With all the extra time at home during the past few months, it’s no surprise that we’ve been spending a lot of time in the backyard. Fortunately, our family has found several simple ways to savor these days with our kids and make the most of the time together.
1. If unicorns are all the rage at your house, like at mine, this five-foot inflatable unicorn sprinkler will not disappoint.
From the moment I saw it, I knew it was perfect for our unicorn-obsessed 10-year-old. Part water toy and part BFF, “Sprinkles” has many uses that go well beyond your average backyard sprinkler that make it worth the money. For example, this magical creature is tall enough to serve as a shade tent for little ones. Our daughter uses it as a shelter for picnic lunches with her friends. It has also made a few appearances inside the house since its over-sized height makes it the perfect size to stand next to the couch while the kids watch t.v. Oh, and, yes, it is also a pretty fantastic sprinkler when it’s hooked up to the hose. In addition to running through the mist to cool off, our kids use the shower of water that sprays from the horn to give their slip-n-slide an added boost. It would also pair well with an inflatable pool to create a magical mist while you relax on a raft.
2. A gift from my husband, this hand-blown hummingbird feeder has added a beautiful pop of color to our yard while attracting sweet little visitors.
We paired ours with hummingbird nectar that we made from a concentrate, but there are also several recipes online that you can make at home. We saw our first visitor within a week of setting up the feeder and have had regular hummingbird sightings ever since. In addition to hummingbirds, our yard is home to cardinals nesting in our bamboo patch and baby robins who are getting ready to leave their nest. Relaxing on the patio and watching the various types of birds that frequent our backyard has brought such a simple joy to our family and given us an opportunity to savor quality time together.
3. Another simple joy that our family has collaborated on in the backyard is a garden.
We planted a variety of deliciousness from seeds, including cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, okra, and spicy jalapeños. The kids particularly enjoyed watching tiny sprouts break through the soil and grow out of their original starter containers. It has been such a fun way to spend time together, teach our kids about how food grows, and show them the responsibilities that come along with taking care of a garden.
Since we’re gardening rookies, we reached out to friends for some tried-and-true recommendations. This Organic EarthBox came highly recommended for our zucchini and peppers, and is perfect for our patio. We were also tipped off to using a harvesting basket that doubles as a colander to easily gather and rinse the veggies in one easy step. Finally, if you have little helpers, check out these super cute gardening gloves and kid-sized gardening tools that are too adorable to resist. Fingers crossed – with any luck we’ll be enjoying the fruits of our labor pretty soon!
If you are getting a late start on a small garden, don’t give up! Try local nurseries or farmer’s markets for vegetable plants that have already begun to mature or ask about crops that do well in your region in late summer and early fall. You might be able to try your hand at greens, root vegetables, and potatoes.
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