Summer vacations are going to look a whole lot different for a lot of people this year, for a variety of reasons.
If you’re staying put, there’s no reason not to vacation in your backyard, with these tips from TurfMutt.
• Make a plan , with a mix of activities your family will enjoy, such as dining, camping and games. Add a theme for the week, day or evening. A luau theme can be carried through with costumes, food and activities. A sports theme can have everyone in team jerseys and doing sports activities.
• Map where activities will occur in the yard . A lawn area may be the site of a mini soccer game, bocce ball or croquet, plus double as an overnight camping zone for the kids. A fire pit can be used for roasting hot dogs for lunch or s’mores at night.
• Lounge chairs, sports and play equipment can be used for their original purposes , as well as becoming part of an amazing obstacle course. The wheelbarrow used for gardening and yard work can become part of a family field day. Your kids’ play set can become a breakfast spot or reading area.
• Spruce up your yard. Mow the lawn. Trim the bushes. Tidy overgrown areas. Add flowering plants and rearrange planters for visual appeal. Put delicate flowers in pots. Add a picnic table, a badminton net or croquet course, planters, patio, grill, fire pit or pergola to your backyard.
• Organize for fun. Identify zones for different activities. Dining, lounging and reading in shady spots. Sports, family yard games and tossing a ball to your dog on a lawn that can handle rough and tumble play. Hammocks, lawn chairs, swings, picnic blankets and air mattresses can all provide a place for people to sit down and cool off.
• Include teachings about backyard wildlife and nature. Ask kids to take an inventory of the many birds, butterflies and other wildlife they see, looking up their species and background. Put up a bird feeder or plant a butterfly garden, as well as potted flowering plants to support birds and pollinators.
• Design new games incorporating your green space. Hold a nature scavenger hunt that’s fun, educational and tests your family’s observational skills. Create a “drive-thru” movie theatre by bringing laptops or portable TVs outside.
• Build anticipation. Talk about your backyard vacation in advance with your family and review your plans. Count down the days to build excitement about spending time together in your family yard.
For more information and tips about living landscapes and backyard learning, visit www.TurfMutt.com
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