A child friendly plot?

[HeyWayne]

After 3 years (I think), my plot seems to be finally taking shape - there's still a way to go, but I'm getting there.

When I took the plot on originally my intention was to be at a stage where I was a reasonably proficient grower and able to manage a productive plot before we had children.

Bean came along a little earlier in my plan than I maybe expected (not that he wasn't planned - but stuff worked quicker than we'd expected) and I've yet to work out how to accommodate him on the occasions he's likely to be there.

I have a small pond - so that's obviously in need of some form of 'guard' to prevent him from falling in (not that I expect to leave him on his own, but you hear how these things can happen in the blink of an eye), and I probably need to be on the lookout for sharp objects, or have somewhere lockable to store them (no sheds allowed).

I was thinking of creating an 'area' for him to play in, but am drawing a blank at the minute.

Anyone else with any ideas/essentials for a child friendly plot?

[Bigmallly]

How about a small sandpit with bucket & spade..........bringing back memories.

[lainey lou]

my children are 11 and 7 and are usually more interested in going to the park around the corner than staying on the plot, but the lady who shares the plot with me has a little 'un and quiet often he's happy pushing around his mini wheelbarrow and pretend lawnmower.
It might be worth you and Lady Wayne going down to the plot one day without bean. Put your Dad head on and not your gardeners head and have a really good look about.

[sarraceniac]

I assume ----no?

[Bigmallly]

Not sure if Bean is quite old enough for any of these Wayne.

Choosing Children's Gardening Tools

[SarzWix]

There's 2 plots on our site where very young (toddler age) kids are very well provided for. On one plot, they have fenced off a section (with low enough fencing that it doesn't look like a prison ) next to the shed, and made a paved seating area and a small lawned area. Along the side of the fence is a narrow bed where they grow flowers. It looks nice.
In the second plot, which is slightly bigger, they also have a small lawned area, and next to it a sand pit (with a fitted cover to keep the cats out) and a Little Tykes climbing frame thingy.
Both plots have edged beds and bark chippings down on the paths, but the first one has also built frames onto most of the beds to put netting over, which also keeps the little 'un from pulling up stuff that is meant to stay in

[tamsin]

How big is your pond? If it's very small then the easiest/safest way is to put a rigid grill over the top big enough for bugs/frogs to fit through but not children. You can get sheets of plastic coated mesh about 3'x2' which would work well with a plank or two for support.

You could make a 'play pen' with four posts and some mesh if he needs containing. Or perhaps some willow hurdles for a less caged look? Have a look for garden toys that don't have metal parts and can be left out all the time, a sandpit (raised bed filled with sand instead of soil) might be good.

For sharp stuff, you could go for high instead or locked, a post with a basket on top that's high enough he can't reach but easy for you to access. Watch out for any chemicals/seeds etc. that are unsafe to eat too.

[HeyWayne]

There's 2 plots on our site where very young (toddler age) kids are very well provided for. On one plot, they have fenced off a section (with low enough fencing that it doesn't look like a prison ) next to the shed, and made a paved seating area and a small lawned area. Along the side of the fence is a narrow bed where they grow flowers. It looks nice.
In the second plot, which is slightly bigger, they also have a small lawned area, and next to it a sand pit (with a fitted cover to keep the cats out) and a Little Tykes climbing frame thingy.
Both plots have edged beds and bark chippings down on the paths, but the first one has also built frames onto most of the beds to put netting over, which also keeps the little 'un from pulling up stuff that is meant to stay in

The first of these two sounds like what I had in mind initially. I was thinking of incorporating my 'arbour/pergola' into it to give a bit of shade in the summer months.

[Flummery]

The lass who shared my first plot has a 3 year old. He's got his own tools and loves to 'help' mum and dad. It's a bit easier if they have their own little bed - especially if you can make it a raised bed and paint the wood in an attractive colour (red, maybe?)

They, when you sow or plant, they can have a bit or seed or a few seedlings for their own plot.

Harry (above mentioned child) comes onto my plot for a chat (and to pinch my biggest worms!). On Sunday I had to hoe out 6 Harry footprints and one Harry bum-print from the bit I'd been digging! He like to get up close and personal with the soil.

