The average American spends around 93% of their life indoors and this figure has grown considerably over the last few generations. Kids are learning how to use tablets and smartphones before they’re old enough to talk, and once they reach their teens, they spend more time playing video games, surfing the web, and using mobile apps than they do playing outside.
For most of us, the earliest memories we have of playing outside were in the backyard. It’s where we learned how to catch a baseball and dunk a basketball; it’s where we connected with nature before leaving the home and venturing to parks, fields, and friends’ houses.
The best way to encourage your kids to leave their devices is to make your backyard a more welcoming and fun place, a place where they can play among themselves, with their pets, and even with you, the parents. With that in mind, let’s look at the best accessories for making your backyard family-friendly.
1. A Trampoline
A trampoline is a must. It’s a simple and relatively inexpensive addition that will delight kids of all ages. These things never go out of fashion and kids have been begging their parents for trampolines for generations.
There are some premium brands selling “safe trampolines” for up to $3,000, but you don’t need to spend that much. They tend to be a lot sturdier and bigger, but you can find a very good trampoline for less than $600, and if you look on the used market, you can shave another few hundred bucks off that price.
You will find trampolines in family gardens throughout the US, but once those kids grow up and fly the nest, those expensive accessories become obsolete and the owners are usually desperate to get rid of them.
2. Easy-Clean Furniture and Upholstery
Kids are messy. You don’t need us to tell you that. They will spill juice and ice cream on your brand-new rattan; they will wipe their muddy and sticky hands on your upholstery. A single summer and a few grubby hands are all you need to decimate a once-immaculate furniture set.
You can tell them to be careful, to wash their hands, and not to eat anything sloppy near your furniture, but they will always find a way. You need furniture that is easy to clean, furniture that won’t be ruined by dirt and stains, and that’s where our poly lumber comes in.
All of the furniture sold here at Seven Summers is made from a unique material known as poly lumber. It’s manufactured from recycled milk cartons and detergent bottles and creates a material that is comfortable, durable, eco-friendly, and easy to clean. It won’t rust like iron, split like wood, or stain like soft fabrics.
Not only will our poly lumber take whatever your kids can throw at it, but it’ll also hold up against Mother Nature and can be left outside whatever the weather.
Take a look at our Great Bay Collection to see some of our unique pieces.
3. Wading/Paddling Pool
A wading pool is an inflatable pool with very little water. It’s designed for splashing and not for swimming, and the result is a compact, convenient, and surprisingly economical pool.
Not only will it keep the kids busy but it will also cool them down on hot days.
For something that all of the family can enjoy, invest in a larger above-ground pool. These pools can be inflatable or built on solid supports and they vary from around $500 to $5,000.
Generally, you get what you pay for, and the more expensive options will last longer and provide additional features, such as filters and pumps. However, there are a lot of great pools available at the lower end of that price range and you shouldn’t feel like you need to spend more than you can afford just to get something that won’t burst, break, or collapse in a single summer.
4. Pizza Oven
Kids love pizza—who doesn’t? If you have the space and the budget, you can treat them to a healthier and fresher pizza treat whenever they want it. Pizza ovens are surprisingly affordable and come in a variety of styles.
In their most basic form, outdoor pizza ovens are metal contraptions fueled with wood, gas, kindling, or charcoal. They are compact and available for less than $400.
Of course, you get what you pay for and if you want big pizzas made in an authentic stone-baked oven, you’ll need to spend a little more, but there is something for all budgets.
Pay attention to the size of the oven, the type of fuel it uses, and the time in which it cooks pizzas. You should also check the reviews and make sure you’re buying something that has some social proof, something that has been bought, used, and enjoyed by countless families before you.
There are a lot of low-quality appliances on the market (especially on sites like Amazon Marketplace) and they just aren’t worth the money or the hassle.
Once you have your pizza oven, you can start cooking everyone’s favorite Italian fare! Make it healthier by using less dough, low-fat cheese, and some vegetable toppings. Make it protein-rich by adding some pea protein or vital wheat gluten to the base.
Pizza is generally seen as an unhealthy dish—a fast food—but there are ways to make it healthier so that you can enjoy it more frequently.
Pizza ovens can also be used to cook focaccias and other types of bread.
5. Beanbags and Hammocks
To a child, beanbags are more than just a place to sit and hammocks are more than just a place to relax. They’re an adventure in themselves, and if you drop a beanbag on the patio, your kids will likely choose it over your outdoor dining chairs and stools.
Hammocks and beanbags are also less expensive, but you’ll need to make sure that they are made for outdoor use and are easy to clean.
6. Lawn Games
Lawn games are huge right now and you have a variety of options to choose from.
Lawn games are basically just giant versions of classic party games and board games. They are designed to be played by groups of people on patios and lawns and they include everything from jumbo versions of Cornhole, Connect 4, and Twister, to Lawn Darts and more.
You can even buy a giant version of Jenga! These games add some spice to family game night and you can also get them out during dinner parties and birthday parties.
7. Inflatable Movie Screens
Organize a family movie night like no other with your own outdoor cinema! We have mentioned inflatable movie screens in a few other blog articles, noting how perfect they are for Super Bowl parties, children’s birthday parties, and other celebratory occasions. But they’re not something that you should be using just once a year and then letting them gather dust for the rest of the year.
Schedule a family movie night every Saturday or Sunday and use these screens to make it special.
Inflatable movie screens are giant screens onto which you can project films, TV shows, and even YouTube videos. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and they are huge! You can buy 20-foot inflatable screens for less than $300 on Amazon and there are bigger ones available as well.
You will need a projector too, and these are a little more expensive, so make sure you factor that into the equation.
8. Outdoor Speakers
If projectors and inflatable screens are too cumbersome and expensive, grab an outdoor speaker instead. You can find these for less than $100 and while small, they are surprisingly powerful.
Outdoor speakers are designed to be weatherproof and work through Bluetooth. Just connect to a smartphone or tablet to play some songs!
9. A Canopy/Awning
If your family is going to be spending a lot of time on the patio, you’ll need to make sure they are properly covered and don’t fall victim to heatstroke. The whole of the United States seems to be experiencing hotter summers these last few years and we’ve been witnessing some unprecedented heat—the last thing you want is for your loved ones to be caught under that heat all afternoon.
You know what it’s like—they’re having fun, not paying attention to the heat, and before you know it, you have an army of anthropomorphic lobsters where your kids once were.
A canopy or awning will cover those high-risk areas and provide your little ones with some much-needed shade as they eat, drink, and play in the sun.
Summary: Accessories for Family Backyards
If you have a large backyard, then put it to use and start filling it with accessories, furniture, and toys. If you give your kids an incentive to spend time in the garden, they will leave their devices alone and get some much-needed fresh air and exercise!
You can also join them on their adventures, taking game night, movie night, and pizza night outdoors.