The backyard is a great sanctuary for the family. It’s a place for the kids to go out and explore, play and do anything other than spend time on the screen.
The following are a few ideas and inspiration for how to make a child friendly backyard by home design edge.
Seamless flow between house and backyard
A good flow is generated by having a main living area fronting the backyard, with large openings like stacker sliding doors or bifold doors.
Level off backyard with retaining walls
Although slopey land can be good for rolling down mounds, leveled land is the most flexible for kids outdoor play. As most sites are not level, retaining walls may be required to level from the indoor living to the outdoor area
Or alternatively, if you have a slope, you could consider integrated climbing, a slide or a hobbit hole
Outdoor seating
Outdoor seating can be used for lounging, games and dining. Options include bench seating, loose furniture, ottomans and soft furnishings. The furniture should be positioned into settings that allow groups to gather, as well as allow free play in between.
Secret hideaway
Sometimes kids like protected corners where they can role play and use their imagination
Cubby house
Cubbies are great for kids to create their own sanctuary. They can be packed with kids kitchens, seating and low tables. Dress up can be stored in boxes for kids roleplay. Cubbies are also good for storing miscellaneous outdoors sports gear. Its good to site the cubby so the front door is viewable from the main living areas.
There are several styles to choose from including traditional, modern, elevated tree homes, integrated with mini outdoor playgrounds. Its handy to find one where you can stand inside without crouching.
Cubbies can be costly brand new. See if you can pickup one from a local whose kids have outgrown them.
Covered outdoor area
Fully covered outdoor areas can be good for creating shade and an activity space for wet weather. The outdoor area is a transition space between the indoor area and external landscaped space.
A pergola is also good for creating shade, a sense of enclosure and privacy as well.
Swimming pool
I grew up with a pool and enjoyed the benefits of cooling off in summer and entertaining with friends. I also had the privilege of maintaining the pool week in and week out. The surrounding areas had deciduous trees which made autumn dreaded months.
Now there are many options for swimming pools including large family pools, splash pools and lap pools. You can even get the jet boosters that allow continuous freestyle swimming in a small space.
Water play / splash pad
This can roll out in Summer and packed away in the garage for the rest of the year. Its a cheaper alternative to the pool.
Vegetable patch
Vegetable patches are a great way for the family to work together, and learn about where our food comes from, and the care required to keep them going. Vegetable patches need a sunny area of the backyard.
The next step up would be a worm farm or chicken coop for teaching kids how food scraps can be composted and given back to the garden, as well as providing fresh eggs and something interesting to interact with in the backyard.
Mud Kitchens / Sandpits / Chalkboards
Creating these type of play corners can be very exciting for the kids and their friends, and can be a very efficient use of space, utilising boundary walls. Some sandpits can even have an integrated cover to keep away cats and be used as a deck in other occasions.
Outdoor music stations
These can make a bit of noise, so probably keep away from neighbours you have a good relationship with.
Trampolines
Trampolines are a great source of fun and exercise for the kids. If you have the funds, you could consider an inground trampoline for a fully integrated look.
Outdoor race track
This can be a fun area to test out all your kids cars. A figure 8 can be endless fun 😛
Outdoor climbing
Have to be careful this is safe for the kids. Climbing can be great fun, and integrated with cubby houses and slopes
Zipline / flying fox
A flying fox needs to be fixed to sturdy and reinforced sides, but can be a lot of fun for the kids. Kids love speed and jumping off things
Hopscotch / jumping logs
Some can be cleverly integrated into the landscape, and provide fun ways for the kids to move around the backyard
Driveway sports
The driveway can be a versatile playing area for different sports, as well as outdoor working and one off things like garage sales. Having worked on a outdoor playcourt for a school, the best courts are approximately 1% fall, or 10mm vertically in every 1000mm horizontal distance. I was very keen to have a good playing area, and sited the main home vertically to preserve the playing area, with a more aggressive fall outside of the playing area to the street.
For basketball and netball rings, they are not recommended to fix to garages, unless reinforced by steelwork. The alternative are free standing rings, with weighted bases.
Temporary fun
Teepee / backyard camping
This can be setup for an afternoon of fun, or even overnight. Can be good training for camping off site, and theres always the backup of midnight feasts in the kitchen.
Outdoor cinema
With a bit of spandex, mood lighting, seating and cushions, can be a great night out with the kids
Other considerations
Privacy screening
One of the benefits of having a backyard is that you can leave your kids to roam outside without any security concerns. If your in a neighbourhood without good fencing and established planting, your kids may be overlooked by neighbours. Planting shrubs or bamboo maybe an option to create natural screening that exceeds the boundary fences. Choose clumping plants that don’t invade your neighbours.
Fences and gates
Boundary fencing is a loaded topic, and involves a bit of background reading on what is allowable for your council, and how to negotiate with neighbours. Depending on the type of development, front fences are 1.2m, and side 1.2m to the front of the house. The rest of the side and rear fences can go to 1.8m. Solid, visually opaque fencing is the best for creating a childrens area, with associated soft planting.
Outdoor washing station
An outdoor shower, or foot washing station is a good way to hose off dirt and grime before the indoors become like the outdoors
Miscellaneous storage
If there are sharp tools or anything a kid can turn into a club, it would be good to create storage for them in the garage, laundry, under the house or shed.
Unwanted guests
While dismantling a cubby on a move we spotted redback spiders in the under floor area. Have heard from others seeing redbacks under parked trailers. It would be worth to do a regular check of all potential hiding areas.
Nearby amenities
I met someone that chose their house as it was close to a childrens playground and field, and it was what they would want to live in if they were a kid. Another friend has a backyard with a gate that leads to a public reserve and playing area. Living nearby these types of amenities is the best way of having the playspace without the requirement to maintain them.