He told me he was going with his parents to buy seed potatoes next. He is obviously interested.

Good luck with Bean - he'll be a natural, I just know it!

[organic]

On the sharps front you might want to consider something as simple as a lockable toolbox. Something very lightweight that you get into the habit of using all the time would be good.
Generally I'm inclined towards the "so they get a bit hurt/wet? so what?" attitude, but with things like secateurs a wee bit of prudence around very young'uns could be wise.

It's a bit down the line yet - but if he really takes an interest and starts wanting his own tools there's always the kid's garden tools thing and after that a basic pocket knife if he's so inclined. Opinel make a round ended one especially for kids - I'm not sure I'd bother but if you're concerned about the sharp point it could be the answer. It's down to you to decide what's best and when he's mature enough to learn to use and maintain them properly and safely and I know that's probably quite a way off yet.

In general I think I'd be inclined to suggest you let him call the shots to some extent. Maybe he'll show no interest in the plot and be happy with a sandpit or maybe he'll want to "help". Maybe the space for a sandpit would be better put over to giving him a bed of his own to grow whatever he likes.

I think I'd be inclined to make sure there was nothing that might "take an eye out" like unprotected canes and the likes, but other than that just leave the plot pretty much as-is and let him learn naturally that some things hurt and so shouldn't be done, and some things taste bad so shouldn't be eaten... I'd agree with keeping the seeds away from him though - we all know what happened to the Man from Leeds when he ate a packet.

[Jeanied]

HW the best place to find all sorts of outdoor toys etc that you don't mind leaving out all the time will be freecycle / freegle. Something to amuse him till he 'grows into' his own tools as featured on BM's post.

[Alison]

My friend's 3 year old was down the plot with me last weekend, she was dressed warmly in old clothes that would wash and quite happily spend a few hours sat on a kneeling cushion pulling couch grass / mares tail roots out of the ground that I was forking up for her. She had some toys there but to be honest was happier playing in the muck.

I know she's a bit older than your son but she's been brought up from the start to understand that she's not allowed to touch everything and if she's not responsible enough to understand (due to age etc) then has been supervised rigourously as I'm sure you will do. Take reasonable precautions but he'll probably have the most fun doing things with mummy and daddy rather than having to play on his own when he's more likely to start exploring things that you don't want him to.

[PAULW]

This is what we use on our site.

[smallfrog]

I just wrote a huge reply and then deleted it but it said pretty much what Alison said.

My small persons is 4. Over anyting else in the whole world he wants his mum and dad to do stuff with him.
Muddy Puddles is good for kids out door water proofs but there loads on ebay.

Make sure your not planing to be at it all day with him becuase they tend to get bored and then resent it, let them take the lead.

Give them a bit of mud to dig in sand pits fine but why bother when you've got loads to MUD. Clay soil great as you can make balls and models. (its about the only time its useful) Pots are great for making sand castles and a trowel is as good as a spade.

We take a picnic blanket in the summer with his allotment bag which has pens, paper and cars more often than not in it. Oh and he loves using my camera to capture the action.

Get to know the poisous weeds deadly nightshade ect so you can tell him not to touch same for rhubarb and toadstools. Its better there aware from an early age but don't not grow something because of it.

Theres loads of ideas for getting kids involved i can send them a list just PM me.

[di]

Ash was about Beans age when we got our plot,but for the life of me I can't remember what sort of things he got up to...other than the obvious worm licking and pulling up seedlings
They're both a little older now and although they sometimes like to help more often than not they're doing their own thing.
They have a plastic Little Tykes climbing frame/ship type thing which is their base and it's now 'penned in' by three little beds which are for their growing....that way if they play a little mad and knock into any growing things it'll be their loss!
We also made them a little den to provide them with some shade.They sit in there and colour,draw,play with little toys or just fight!(there's a pic in my profile I think.It's just a solid pallet for the base and then some water pipe hoop things with fabric draped over.
I wanted to make them a living one with beans but decided there'd probably be a few more bees than they'd like.

ps.....we have set aside room to grow stuff too!!!