Discovery Gardens: 15 Ideas to Let Kids' Imaginations Run Wild
Invoke imagination and curiosity and encourage play with these gorgeous children's gardens
Playing outdoors provides kids with physical activity and fresh air, encourages a love of nature and creativity, and can even help develop problem-solving skills. But the average big square of grass, while great for soccer matches, doesn’t provide much inspiration for little ones looking for adventure. If you have the room, consider adding some connected nooks and crannies designed to pique curiosity and support imagination. Here are 15 ideas to get you started, from burbling brooks and play meadows to fairy homes.
3. A burbling brook
A bit of running water can go a long way towards making your backyard feel miles away from civilisation. The sound of a running stream, the feel of cool water on hot feet and curious hands pleases adults and children alike. Just remember that with young children at home, any water play must be supervised – even very shallow water, as shown here.
A bit of running water can go a long way towards making your backyard feel miles away from civilisation. The sound of a running stream, the feel of cool water on hot feet and curious hands pleases adults and children alike. Just remember that with young children at home, any water play must be supervised – even very shallow water, as shown here.
4. Tree-stump stepping stones
Natural tree stumps are a fabulous backyard accessory for kids. Line them up to make a meandering stepping stone path or circle them round to make a seating area. Smaller wood slices make great stepping stones for very young children.
5. Butterfly garden
Enchant children by attracting caterpillars and butterflies to your yard by planting acacias, scented myrtle and other butterfly-friendly plants. Check with your local nursery for the best types to grow in your area.
Natural tree stumps are a fabulous backyard accessory for kids. Line them up to make a meandering stepping stone path or circle them round to make a seating area. Smaller wood slices make great stepping stones for very young children.
5. Butterfly garden
Enchant children by attracting caterpillars and butterflies to your yard by planting acacias, scented myrtle and other butterfly-friendly plants. Check with your local nursery for the best types to grow in your area.
6. Play meadow
Sure, regular grass is fine, but if you are tired of mowing, why not try something else? Some ground covers can provide a soft, springy surface that kids love running on, and they require little or no mowing.
If you do want to keep the grass, think about how much lawn your kids really use – a small patch may be fine, leaving more room for other creative elements such as water, sand and edibles.
Sure, regular grass is fine, but if you are tired of mowing, why not try something else? Some ground covers can provide a soft, springy surface that kids love running on, and they require little or no mowing.
If you do want to keep the grass, think about how much lawn your kids really use – a small patch may be fine, leaving more room for other creative elements such as water, sand and edibles.
7. Outdoor chalkboard with rock climbing holds
This is no ordinary chalkboard wall – those little holes are actually holds for rock climbing. Just make sure children don’t draw below while other kids climb!
8. Truck play zone
Any blank area in the garden can be quite easily turned into a “work zone” for toy trucks; simply leave a patch of dirt bare and plunk down some trucks and digging tools.
This is no ordinary chalkboard wall – those little holes are actually holds for rock climbing. Just make sure children don’t draw below while other kids climb!
8. Truck play zone
Any blank area in the garden can be quite easily turned into a “work zone” for toy trucks; simply leave a patch of dirt bare and plunk down some trucks and digging tools.
9. Edible beds with inviting paths
Kids get excited about eating their vegetables when they’ve helped grow them in their backyard. Growing a mix of fun edibles (such as sugar snap peas and mint), soft and touchable plants (such as lamb’s ear), and fresh flowers meant for cutting means there is always something interesting to do in the garden.
Stock an area nearby with kid-size watering cans and make clearly marked paths so kids know where to walk (and where not to).
Kids get excited about eating their vegetables when they’ve helped grow them in their backyard. Growing a mix of fun edibles (such as sugar snap peas and mint), soft and touchable plants (such as lamb’s ear), and fresh flowers meant for cutting means there is always something interesting to do in the garden.
Stock an area nearby with kid-size watering cans and make clearly marked paths so kids know where to walk (and where not to).
