How to Make a Backyard Kid-Friendly

You may be wondering why our homebuying company is promoting a kid-friendly blog. I’ll tell you why right now.

“Every so often, it’s nice to treat you and your family to a home upgrade that benefits everyone. Home improvements don’t always have to be big or expensive to make a difference to family life.”

Plus, having a family-friendly home isn’t just fun for the kids. According to NewFolks (and our own expertise), “a kid-friendly property is more attractive to homebuyers in certain areas and can even add value to a house.”

Jon is always on the lookout for properties that would be flipped with a kid-friendly backyard. 8 out of 10 homebuyers with children would prefer a house with a kid-friendly backyard if they can afford it.

What’s the Way to a Kid-friendly Backyard?

Back when I was 8 years old, the backyard was my favorite spot at home. My brother and I would spend most of our evenings playing outside, and it was the best feeling ever.

According to my brother, his kids spend their entire free time just rummaging around the backyard. He’s built them a beginner’s maze, and that has been their favorite outdoor activity this summer. It became so popular with his children’s friends that some neighbors requested that he build it for them, too.

I looked into it, and it turns out some homebuyers were ready to pay a premium for such a kid-friendly backyard.

I believe it’s time to hire my brother as a consultant (without pay, WINK) for our clients with kids.

Build a Treehouse

Treehouses are a fun addition to a backyard for kids. Memories made in treehouses, from meeting friends and sharing secrets to starting “clubs”, can stay with you forever. Building a treehouse for your kids doesn’t have to be overly costly or time-consuming. In fact, you can have something built professionally over the course of a weekend.

According to LawnStarter, most homeowners spend between $7,000 – $15,000 on a large, elaborate treehouse design. But it’s possible to build a treehouse on a significantly smaller budget, particularly if you’re building it from scratch yourself or opting for a more basic design.

Create a Jungle Gym

Creating a jungle gym in your backyard is another fun addition that can make your property more child-friendly. But jungle gyms aren’t just for fun. They can also be a great way to ensure your kids stay fit and healthy with routine exercise (in a fun way!).

Some ways to achieve this include wooden outdoor playsets with eco-friendly playground materials.

Develop an Athletic Court

Another great way to make a backyard more kid-friendly (and fun for adults!) is by building a multi-purpose athletic court in your backyard. Such courts can be used for a huge range of activities.

Some companies can develop an athletic court and oversee the building project from start to finish. However, it’s also possible to choose a cheaper route and design an athletic court yourself.

To build an athletic court, you’ll usually need poured concrete with an acrylic layer over the top. From there, you can design a wire fence around the court or hire a fence company for support. Then, purchase sporting equipment to bring it all together. You can also hire a painter to add lines for whichever sports you play most as a finishing touch.

Build a Pool

A more extravagant, high-end way to make your backyard kid-friendly is to build an outdoor swimming pool. Adults and kids can enjoy its use when the weather is right and stay busy for hours.

According to Forbes, pools cost an average of $50,000 to build, depending on size and amenities added. However, they do add to the value of the property, at a cost.

A cheaper alternative is to build an above-ground pool. These don’t add as much value, but still offer many of the same benefits to family life.

Some More Kid-friendly Backyard Ideas

Since we are already discussing, here are some more things for you:

• Designate a small garden bed for children to plant their own flowers.
• Create a path with different textures for a sensory experience.
• Integrate fun elements such as stepping stones for a child-level perspective.
• A water feature, such as a shallow bubble fountain, is both fun and safe.

Conclusion

If you are trying to sell a house quickly, one with improved curb appeal (at the front and back of the property) can sell faster and for a higher price. Trust me, this is tried and tested by us.

Many of our clients who are moving to other cities seek homes that would suit their children. This is even more beneficial for the sellers if the backyard is already set for such families.

If you are considering renovating the outdoors, consider adding some child-friendly elements. I know that it’s not the traditional approach to renovation, but there’s fun in being outside the box.