A garden is a great place for children. They can enjoy the extra space for play, as well as enjoying being outdoors in the fresh air. You can teach them about plants, gardening, and the wildlife that lives in the garden. However, if not thought about properly, there are some potential dangers in a garden for children. Here’s how to make yours is safe.
Add Lighting
Lighting is a great safety feature for the whole family, not just kids. You can put in fixed lighting around sitting areas, so you can enjoy the space in the evening, and still be able to see what you’re doing. Light any pathways to reduce the risk of trips and falls. Motion sensitive lights are useful on the front of the house so they will come on if you arrive home after dark and need to see your way in. Put up some lights like a wall pack light with photocell.
Cover Water
A water feature can be beautiful, but remember that a child can drown in only a few inches of water. If you have a pond in the garden, add a mesh grill over the top, so no fall can end with a child in the water. You could also put a fence around the pond and keep the gate locked any time are you aren’t around to supervise. Be careful with anywhere that water might gather, such as the lid of a sandpit, or a water butt. Keep these items propped up or covered, so water can’t gather and become a risk.
Be Careful What You Plant
You can’t watch children every second, and it doesn’t take long for them to get into mischief. Children love putting all kinds of things into their mouths, and plants can be an every appealing thing for them to test out as a snack, out of curiosity. An easy gardening tip to keep your garden safe for children is to be careful with what you plant. There are lots of plants that are perfectly safe to eat, so stick with those. Avoiding plants that could be poisonous is a good idea if you have pets in the house, as well as small children.
Make It Secure
Make sure your garden boundary is secure with proper fencing or hedging. Make sure any gates into the property are sturdy and can be fastened with something a child can’t reach or undo by themselves. This makes it so they can’t wander off without your realizing, and also helps to keep anyone else out of your garden. A lockable gate is a good security measure to keep people from approaching the house, as well as keeping the children on your property where you know they’re safe.
Keep Play Equipment Safe
If you have play equipment in the garden, like a swing or a climbing frame, make sure you position them in a safe place. Play equipment should have plenty of thick grass under it to cushion any falls, or you can lay a surface underneath, like bark chips.