Kid-friendly backyard ideas that won't break the bank

When you have children, you want to have an entertaining backyard to keep them busy, stimulate their minds, and burn off extra energy. While you can spend thousands of dollars on kid-friendly backyard ideas, they don’t have to be expensive to be fun. Learn how to design a backyard that the whole family will love, including landscaping, water features, craft areas, and pint-sized furniture.

Kid-friendly backyard ideas

Designing a functional and fun backyard that the whole family can enjoy can be challenging. However, you don’t need to hire a designer to create the backyard of your dreams. Keep these features below in mind when creating your backyard. If money is a little tight, consider some kid-friendly backyard ideas on a budget so you can afford them now while the kids are still young enough to enjoy them.

Kid-safe landscaping

When designing your outdoor space, the primary concerns are keeping kids safe and allowing parents to keep a watchful eye. Additionally, your plans should also keep the yard safe from kids. Children love to run and play games like hide-and-seek. While flowers may be pretty, kids can easily trample them during playtime. Similarly, thorny bushes, tree stumps, and cacti with needles can harm children who are more focused on winning a game against a sibling.

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A well-manicured lawn surrounded by bushes or small trees provides a wide-open place for children to play while also providing natural hiding spots and places to explore. The average U.S. homeowner spends just over $2,000 for sod installation and another $749 per year on maintenance.

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Artificial turf, rubberized play surfaces, and playground mulch are excellent alternatives for homeowners who don't want the hassle of maintaining natural grass. While installing artificial turf costs about twice as much as natural grass ($4,613 vs. $2,043), you'll save money over time with annual maintenance costs of just $250 to $350. Bark mulch, pea gravel, decomposed granite, and concrete are low-maintenance options, but these materials are harder on the skin when children fall.

Play areas and structures

A time-honored tradition for backyard playtime is having a tree house, fort, or jungle gym. These play areas and structures unleash a child's creativity and encourage them to be active. The downside is that they can be expensive to buy and time-consuming to build. The average cost of a basic treehouse is $4,000 to $15,000, but higher-end and luxury versions can run substantially more.

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Jungle gyms are a great way to encourage imaginative play or set up an obstacle course that can keep your little ones engaged. They typically cost between $1,500 to $2,000 if you assemble it yourself. Having a professional assemble it can add another $500 to $1,000. 

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If you're looking for kid-friendly backyard ideas on a budget and are handy with a hammer and saw, you can build one of these structures for a fraction of the cost. A variety of treehouse, fort, and jungle gym designs can be found for free online. By saving money on labor, you can build a basic play structure for less than $1,000.

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Other fun backyard ideas that are simple to add are swing sets or a climbing wall. These can typically be purchased online and, with proper maintenance, last many years. 

Outdoor games and activities

Carving out a portion of your yard dedicated to outdoor games provides countless hours of fun for the entire family. Whether you choose to install them permanently or simply have a multi-use space that can host games on occasion is up to you. Some families prefer the convenience of games already set up and ready to play, while others appreciate the flexibility to use the space for other activities when not playing a game.

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Oversized games like Jenga, chess, and Connect Four are popular twists on classic games. Athletic families might choose to set up a mini-golf course, batting cage, or a soccer goal. Cornhole game sets are portable and fun for children of all ages. These games are available for purchase online or in-store, but crafty homeowners can build them with supplies from the hardware store and instructions found online.

Water play and splash zones

You don't need a massive pool to cool off in the summertime heat. With water play areas and splash zones in your kid-friendly backyard, your family can have fun in the sun without overheating. Splash pads with water fountains, misters, and other features can create hours of play for the entire family to enjoy. These projects may also increase the value of your home, especially if you live in a warmer climate like Arizona or Southern California.

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While splash pads are permanent installations, temporary solutions are available as well. Slip and slides, inflatables or even a garden hose are kid-friendly backyard ideas on a budget. Inflatables come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and themes, with low-cost options under $100 and higher-end versions costing $300 to $1,000 or more. These budget-conscious ideas can be set up quickly without the time and expense of a permanent splash pad yet still provide hours of enjoyment.

Creative arts and crafts spaces

Kids love arts and crafts, but they can be messy. Painting, glue, glitter, and other supplies can ruin carpets, destroy furniture, and make it hard to keep your home neat and tidy. By creating an outdoor area for arts and crafts, you'll have a kid-friendly backyard where they can express their creativity and artistic abilities.

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Since paints, glitter, and other art supplies can damage or stain wood, cement, bricks, and other porous surfaces, performing arts and crafts over dirt, grass, sand, or similar landscapes is best. Depending on the size of your backyard, you can create a dedicated play space for artwork or purchase moveable furniture or easels for children to use.

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With moveable items, you'll be able to use the space for other activities, including hosting parties, playing sports, or free play. It can also reduce the visual clutter as you admire your backyard while relaxing with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Kid-friendly furniture and seating

While most outdoor furniture is designed for adults, furniture and seating options are also available in sizes made for children. Pint-sized furniture is an excellent addition to your kid-friendly backyard ideas because it allows children to feel more comfortable with a picnic table and seating that fits them better.

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Children-sized furniture is available online and in many local stores. Not only are these items typically made in smaller sizes, but they can incorporate materials that are easily cleaned and less prone to stains. Additionally, furniture built with children in mind often has safety features like rounded edges and cushioned seating to protect them from accidental injury. Price points for kid-friendly furniture can vary dramatically depending on where you buy them, the quality of the items, and the included features. However, families on a budget can easily find children's outdoor furniture items for under $200.

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The downside of smaller-sized furniture is that children can grow out of it quickly. Purchasing adult-sized furniture with kid-friendly features may allow more years of enjoyment and reduce the need to replace items as kids grow up.

Final thoughts

Implementing kid-friendly backyard ideas at your home provides the opportunity to make a lifetime of memories and encourages kids to step away from electronics. Whether you're a homeowner on a budget or looking to spend on items that can improve your home's value, numerous options are available. You can pay for these improvements, furniture, and other upgrades with your savings or home's equity. If you don't have perfect credit or don't want to add another payment to your monthly bills, a Home Equity Investment can get you the money you need without proof of income.

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