Gardens are incredible places for many reasons. There is a rare abundance of life and diverse species anywhere, even in wild areas.
But it is especially formative for children. What they do in their gardens is often something that lasts for life.
That’s where this post comes into play. It teaches you how to design a magical garden that your child will remember for years to come. Here’s everything you need to know and what to do.
Step 1: Choose A Theme
You want to start by choosing a theme to constellate all your garden ideas around. You want something that really speaks to your child and makes them feel amazing every time they walk into the garden.
When it comes to kids’ gardens, there are so many options. You could turn it into a fantasy land, like something out of Alice in Wonderland, or an enchanted forest with tiny fairy houses and miniature furniture.
You could also make it into an adventure zone with tree houses and climbing ropes. The list of possibilities is really only as long as your imagination.
Step 2: Add Interactive Features
The second step is to add some interactive features. You want the garden to feel like a living, breathing, dynamic, and exciting place for your kids, not something that’s just static and for display.
Interactive features are supposed to support play and exploration. These get your kids in the mood to do more in the garden and go deeper.
But what specifically should you include? Here are some ideas:
- Hidden paths that lead through the bushes and hedges
- Secluded secret areas
- Caves or other spaces for play
- Water fountains and jets
- Waterfalls over vertical gardens
- Water tables with pumps and sensory play
- Trees, flowers, bushes and everything in between
- Sound-making stones or ornaments
- Bamboo pipes
These features should thrive outside but also give your child something to do and look forward to experiencing every time they go into the garden. While they will stay inside for most of the winter months, it can be helpful to add these for the spring and summer when they are more active.
Step 3: Attractive Décor
You could also add more attractive décor to your garden. Kids often love this as it gives them a chance to feel a part of something bigger.
For example, you might consider adding various statues, like animals, gnomes, and other fantasy creatures. These are perfect for children who love playing make-believe.
You could also add pergolas or arches to pathways, giving the garden a room-like feel. Decorating these with vine plants can make outdoor areas feel even more special and attractive.
Lanterns are another excellent option and mood enhancer. These look great during the day but truly come alive at night when everything goes dark.
Step 4: Turn The Garden Into A Story
Once you have your theme set up, it’s a good idea to think about how you could decorate it while turning the garden into a story. Giving it a narrative can make it even more captivating for children.
For example, you could add signs telling kids what’s in specific parts of the garden. Secret grottos and magical kingdoms are all options.
You could also have magic stones and toadstools. These work in woodland-themed outdoor spaces and add to the visual diversity.
Even a garden journal that contains ideas for the mythical creatures who could be living behind the shed can be helpful. These can spark children’s imaginations and get them to play games of make-believe, which is critical for their development.
Step 5: Make It Easy For Yourself
Of course, when you’re designing a garden your kids will remember for life, you want to make it as easy for yourself as possible. Y5ou don’t want to be spending hours outside in all weathers, trying to make it perfect.
Therefore, make sure you have all the equipment you need like a battery powered lawn mower or a hedge trimmer. The right equipment can make your life significantly easier and prevents you from having to put so much effort into everything.
You can also implement strategies like mulching and planting perennials. These approaches again reduce the amount of work that you need to do while providing you with a stunning garden that looks great all the time.
Step 6: Make It Seasonal
Finally, you could finish things off by making the garden more seasonal. For example, you could plant nice flowers around your seating areas in the summer or add pumpkins in the fall.
