February 9th, 2016How To Create A Child-Friendly Fence That’s Fun

The backyard is a young child’s little slice of heaven; It is a place to play and enjoy the great outdoors, without having to leave the comfort of home. A child-friendly backyard should give the little ones plenty of space to play, as well as a secure fence to hold them in and keep unwanted guests out. A safe fence certainly doesn’t mean that it has to be boring though! Here are a few ideas to consider when creating a fence that is safe and child-friendly.

Fence Height

The first step in building a fence that is suitable for children is to determine the height that is needed. A 4 to 4 ½ foot high fence is adequate to keep toddlers and small children in the yard. If you are also concerned about unwanted visitors entering the yard where your children play, you’ll likely want to go higher and consider a privacy fence. If your kids are particularly active, a taller privacy fence will also help keep toys, balls, and other sporting equipment from landing in the street or your neighbour’s yard.

Safety Gates

Child-friendly gates should swing freely and close securely. Installing self-closing hinges or a gate spring will ensure that the gate closes each time it is used. For increased safety, you may consider adding a padlock to the gate latch. When it comes to the gate, consider things like large, exposed hinges or the weight of the gate, both of which can hurt tiny fingers.

Your fence can also be utilized for more than safety and privacy purposes; have a little fun with it!

Chalkboard Wall

How much fun would your kids have (and how much free time would you have) if your fence doubled as a chalkboard wall? A little chalkboard paint and some sidewalk chalk is all you need to devise this creative install.

Music Wall

Do you have a mini Mozart on your hands? Bring music outside by building a musical fence for your kids to practice composing at. Simply attach a few pots, pans, and chimes to a fence panel and arm the kids with some utensils for drumming away at their own little studio!

Movie Night

Who says you need a TV for family movie night? Bring the crew outside with pillows, blankets, and of course, popcorn. Next, lay a white sheet against your fence, plug in a projector, and pop in a flick!

Climbing Wall

You are guaranteed to be the coolest parents on the block if you install a rock climbing wall on your fence! For an added safety feature, place foam or spongy flooring below the wall.