Even though the kids love the outdoors though, it’s still easy for them to get caught up in their computers, tablets, phones, TV, and whatever other technology was invented last week that I don’t know about. So when they come to visit me, I like to put them to work (and play) outside, so they get all that vitamin d and the other health benefits of being outside.
As they run and play around I like to sit around on my patio furniture and enjoy the show.
This year I’ve decided to redesign my back yard, and I decided to completely involve the grandkids in the process. Here’s what I did:
1: I had them make a list of things they wanted to do outside this summer. This basically included a lot of running around games, climbing trees, and having picnics. The youngest said she wanted to roast marshmallows.
2: Then I had them list different foods they wanted to grow and what we’d use them for. Top items on the list were zucchini (for frying) and all the ingredients for salsa.
3: We voted on a theme for décor. It came down to lawn gnomes and frogs, and the frogs won out in the end. Each child gets to choose out a couple frog/toad related items to sit in the garden and throughout the lawn.
4: Based on the activities desired, we put more seating and tables on the deck so that we can eat outside more. I thought of buying a fire pit, but I’ve seen so many diy ones, that I’ve decided we’re going to make our own. The kids say they’ll help with the digging, and I’ll be in charge of the laying of the bricks. I think it’d be cool to get bricks with frogs imprinted on the top, but that might be a bit excessive.
5: I made a list of everything we’d need to make our plan happen, from tomato planters, to seeds, to fertilizer, as well as a few other outdoor items.
Since my family is so outdoor focused, it wasn’t hard to get them excited about this project, and I’m going to end up with a nice yard! But if your kids are less prone to step away from their video games, there are a lot of tips online about getting kids gardening and helping with other outdoor projects. Spending time outside is not only great for individuals, but it takes away some of the distractions that keep families from focusing on interacting with each other. It’s a great bonding experience! So while others may be enjoying Coachella, my family and I are having our own little festival.
Nanci Wilson – Guest author
Nanci Wilson’s passions are her garden and her grandkids. She writes to tell the world about the great accomplishments of both.