5 Ideas to Compliment Your Kids Outdoor Playhouse

If you're buying a kids outdoor playhouse for your family, don't forget to think about the area around your new playhouse. It's important to finish off the project and a well designed exterior can add so much more fun to your child's playarea.

Of course, the simplest thing would be to simply place your playhouse in the middle of the lawn or a corner of the yard. But for just a small addition to the budget you could create an entire playarea to keep your kids occupied for hours through the spring and summer months.

This article gives you five bright ideas on what to do with your playhouse exterior that will add to the fun factor for your kids:

1. White picket fence and garden:

There's nothing better to finish off a cottage style playhouse than some pretty fencing and a garden full of flowers and plants. It's a great way to get kids excited about gardening and to teach them how food is grown. Here are some ideas for easy to grow plants:

• Flowers: primrose, lavender, forget-me-not and sweet peas
• Vegetables: root veg are really easy to grow. Try radishes, carrots, potatoes and beetroot. Runner beans are also a favourite.
• Fruit: wild strawberries are deliciously sweet and great for sharing with friends.
• Herbs: most herbs are pretty easy to grow. Try the hardier varieties to keep the garden green throughout the winter - rosemary, sage, mint and thyme.

Finally, add a garden gnome or two and your kids will love spending time tending to their garden.

2. Patio and veranda:

A seating area outside is a perfect addition to a kids outdoor playhouse. Many larger playhouse plans will come with a nice built in patio, where you can add seating, a swing seat or a table for a picnic. Then you might even be able to persuade the kids to do their homework outside during the summer.

Even with smaller playhouses it's easy to add a small covered patio and room for a little chair. Complete the outside area with some easy to lay decking tiles, which are soft under foot and cushion any falls better than concrete patio slabs.

3. Soft fall play area:

If you're building a raised playhouse with a balcony and steps to get inside, it's important that you create a soft fall play area. All you need is a small border fence around the play area, and fill it will bark chippings, crash mats or fake grass that comes with a cushioned underlay. You could then add a slide, swing or climbing rope, which look great alongside a kids outdoor playhouse. ep

4. Activity Centre

If you have the budget, then why not complete your kids outdoor playhouse with a whole activity centre. Children need to spend time outside, as it gets them in the fresh air as well as doing some exercise and keeping fit. Far too many of our kids are leading sedentary lifestyles and putting themselves at risk of illness from heart disease or type 2 diabetes when they get older.

Installing an activity centre is a great way to get them exercising every day and give them the healthiest start in life. You can add a swing, climbing frame, slide and small climbing wall. Also a trampoline is great fun and brilliant exercise.

If you're installing an activity centre, first consider the age of your kids and what they'll love:

• Children under 2 enjoy diferent textures, contrasting colours and handles to pull on.
• Kids 2 to 5 go for tunnels, plaforms, tables for sand and water, small slides and activity panels.
• Kids 5 to 12 love rope climbers, merry go rounds, sliding poles, tyre swings and horizontal bars.

Whatever you install in your activity centre, don't forget to add a soft fall flooring underneath. Also choose a site where you can keep an eye on your kids from the home, just in case they have a fall or need your help.

5. Sand pit and paddling pool:

Instead of putting a garden in front of your playhouse you could install a permanent sand pit and paddling pool. A kids outdoor playhouse is designed to be fun, but your kids will be the envy of all their friends if they have a sand pit and pool to enjoy whenever the weather is good. You could submerge the sandpit into the ground and create wooden seating areas for the kids to sit while they play. The paddling pool could even be a permanent feature with a fountain in the middle for water fun in the sun! Use your imagination and get creative!