Child-proofing your backyard is one of the essential things to do when moving to a new home. But child-proofing shouldn’t be something that you should spend weeks working on. It should be something you can work on over the weekend with your family. So here are three simple ways you can child-proof your backyard.
Use Grass
The grass is nature’s cushion. It’s a simple ingredient to child-proofing that you can get almost anywhere. Unlike cemented backyards, a grass backyard offers a lot of safety, especially when you have active children. Grass is soft and can cushion your child’s fall when compared to cement, which is rock-hard.
There are two ways you can put grass in your backyard. The first is to grow your own. This means using seeds and planting them in your backyard to grow. This could take a couple of weeks, but it is cheaper than the second option. It’s also a good choice if you want more control over what kind of grass you want to grow. However, if you want a simpler option, it’s better to buy sods.
Sod is mature grass on top of a soil layer. It’s held together by a mix of netting and some grass roots. Buying a sod for your backyard means you won’t have to go through the trouble of growing your own grass. All you have to do is install it by laying it over your backyard. Some sod farmers may even offer to do it for you. However, it tends to be more expensive than growing your own grass. It might also be more labor-intensive. Because unlike growing your own grass, sods are produced on a sunny farm, which means if your backyard has more shade than it has sunlight, it might not survive. But it is the simplest choice in putting some grass in your backyard.
Set Boundaries
Boundaries are essential for your children. However, if they are still too young to understand what boundaries are, then you’re going to place them physically.
If you have a suburban home, a simple wooden fence can do the job. The best part about wooden fences is that they are effortless to install. You can buy pre-made wooden panels, and it will only take a couple of hours of your weekend to set up. They are affordable as well.
However, if you live near a forest or a national park, it might be important to install some railings. It can stop huge wildlife such as deer or elk trespassing into your home. But if you want to be doubly secure, you can add a screen around your backyard.
Make sure that you get the right material for your railings. It’s better to use railing made of metal in humid areas as they don’t easily warp compared to wood. But if you want a more rustic look, a craftsman railing or a specialty railing might be a good choice for you. They have a good look and can offer the same protection for your children.
Pad All Your Outdoor Furniture
Fences, railings, picnic tables, your child is prone to bump on them. They like running around wild and free and with no care in the world, so it’s up to you to protect them from these surfaces. Thankfully, padding these things does not require too much time. You can use some recycled foam to pad outdoor furniture. Remember, you don’t need to pay all of it, just areas you think your children are prone to bump into. Additionally, some of these can also come with paddings such as fences and railings. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of padding your outdoor furniture, then you should invest in furniture with smoother edges.
These are three simple ways you can make your backyard child-proof. Following them can consume less time than you actually need, and that gives you more time to spend with your family and new home.
