How to Create a Kid-Friendly Backyard

While this isn’t necessarily the time of year that your kids will want to play outside unless you have snow outside, there’s never a bad time to start thinking about how you can improve your backyard and make it more welcoming to your children and your family. In fact, some would argue that winter is the perfect time to get your backyard sorted out so that it’s ready to enjoy come spring.

Here are a few ideas to improve your backyard and to encourage your children to play outside.

Making Your Backyard Fun

The first thing to consider is to make your children want to play outside. Unfortunately, we live in a time when children would rather look at a screen than go outside, and it’s up to us as parents to encourage a measure of balance.

While screens and video games aren’t inherently bad for your children, they are very addictive and it can be easy for kids to form a habit of automatically seeking entertainment through a screen. Even adults can fall for this trap. Overuse of devices can lead to a lowered attention span, a lack of patience, and a more sedentary lifestyle.

The best way to break this habit is to not let it form in the first place. Set early boundaries so you don’t have to battle your screens for your children’s attention. Instead, play with your children and teach them healthy and active play.

This means spending time with your kids, rather than letting a television or tablet parent them for you. You can play with them, set up playdates with other children, and create an environment that is welcoming.

Depending on the space you have to work with, you can create a play area in your backyard. A lawn is ideal for this, although don’t be surprised if it gets messed up as children run and play, especially if they enjoy ball games.  Adding outdoor playground equipment for active kids like swings, slides, or climbing structures can help create an engaging space that encourages movement, exploration, and imaginative play.

These playsets provide hours of entertainment while supporting physical development, making your backyard a more enjoyable place for the whole family.

You can also set up a slide or a mini-adventure playground for them. These playgrounds are fantastic for encouraging children to play in a more active environment, and even adults can have fun “supervising” them.

Outdoor Hobbies

Another way to get your children to enjoy the great outdoors is to introduce them to any outdoor hobbies that you have. This again means spending a bit more bonding time with your children, so you also build your relationship with them.

One great hobby that you might enjoy is gardening. A vegetable garden is a wonderful addition to your backyard, and you can start as small or as large as you like. As well as having fun growing vegetables, you can also cook and eat them later on, so it’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

You can encourage your children to start gardening by letting them help you from an early age. Use the opportunity to explain some of the science behind gardening, so you’re helping them learn as well as have fun. However, try not to force your kids into a hobby. Children have a habit of knowing when you’re trying to make them enjoy something and then being very resistant to it. Just ask if they want to get involved and encourage them to join in.

If your children do express more of an interest in gardening, you can help them set up their own mini-gardening plot. Help them pick out easy to grow plants and use this as a chance to teach them to be more responsible about something. Just be prepared for your children to potentially lose interest in this new hobby, so you may need to give a helping hand or take over in the future.

A great place to start would be a herb garden. Herbs are very easy to grow and they have a noticeable flavor when you use them in cooking. Your child can be proud of growing something and contributing to the household.

Making the Backyard Secure

Once you’ve made the backyard a more interesting and inviting place for your children, you also need to think about how safe and secure it is. Ideally, you should be supervising small children anyway, especially when they’re outside, but it’s best to remove as many dangers and threats as possible.

One important step is to make sure that there is a fence installed. A fence will stop children and pets from escaping and wandering off where they shouldn’t go. This is especially important if you live near a road, as this could be a potential danger to your child.

You can use a custom fence company to design and create a fence that suits your needs perfectly, while also looking nice in your backyard. As well as an external perimeter fence, consider other fences to portion off parts of your garden.



As well as using a fence to keep your children and pets in your property, you should also think about keeping other people and animals out. Depending on where you live, you might be better off with a taller privacy fence. This stops people from looking inside your back garden.

A fence will also discourage wandering animals, especially larger ones. These animals could be a threat to your family or your precious vegetable garden, as deer can become pests in some parts of the world.

It’s a good idea to have a fence gate, but if you want a more secure garden, you can make this gate harder to open from the other side. This means it’s much more difficult for intruders to wander onto your property. Even if they can get in, you’re more likely to see someone trying to jump the fence or reach over to get a gate latch.

Pests and Poison

One of the most common dangers of the outside world is pests. Some pests, like wasps and hornets, can actually sting and hurt your family. This is painful at the best of times, but if you or your children have an undiagnosed allergy, it can be very dangerous.

It’s a good idea to keep your property clear of these pests. They can be cleared out with water, but only when the nest is small and your children are safely indoors. If you have bees, it might be a better idea to have them moved safely away from your property. This way, the bees are safe and can make honey, but your family isn't at risk of being stung.

A local beekeeper can relocate bees and, depending on the species, they may adopt them for their own. Otherwise, use a pest extermination company to remove any other dangerous species from your property without risking yourself or your children.

Another potential threat might be pest control methods that are risky to your children or pets. Rat poison, for example, can be a tempting treat for wandering hands and mouths, and it can be very dangerous if accidentally ingested.

If you have rats or other pests, think about other ways to get rid of them. Humane traps can catch them more safely, or if you have an infestation, a pest exterminator can get rid of them more permanently. One way to keep rats away is to secure any compost heaps and make sure that you don’t have debris or food waste where they can access it. Pests are just like anyone else, they want food and a warm, safe home.

Ponds and Water Features

Another potential danger might be your own design. Water features can be beautiful and relaxing, but they can also be dangerous. You might have had a pond or fountain before you had children, or maybe you’re concerned about visiting family rather than your own kids.

Older children are usually safe around ponds and fountains, but younger children are both curious and vulnerable. Some pets might also fall in and get hurt, especially if they aren’t strong swimmers.

If you have a pond, make sure that any children or pets are supervised when they’re nearby. It’s also a good idea to create a small fence or use netting to prevent them from falling in. This might not look as nice, but it will make your garden a safer environment for your family.

You also want to think about the safety of your pond and any animals inside. Fish can be surprisingly delicate creatures, and some species are especially sensitive and expensive. Make sure that they get the right food and that wandering little fingers don’t try to play with the fish or the water.

Make sure that your children understand that fish are for watching, not touching or playing with. Another option is to have a frog pond or a more natural pond that is easier to look after. These ponds encourage local wildlife and you can use them to teach your kids more about nature and the world around them.

In short, if you want a water feature, make sure that your children are always safe and supervised.