you want to create a play haven by building a mini playground or make the perfect space for eating alfresco please post your ideas and plans below and you will be entered into the prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £300 Homebase voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

With water guns, paddling pool and bubbles!

the paddling pool get my boys into the garden! we fill it up and have water fights in the day, empty it out at night dry it off and fill it with cushions and blankets at night. perfect for evening snacks and snuggles while looking at the stars.

We have planted Runner beans and sunflowers this year, my son Leo loves watching them grow and helps water them! We have also cleared a spot to start making and a den and have sorted some old sheets etc for him to have. We are going to go to the woods to find some nice big branches and logs. We have created a list of bugs and insects and when we go in the garden and tick off each one as we find it! He loves watches the birds too so we both have binoculars see who can spot the most birds :)

They can't wait to get out there when it's sunny. The sand pit and water table help, football in the garden, then lunch out there too. Harder to get them to come back in.

Our daughter loves the outdoors. She has lots of outdoors games - swing, trampoline, slide, crazy golf etc etc. However she mostly loves planting vegetables and fruit and watching them grow.

Bug hunting is another favourite and we have just invested in a bug scope so she can see the nature up close and personal which she loves!

And another favourite is being joined at the hip with our 6 month old mini american shepherd - the two of them have some real adventures together!

I have absolutely no problem getting my daughter in the garden, she loves to be outside. We have three dogs and she likes to play with them outside. We also do things like eat outside, groom the dogs outside so we are out there a lot xx

we have just had our trampoline sunken into the garden....they wont come in now :)

We've got a paddling pool, big enough for the family to get into, and a nice slide and plenty of flowers and fruit that they help us to grow, we can't keep them out of the ruddy garden! :)

Harder to get them in they love the garden! As long as theres football and no rain they're happy

The best way to get kids into the garden (it worked for my grandparents with me!) is to encourage then to grow things, give them packets of seeds for colourful flowers and help to pick fruit.

We have lots of meals in the garden in the Summer. Then once they're out there they usually find something to do and stay out, even if they were watching TV or something before. For some reason they especially like it when we eat sitting on the grass or on the picnic mat instead of at the garden table!

Anything involving playing with water seems to work. Even plugging the sprinker in!

we eat outside whenevr it's warm enough, food is a fab lure for my child to get out into the garden. She also likes to water the plants and feed the rabbits, shes chosen some plants of her own this year and we've started a sunflower competition so that has kept up her interest. I cant get her to help with the weeding though, she hates me doing it and tells me every plan deserves a chance. I think a hammock for her would be the best addition we could make as she loves swinging around!

My three sons have always preferred playing outside in the garden so I've never had any trouble with that. Our garden is very secure, they are unable to get out and nobody can get in so I leave the back door open in nice weather so it's easily accessible

My son likes playing ball games, so quite simple really.

I won't have to get them into the garden. It's a case of getting them back in from the garden at the end of the day.

Paddling pools, swingball and a trampoline and you won't have any problems. Failing that, a hosepipe or watering can and plants to water usually proves popular

This is the kids table with a new parasol. They use it for activities and eating. I have been saving my recycling and will be handing them a sack load with a tub of pva glue to get creative in the garden and make anything they like.

Mine enjoy helping me tidy & prune.. We search for snails, wildlife & put feed out for the birds

I'd love to build a den in the garden!

I put out a teepee out and they like to sit in it with teapots, cups and saucers with water - they play at pouring it out and back in again for ages!

No need. If I open the door my 1 year old toddles out very happily. I think he's actually a Labrador...