3 Great Backyard Upgrades That Will Inspire Your Kids to Be Active

3 Great Backyard Upgrades That Will Inspire Your Kids to Be Active

The following contribution is from another author.

Wondering how you can inspire your kids to break away from the electronics and enjoy some healthy outdoor entertainment? With the variety of entertainment options that are at kids’ fingertips, it can be a challenge getting children to be active outdoors. These three backyard upgrades will get kids excited to head outside and enjoy some fresh air, sunshine and movement.

1. Create an Archery Range

Archery is a sport that has been enjoyed for millennia, and you and your kids can get some practice in by adding an exciting archery range to your backyard. Since it’s your own practice range, you don’t need a ton of space, even a small archery range can be a fun feature for the whole family. You can build a target stand from materials that are readily available at your local hardware store – a simple target stand can be made from PVC pipes or framing timbers. Check out the selection of archery tools Toronto to provide you with all the extras you need, from high quality archery gloves to stylish targets.

2. Build a Treehouse

No kid can resist the classic backyard treehouse. This is a project that takes some proper planning, but the rewards are great – treehouses inspire the imagination of kids and teaches them the value of creating something from scratch. Start planning your treehouse by selecting the tree that will host the structure. A good candidate will have at least a five-foot circumference at the base, as well as large supporting limbs. There are plenty of online tutorials to help you design and build your treehouse even if you don’t consider yourself a handyperson. Ask your kids what they would like to see in a treehouse and let that guide your design.

3. Design an Obstacle Course

Who doesn’t love an obstacle course? They can be challenging for adults and kids alike, and the best part is that the obstacles can be adjusted and swapped out as you see fit. Some classic obstacles that are great for kids of all ages include a balance beam, kids garden swing, and a tire run.  Since safety should definitely be at the forefront of all your plans, be sure to cover the entire area around this space with soft fill that will cushion falls – play sand or rubber tire pieces are your best bet. Don’t forget to check play equipment regularly to ensure safe playing conditions.

Activity and movement are essential for the health of your children, and for the health of adults, as well. Make these upgrades to your backyard and you’ll inspire your kids to get off the phone or computer for some quality outdoor fun.

Author

Eric is the creator of At Home in the Future and has been a passionate fan of the future since he was seven. He's a web developer by trade, and serves as the Director of Communication and Technology for a large church in Nashville, TN (where he and his family are building a high tech home in the woods).