Now that summer is here at last (and we have had some pretty amazing weather so far) use this as an opportunity to get your children out into the garden as it is a great place for children to run around and get some fresh air and exercise. The addition of a few toys will ensure that they are occupied for a few hours.
Swings are always popular ensure that it is the right size and style appropriate for your child’s age, better still buy one with interchangeable seats so you can upgrade as your child grows.
Slides come in all sizes they can be an independent fixture or attached to a climbing frame. Do your research and get the best that you can afford.
Trampolines are quite new compared to swings and slides, but are just as popular, even some adults can’t resist having a bounce.
They must be placed on a flat surface and a safety net is recommended, most trampolining injuries are caused when one child falls onto another so buy the biggest that you can afford and your garden will allow.
When I was working as a registered child minder there seemed to be a spate of accidents caused by trampolines and some insurance companies wouldn’t cover them. If you are a child minder follow the manufactures guidelines, as some say only one child at a time and others state only suitable for age 6 upwards.
All children love a den so providing a Wendy house or pop up tent will encourage children to use their imagination. When I was child minding I let them make their own den by providing a clothes horse and some old sheets and blankets.
Sand and water play is great in warm weather make sure your sand pit has a lid to protect it from the weather and from neighbourhood cats who will use it as a toilet given the chance.
Not everyone can afford the luxury of a garden swimming pool, but most of us will have a paddling pool and by allowing children to have supervised water fights with a hose pipe and water pistols, they can have just as much fun and it’s a great way to cool off.
Football goals and badminton nets or a swing ball set are great if you have the space.
I used to take some of my indoor toys out into the garden for the child minded children, I put a blanket in the shade and gave them the toy cars and garage, put the diggers and dinosaurs in the sand pit. Once I also gave them some water in the tea set which went down well. What better way to listen to a story than under a shady tree?
Always make sure that children wear plenty of sun screen (and re apply after water play) and a hat, try to avoid the midday sun and keep a close eye on children when they are playing around water, no matter how shallow.
Enjoy the sun safely with your children.
I would like to thank many Facebook friend for providing the photos ; Ann Kenny, Sarah Knight, Julie Windsor, Joy Bowden and Jen Copstake
As always questions/comments are welcome and share on social media
Until next time
Karen
x
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Love outdoor fun and most of it does not cost much money, trampolines are a great investment, and of course provide a good fitness while playing. Lovely post as usual Karen x
Some good ideas there. I had forgotten the joy of a water fight #thesatsesh
Great ideas. We love outdoor toys, especially natural resources #FamilyFunLinky.
We have a paddling pool and a toddler slide. Not sure how much more room we have! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
A paddling pool or water buckets are a must for summer, we love making dens too in the garden. Great suggestions x #FamilyFunLinky x
Mine have spent most of the time recently in the paddling pool. It’s good to know that you don’t have to spend loads of money on things, kids are quite happy with water and using their imagination with dens etc! #KCACOLS
Good ideas and adorable photos of the kids enjoying themselves.
oops #MMBC
We have a small paddling pool this summer which after years with just a tub seems like total luxury. We only have a small yard and the best outdoor toy is a 99p water squirter from Wilko which the boys use to clean the window. Occupies them for ages! #keepingitreal
hopefully there’s no hosepipe ban and the kids can carry on enjoying the outdoors
#keepingitreal
Some lovely ideas here. I had a swing as a child and adored it. Was gutted when we moved and I had to leave it behind.
Fantastic ideas, eater play with a hose always goes down well with my boys X #pointshoot
Great ideas. My boys love a trampoline and a swimming pool is always a big hit. But my two really love jumping in sprinklers too. Thank you for linking up to #PointShoot 📸
Thank you for linking up to #parentingHQ bloggers linky. Fantastic post lots of great ideas and advice x
What a fab list, thanks for sharing with the #BloggersBests we have the paddling pool constantly at the moment.
Outside water play is so much fun! #ablogginggoodtime
#thesatsesh we took the trampoline down for the very reasons mentioned above, it can go back up when his bones are so tiny and fragile…they don’t always bounce. Thanks for joining our linky, have you commented on the posts around yours and the hosts?
We’ve bought a paddling pool recently and I’m planning on getting a trampoline for the summer holidays – so long as the little man behaves himself! Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales!
Since we moved to the country and adopted a small garden with an extreme slope we have had no outdoor toys. Our girls haven’t missed them though as we have trips to the park and have the North York Moors, with walks and rivers and lakes to play in 🙂
#ThatLinkyFriday
All good toys, good times and good pics! #pointshoot xo
I used to love playing swingball or hanging out in my little tent when I was little. Unfortunately our yard doesn’t have a great deal of space but we do have a trampoline and a small paddling pool, and water pistols are always a huge hit.
Thank you for joining the #FamilyFunLinky x
Recently got my daughter a trampoline for her birthday and all she wants to do is go on the jumps! Of course, I get dragged on there too haha #KCACOLS
Outdoor play is great. My kids are 13 and 20 and they still muck about on the trampoline and love the (big) paddling pool we have. Thanks for linking up with #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
We have finally got out our paddling pool. We have some water guns but nothing else just some empty bottles and tubs that the children enjoy watering the plants (and each other) with! Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
We love playing outside. We have a whole set of kitchen utensils that we use for a mud kitchen, and also enjoy getting our tuff tray out. Thank you for sharing your ideas with #Blogstravaganza 🙂
Mud kitchens are fantastic, thanks for your comment, Jo x
our Trampoline is our most used item in our backyard, all 3 just love it, Thank you for being such a wonderful part of #ablogginggoodtime
some great suggestions. we need to get a mud kitchen x
#ablogginggoodtime
I used to love the swing in my garden and dad was always raising the seat as I grew, there’s nothing better playing outside when the weather’s good is there? Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
I remember building dens from clothes horses and blankets when I was a kid, and Rowan loves den building now.
Thanks for sharing with #AdventureCalling
I can’t wait to be able to spend more time out in the garden. this year we really want to make it a nice environment for the boys so hopefully they’ll spend lots of time out there. They already have a trampoline, but we might get some new toys too. Thank you for sharing with us #AdventureCalling