This is a collab post: Outdoor play is key for childhood development as it gives children the chance to roam free and explore the outdoors. It’s essential to developing gross motor skills as children can’t really climb, jump and run around freely indoors. Being able to physically exert themselves and exercise is what will help them to become strong and more physically able.
Sometimes we overlook these skills, but they are just as important as fine motor skills and the others that they work on in school. It really is a luxury when you think about it as
Owning your own garden means that you have the space to garden, teach your child about how to grow their own fruits and vegetables and science. There’s also the fact that they can just go there to unwind, soak up some sun and take in some fresh, clean air. The reason though that most children and parents refrain from it is because of its dangers. There are all sorts of hazards lurking in the garden from pests to prickly plants.
It means that there’s a lot to child-proof as a parent which can be tedious. To make life easier on yourself and to help keep your little ones safe, we’ve created a checklist and set of tips that you can use to make sure that your garden is as child friendly as possible.
This post is in collaboration with a timber merchant that sells fencing supplies in Surrey.
Fencing
Fencing doesn’t only just give you privacy, it protects your home from potential intruders like pests and other animals that can make their way into your garden. Obviously, it’s not completely fool proof as cats can still climb but it is a way of making sure that nothing that can potentially harm your child makes its way to them. It can also stop them from getting out. If your child’s a little troublemaker or smarter than you give them credit for, they will see a broken fence panel and come up with ideas of their own. From time to time these can break, especially after a stormy period which is why they should be checked.
Plants
Think carefully about what you plant. Plants may look pretty but can be very nasty and toxic which is why it’s important to look carefully into their properties. Children can innocently pick up and eat flowers and end up seriously ill as some contain poisonous chemicals.
Pond Fencing
There may be areas of your garden that you need to section off now that you’re a parent like the pond for example as children can fall in. It’s scary to think that they could potentially drown. The smallest pools, even ones that are puddle sized can be catastrophic.
These are just a few ideas and depending on the kind of garden that you have, there may be more work that you need to do. Generally, you want to make sure that they can’t access dangerous equipment or objects. Anything that is pointy or sharp should be put away in a storage cupboard or shed. Again, it also varies. If your child is only a toddler, there are more risks to mitigate, and you will need to keep a close eye on them whilst they are outside. A play pen might offer some help as they will be enclosed in a small and safe area.