How to Keep Your Lawn Safe for Kids

Kids love playing outdoors in all kinds of weather, but especially during the summer. With a grassy lawn to romp in, they will have fun for hours. But as parents, you know how important it is to keep their play area safe. All too often, children can easily get hurt outside without proper supervision or preparation of the yard area.

Here are some tips to keep the lawn child-friendly for outside playtime.

Clear Away Yard and Garage or Shed Hazards

Before turning the kids loose outdoors, remove fallen tree limbs, large rocks, and broken equipment. Take a look for old nails and board fragments on the porch or a fence that can cause splinters. Put all tools and machinery out of children’s reach. Pest control products like poison or traps should be locked away. Things of value like car cleaning brushes and building supplies should also be kept on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard.

Make the Yard Secure

Many homeowners plant trees, shrubs, or flower beds around the perimeter of their yards to form a natural border. These offer aesthetic appeal as well as practical value. However, they may not be able to keep stray animals or the neighbors’ pets out of your yard where they can intimidate or potentially harm your children. Contact fence contractors for information and ideas about the best kind of fencing for your property, such as chain link fencing, wooden barriers, or other styles that will keep your kids safe.

Check for Hidden Dangers

Many well-manicured lawns look beautiful to the eye but harbor hidden risks that may harm your children when they play outside in the grass. Look for evidence of rodents, rabbits, or gophers and moles in your yard, all of which can dig holes that cause kids to trip and fall. Ground surface tree roots and low-hanging branches present other dangers for kids who are not watching where they are going during the excitement of a game. Insect nests are lethal to kids who are allergic to being stung, so inspect trees in your yard for large wasp or hornet nests. Some insects burrow into the ground along with garter snakes.

Keep Insect Repellent Handy

Due to the possibility of the aforementioned insects, keep a can of spray ready in case a nest is spotted. If a feral animal approaches in a menacing way, children should keep away from the creatures and if threatened, possibly use the spray against them.

Taking a few thoughtful precautions will keep your lawn safe for the kids all summer long. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when children are involved.

By Lizzie Weakley

Lizzie is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.