While you no doubt love playing outdoors with your child, it’s understandable that you might be a bit anxious about your garden. Playgrounds are of course designed with children in mind, but how can you make sure your garden is as safe as possible for your little one? What plants are safe? Should you choose grass, wood, or concrete? Are trampolines safe? It’s all so confusing!

Having a garden or outdoor space for your child to play around in can be a blessing. But just like your home, you’ll need to make sure your child is safe in this space. Accidents always have the potential to happen, but with good supervision, safety practices, and a welcoming environment, your garden can become a place of wonders for your little one!

So, let’s have a look at some potential hazards in the garden, and what we can do to fix and improve them for your child.

What could potentially be dangerous about my garden?

Here are some of the biggest potential garden hazards:

If you don’t have a fence or hard border around your garden, your child could wander off if left unsupervised.

If you don’t know what plants are in your garden, your child could potentially ingest or touch something poisonous and fall ill. Children love putting things in their mouths, and plants are no exception.

If you use pesticides or herbicides in your garden, that too can be poisonous.

Lawn mowers can be dangerous. Not only because it uses sharp implements, but it can also throw up sticks and stones at a high velocity.

If you cook food outdoors, your BBQ or grill could potentially burn your child.

If you only have an open front garden, your child could potentially wander into the road or run away if left unsupervised.

Certain climbing frames, swings, and trampolines can be hazardous if your child isn’t taught how to use them properly, or if they are not in a safe space.

Any source of open water, such as a pool, a pond, or even a large bucket of water, is a danger when it comes to child safety, since they may fall in.

That’s a lot of hazards for such a small area! But don’t worry, we’re now going to discuss how to change and improve your garden so it’s safe for your little one.

How can I make my garden safe?

Here are our solutions and strategies for tackling those garden hazards:

If you do not have a fence and installing one is not a realistic option, teach your child the boundaries of where it is okay to play. They will not always follow your rules, so watch them closely. Always make sure an adult is supervising whilst children are playing in the space.

Teach your child never to eat plants, even if they look tasty! Remove all dangerous plants from your garden, or put them behind a gate and lock. If you’re unsure about what plants are dangerous, visit the RHS' guide to dangerous plants.

If you’re using herbicides or pesticides, make sure that they're organically approved products, and always follow instructions carefully. If you’ve treated your lawn, make sure that children do not play in it for 48 hours.

When using a lawn mower, make sure your child is inside the house away from it. This way, there is zero risk of them getting hurt.

Teach your child never to approach or touch your BBQ when in use. It might help to buy child-resistant covers for knobs and buttons.

If you have a front garden, always make sure an adult is watching your child when they play.

Teach your child how to use any playground equipment you’ve installed in your garden. That means how to safely use a climbing frame, and never to go in front or behind a swing when someone’s using it. Although they’re fun, we recommend removing trampolines entirely, as the potential harm and hazard is too great. If possible, place wood chips or sand around playground equipment to soften any falls or trips.

If you have a source of open water in your garden, you must always supervise your child outside. Remember, even if it is covered, it is still a hazard. This may seem overbearing, but even a few inches of water can potentially harm a child, so keep an eye on them!

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