3 Things You Should Do Before Turning Your Toddler Loose In Your Backyard
If you're like most new parents, you're looking forward to raising your family in a nice home with a yard where your little ones can play. You undoubtedly envision an expanse of velvety green grass where the family can enjoy lawn games as well as a separate area with a swing set and other play equipment designed to delight little hearts. However, backyards can also serve as danger zones when it comes to young children, particularly when they're toddlers. Toddlers are famous for getting into everything, and their boundless curiosity about the world around them often puts them in precarious positions. Fortunately, parents can do a lot to help ensure the safety of their toddlers when the children are in the backyard — and even though a toddler should never be left alone in the backyard, it only takes an instant for something to go wrong.
Following are three things you should do before introducing your toddler to the wonderful world of your own backyard.
Check for Old Wells
If you've moved into an older home on a rural property, there's a possibility that there's an old, abandoned well somewhere in the backyard. Look for old pipes sticking out of the ground as well as depressions on the surface. Old wells are also sometimes found in new homes that were built on what used to be farm property, but this is usually discovered at some point during the building process.
Remove All Poisonous Plants
Toddlers are infamous for putting anything they can get their hands on into their mouths, so make sure that your landscaping is free of poisonous plants. Common plants that are toxic to humans include oleander, azalea, hosta, castor bean, barberry, and certain types of lilies. If you're having trouble identifying some of the plants in your yard, your local landscaping professional can do this for you.
Cultivate an Open Landscape
An open landscape design makes it much easier to keep an eye on busy, active toddlers. Allow plenty of space between trees and shrubbery, and use lots of specimen plants as opposed to mass plantings. Ideally, you should be able to see your child from every angle in your yard. As an added benefit, this type of design concept reduces the risk of rodents and other types of wildlife setting up housekeeping in your backyard. Ask your local landscaping contractor for assistance designing the ideal backyard landscaping for you and your family.
