Educational & Kid-Friendly Landscaping Ideas
Landscaping can not only enhance the beauty of your home, it can help your family learn and grow. A beautiful landscape provides all types of opportunities for physical and mental development in children. According to an Academy of Art landscape architecture program, landscapes “restore the earth’s processes and systems” — landscapes that can teach children “to see the world in a new way.” You don’t have to have unlimited time and funds to create a kid-friendly lawn. The following landscaping ideas can create an educational outdoor environment that still looks luxurious:
Flowered Tree House
The classic tree house is always a sure-fire winner with the kids. But with today’s technology-reliant kids, a backyard tree house runs the risk of simply becoming another place to play Angry Birds or Candy Crush Saga. To inspire imaginative and creative play, your basic tree house may need a bit of a makeover. Restore its position as a place that sparks imaginations, story-telling and an appreciation for nature by planting an array of beautiful flowers. For a tree house with windows, plant flower boxes. Planting perennials near the trunk of the tree can also establish a beautiful setting that will color a child’s mind.
Backyard Labyrinth
Holistic experts view backyard labyrinths as excellent tools for stress reduction. But an alfresco labyrinth surrounded by shrubs, flowers and natural elements is especially effective. It helps the most meditation-resistant individual leave behind anxious mental clutter and focus on the moment. Children are never too young to learn techniques for obtaining and maintaining emotional wellbeing. The backyard labyrinth serves as the perfect teaching solution. You can build your own labyrinth with plants, stones, bricks or even expertly cut topiary. Invite your kids to be involved in the setup and design process.
Vegetable Garden
Planting and growing a backyard vegetable garden teaches children about responsibility, discipline, biology and health. Involve your children by letting them pick one or two delicious veggies that grow well in your climate. Get out your wheelbarrow, shovel, rake and watering can and be ready to get messy! Once your vegetables are grown, bring the lessons into the kitchen. Cook up a fresh salad and teach your kids about nutritious eating and super foods.
Sandbox
Playing in a sandbox encourages creativity with building sand castles and other imaginative structures. A number of hardware stores offer pre-made sandboxes, but it’s also relatively easy to custom-build your own. All you need is four pieces of good lumber and several bags of sand. Use a larger piece of plywood to construct a cover for the sandbox. A sturdy cover will prevent the sandbox from becoming the local litter box and becoming a health hazard for your children, according to Market Watch.
Chalkboard Wall
Sick of scrubbing your children’s chalky creations off the sidewalk? Inspire artistic activity outdoors and minimize messes by setting up an outdoor chalkboard. If your yard is surrounded by a large fence, simply attach the board to fence posts and let your kids’ imaginations go wild. Otherwise, a standard chalkboard sign can be set up on any deck or patio or even inside a tree house. You can even paint the side of your fence with chalkboard paint. They have a wide selection of colors to choose from!
About the Author: Joe LaPaglia
Joe is the tech-savviest grandpa he knows, but his first love is his garden. Joe is a retired history professor who loves imparting his wisdom to new generations.
Photo (tree house) courtesy of Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/treehouses/6404971125/sizes/z/in/photolist-aKZ9LD-aif35q-dGBvR6-cs1Tk5-9grDp9-eGCo4x-9wG3sN-dviW9M-aWSfY4-9VGviS-9ZB4ES-8xE436-8x1UJR-aEmERV-9BCPPZ-dNCb5L-eT9Gs2-btD9Qi-7JQvyQ-adSMq6-7Rt1dn-bFqHmB-bFqHmx-dFFgjB-9bGs15-aoTuh6-bcfQKF-8ti4X9-c9tQwj-aoTu7c-7JQvtw-aWgA1R/
Photo (chalkboard wall) courtesy of Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloedesigns/4685908605/sizes/z/in/photolist-895vnF-agN3pS-ehpJoh-82iCe4-abjxDQ-a9v6gy-8cjeDR/
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Melissa
Melissa Northway, M.S. is a mom, founder of dandelion moms, and a children’s book author. Her award-winning book Penelope the Purple Pirate was inspired by her little tomboy. Penelope is a modern-day Pippi Longstocking who teaches girls and boys the importance of having fun while at the same time teaching them to be kind and respectful of others and their differences. Dandelion moms was created for moms to share their stories and to inspire and be inspired! You can reach Melissa at: info@dandelionmoms.com and follow her @melissanorthway and @dandelionmoms. Check out her author web site at: www.melissanorthway.com, as she hands out loads of goodies from the treasure chest.
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