10. Garden art
Colourful sculptures and statues tucked into hidden nooks and crannies throughout the garden delight children. Kids can also get involved in decorating the garden by painting rocks and making plant markers.
Colourful sculptures and statues tucked into hidden nooks and crannies throughout the garden delight children. Kids can also get involved in decorating the garden by painting rocks and making plant markers.
11. Natural play area
A small dug-out area filled with sand and bordered with natural stones makes an inviting play area for young children. Add other found natural elements, such as logs and wood slices, and plastic animals to complete the scene.
A small dug-out area filled with sand and bordered with natural stones makes an inviting play area for young children. Add other found natural elements, such as logs and wood slices, and plastic animals to complete the scene.
12. Sandpit now, vegie bed later
This is such a smart idea if you don’t want to commit permanently to a sandbox in the backyard: Build a raised vegie bed and fill it with sand instead. When your children are older, have the sand hauled out and you can fill the bed with soil.
This is such a smart idea if you don’t want to commit permanently to a sandbox in the backyard: Build a raised vegie bed and fill it with sand instead. When your children are older, have the sand hauled out and you can fill the bed with soil.
13. Fairy house
Small children are enchanted by other wee things, and the idea of a garden fairy house can be especially appealing. You can buy them, but it can be more fun (and is certainly more cost effective) to make one yourself using found natural materials.
Small children are enchanted by other wee things, and the idea of a garden fairy house can be especially appealing. You can buy them, but it can be more fun (and is certainly more cost effective) to make one yourself using found natural materials.
14. Swiss Family Robinson treehouse
Inspire imaginative play with a rustic tree house made for outdoor adventures. This one was created using scrap wood and includes a bucket on a pulley – perfect for passing secret messages and other things up to those in the treehouse.
Inspire imaginative play with a rustic tree house made for outdoor adventures. This one was created using scrap wood and includes a bucket on a pulley – perfect for passing secret messages and other things up to those in the treehouse.
15. Camp-style entertainment zone
A classic fire pit and picnic table are gathering areas the entire family can enjoy together. Having a casual, inviting outdoor space like this makes it more appealing to eat lunch outdoors in nice weather, or to head back outside after dinner for songs around a blazing fire. Just be aware that the ashes stay hot in fire pits for quite a long time – so keep kids away, even if it’s been a while since the last fire.
TELL US
What do you dream of adding to your backyard? And what are your kids’ favourite features of their garden already? Let us know in the comments section.
MORE IDEABOOKS
10 Ways to Transform Your Backyard Into a Kid’s Adventure Zone
10 Dos and Don’ts for a Fun and Practical Playroom
10 Super Sandpits Worthy of Digging In
Dream Spaces: Branch out Into a Tree House
A classic fire pit and picnic table are gathering areas the entire family can enjoy together. Having a casual, inviting outdoor space like this makes it more appealing to eat lunch outdoors in nice weather, or to head back outside after dinner for songs around a blazing fire. Just be aware that the ashes stay hot in fire pits for quite a long time – so keep kids away, even if it’s been a while since the last fire.
TELL US
What do you dream of adding to your backyard? And what are your kids’ favourite features of their garden already? Let us know in the comments section.
MORE IDEABOOKS
10 Ways to Transform Your Backyard Into a Kid’s Adventure Zone
10 Dos and Don’ts for a Fun and Practical Playroom
10 Super Sandpits Worthy of Digging In
Dream Spaces: Branch out Into a Tree House
A big chalkboard hung on a fence or an exterior wall can keep kids busy. Want to try something a little different? Hang Plexiglas instead, and let kids paint on it with washable tempera and shaving cream – you can wash everything right off with a hose, so you can re-use the Plexiglas as many times as you want.
2. Sensory table with shade
If you have preschoolers, you’ve probably spotted a sensory table at your child’s school – these kid-height tables are meant to be filled with water, sand or other materials (such as dry beans) that kids will enjoy sticking their little hands into. Place the table in a shady area or use an umbrella to protect little ones from the sun as they play. On hot days try placing big chunks of ice coloured with food colouring in a water table or container and let kids play with it as it melts.