When most of us look back on our childhoods, we won’t remember sitting indoors playing video games. We will remember long summer days spent out in the park with our friends or playing in our friend’s back garden after school, come rain or shine. If it was rain, or snow, that meant jumping puddles or building snowmen. If the sun was out, we could be entertained simply by getting the garden hose out and having a water fight. For today’s children, however, things couldn’t be more different. Most children have either their own or access to a computer or tablet on which to play video games. Most of the time there is nothing wrong with this. But if you notice that your child or grandchild is spending all their time indoors, your garden could be the perfect place to tear them away from their technology.
Image source
Create a magical fairy garden
If your child is young enough to still have a wild imagination, creating a magical fairy garden can be just the thing to entice them outdoors. Designate a little area of your garden which can be the ‘fairy garden’. Check that the soil is of good quality and then plant some beautiful flowers that you know your child will love. Add a fairy statue and there you have it – your child’s very own magical garden patch. Add glitter to it every so often and tell your child that the fairies have been – they won’t want to leave the garden in the hope of catching a glimpse of their magic friends! Even when they have grown out of this phase, it will be a nice memoir for you to have in your garden to remind you of their childhood.
Encourage them to get green-fingered
Most kids these days don’t know the basic gardening skills that many of us learnt when we were young from copying our parents. If you are blessed with a garden large enough to cultivate in, ask your child to help you plant food in there. Having a project to focus on is something that can help your child’s self-development. Plus, be sure to praise them when they grow something of their very own. If you want to keep up this activity with your child even when winter falls, look into a company such as South West Greenhouses. Many fruits and vegetables grow just as well indoors.
Image source
Have an impressive structure built
No matter what era you were born in, the attraction of a treehouse never goes out of fashion. Kids love to be involved in anything that makes them feel grown up, and treehouses are a great way to encourage them to play outdoors. If you’re unsure about the safety of such structures, it’s best to hire a professional to do the job for you. Have the house designed so it is easy for your child to access – something not too high off the ground is best. Pack it with blankets and lamps so that your little ones can invite their friends over to their very own cost space – but make sure you set a curfew regardless!