The backyard is where childhood memories are born. Kids feel safe, parents can keep a watchful eye on them, and if your yard is big enough, it can be transformed into the ultimate playground. They’ll venture into the backyard when they’re too young to go to the park and when they’re too bored to walk to a friend’s house. It encourages them to leave the confines of those four walls, giving them fresh air, sunshine, and exercise—three things that many kids are lacking. So, if you have a yard, it’s time to hand over the deeds to your young ones, turning it into a welcoming, fun, and safe place.
Buying Outdoor Furniture for Kids
Kids and furniture go together like, well, kids and furniture. They’re a destructive force that will test every plank of wood and every piece of fabric to its limit. They are an unstoppable force, and your furniture is definitely not an immovable object, so they’ll hit like a freight train and leave you wondering why your once pristine sofa looks like it’s been caught in a nuclear blast. When looking for outdoor furniture for kids, you need something that can withstand the jumping and scrambling; something that can be wiped clean and is easy to maintain. Forget about luxury and focus more on durability. It’s still important to keep your outdoor area looking smart and stylish. Just because you have kids doesn’t mean that everything needs to be made of cheap plastic and painted with clowns and Disney characters. But you can afford to be a little more budget-conscious, knowing that the furniture will take more of a beating. If nothing else, it means you won’t have a mild heart attack every time your child uses your new patio table as a climbing frame. You also want something that they will actually like, something that will encourage them to spend more time outdoors and ensure they have a good time with their friends. Finally, don’t yield control of your garden or patio, and keep a few pieces for yourself and your garden. If your patio and garden are large enough, consider keeping one area for yourself and the “adult” furniture, and the other for your kids and the “kid” furniture.
The Best Outdoor Furniture and Equipment for Kids
What pieces will your kids appreciate the most? It really all depends on how old they are and what they’re into, but the following outdoor furniture options should keep most age groups happy and will make your little ones the talk of the school:
Benches
Benches are more suitable for children than chairs. Chairs can fall over, sometimes with your child inside. A bench will stay rooted to the spot, and it also tends to be more durable. Bench/table combinations often work best for youngsters. They can have tea parties, enjoy juice boxes, and even play a few games. A bench won’t look out of place in your backyard, either, and it’ll be just as useful today as it is 5 years for now, when your kids are older and bigger. Look for benches made of poly lumber, like the ones we sell here at Seven Summers. Metal can rust, wood can rot (and needs regular treatments), and wrought iron is both heavy and uncomfortable. Our benches are made from recycled plastic, and they won’t fade or rot. They’re also very easy to keep clean.
Beanbag Chairs
Kids love beanbags. Most adults do, as well, although there comes a time when climbing into and out of a beanbag is neither easy nor pretty. Most beanbags aren’t suitable for outdoor use, but you can find alternatives that are specifically designed for this purpose. It’s still recommended to place them in storage when the weather is bad, but they are much tougher and more durable, and they won’t break apart at the first sign of rain. You can even find mammoth-sized beanbags. Not only will they provide your child with a super-comfortable seat, one that almost envelops them when they take a seat, but it’ll also remain suitable as they age. The bigger the beanbag is, the less likely they are to outgrow it. Look for beanbags in your child’s favorite color and it could quickly become their favorite seat.
Outdoor Kitchens
Do you have a budding chef in the family? If so, you should consider picking up an outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchens are a furniture/toy cross, not unlike the cheap plastic toy ovens that kids have been using for generations. The difference is that they are usually a little sturdier and more heavy-duty. Some of them come with additional features such as a chalkboard for writing down orders and recipes; utensils for preparing and “cooking” food, and pots and pans. There are also toy barbecues that your kid can use as you cook with the real thing. Outdoor kitchens are usually relatively inexpensive as they are toys and can’t actually cook real food. But if you have small children that love to get their hands dirty and have a passion for cooking, it could be the perfect toy.
Trampoline
Which kid doesn’t love trampolines? They can spend hours jumping up and down on those things. They’re not noisy, they’re not even that expensive, and by the time your kid finishes jumping, they will have tired themselves out and left very little room for mischief. The bigger trampolines can be a little pricey, but they are so common that you can usually find a cheap used trampoline on Facebook or Craigslist. You can also opt for a smaller option—it might not be their preferred option, but it still does the job. Make sure the trampoline is firmly secured to the ground, though, as they’re usually the first things to go during a storm. As countless YouTube videos can attest, flying trampolines are a common sight as soon as the wind picks up.
Jungle Gym
Most kids dream of owning their own jungle gym—it’s like a park in their very own backyard! And contrary to what you might think, they’re not that expensive, with the smaller options running you several hundred bucks. Of course, there are more expensive options out there and if you want something that looks great, has many features, and is large enough to cater to several children, you could be looking at between $2,000 and $3,000. That’s a lot of money to spend on an activity that they can perform at their local playground! A jungle gym typically contains a few climbing options, a swing or two, and a slide. It’s a great option if you have multiple children and need to keep them all entertained, but you’ll need to monitor the younger ones to make sure they don’t hurt themselves.
Monkey Bars
Most kids are averse to organized exercise, but they will happily run around all day if you let them. If you ask them to join you for a long hike, they’ll refuse, but ask them to spend an hour throwing a ball around and they will happily oblige. If you want them to exercise, you need to make it fun, and that’s where monkey bars come in. Not only are they lots of fun, but they also provide a great upper body workout. In fact, you can actually find monkey bars in many commercial gyms, and they are becoming increasingly common as gym-goers make a beeline for them. It’s a simple piece of equipment and it could help your child to improve their strength and stamina, all while burning off the excess calories. Think about all of the times that you used monkey bars when you were younger. If you’re like the average child you probably set yourself a goal to reach the end, and when you completed that goal, you pushed yourself further by trying to turn around and go back. Every time you failed, you stopped, rested, and started again, and every time you improved, you set a tougher goal. Without realizing it, you were following the same process of sets, reps, and personal bests that all gym-goers follow, and that’s hugely beneficial for growing children.
