Spring is just around the corner, and if your kids are like mine they'll soon be venturing out into the garden again.
When the weather starts warming up I like to leave our backdoor open all day so they can come and go as they please; I see the garden as just another room for them to enjoy.
If I'm honest it's great news for me as they aren't under my feet all day 😜 BUT there's another more important reason I do this - so they can get all the benefits of outdoor play.
The toys they have outside are just as important as those they play with indoors, as garden toys will encourage kids to exercise, explore, create and get lots of lovely fresh air!
Contains affiliate links - see my disclosure
Maybe you're thinking about getting a new toy or two to make the most of the nice weather but you haven't got much space?
We have a teeny garden for the 5 of us, around 15 x 30 ft, so we are real fans of quality over quantity - toys have to earn their place!
With my eldest in the teen years we've gone through quite a few garden toys in our time, but there are a handful that have been hits for all three kids.
Here are our favourites for having fun outside; they have all been tried and tested by my three children and their visitors.
A small slide is great as it doesn't require the same level of supervision as a large slide - once you're little one is a confident walker and climber, you don't need to hold their hand or worry about a nasty fall. This one folds so it's perfect for smaller gardens.
Bubble wands are brilliant, but if you want to take things to the next level, try a bubble machine - they're surprisingly inexpensive and will bring hours of fun, with minimal effort from grownups! We love this model as it's easy to fill and blows tonnes of bubbles.
This mud kitchen is nice and compact so it stays in the garden all year round. Don't be put off by the name, it doesn't have to be used for mud, we tend to use it for water and natural loose parts (pinecones, pebbles etc). We have a range of stainless steel pots, pans, whisks and spoons which we have found in charity shops and car boot sales.
Den kits are a great way to make the most of your garden space, they pack away small and you can even bring them indoors in the winter months. If you fancy an outdoor adventure without travelling anywhere, make a little picnic, grab some books, and spend a little time in your den. This is the original and best den kit, but there are cheaper alternatives out there.
Our lawnmower is a current favourite with my youngest. He loves to join in when I am mowing the lawn. What I like about this one by Mookie is that it is compact, folds in half for storage and has moveable parts to play with.
Chalks are perfect for outdoor creativity - they can be used on patios, fences, walls, trees etc and it's washed off in the rain ready to start again. Add a bit of water when drawing and you get really vibrant colours! I like the giant versions as the regular kind tend to break into pieces really quickly.
Kids enjoy mimicking adults and love to use child-size versions of cleaning equipment. Helping you sweep and tidy will encourage your child to care for and look after their environment. A wooden broom is better than plastic as it is stronger and will last longer.
If you can squeeze some plants into your garden, your child will love to help water them with their own watering can. Go for a metal one as it's more robust and plastic can easily perish if left outdoors over winter
We were gifted our bugnoculars by Learning Resources a few years ago, and they've been a favourite ever since. They're a great way to take a closer look at all the minibeasts in your garden or local park.
Do you have a small garden too? What are your favourite garden toys? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!
Looking for more garden ideas? Check these out:
Comentários