When your children turn 3 or 4 years old it is time to provide them a little playground of their own. The backyard is the best place that can be used for the same. Whatever may be the size of your backyard, big or small, you can turn it into a very beautiful and exciting play area where your children can be themselves.

Keep your backyard open and do not fill it with too many elements. Open space allows the kids to play a variety of games, without any space constraints. A flat grassy area can improve the look of the backyard, and so you can install a synthetic lawn. Fencing the backyard is necessary to ensure safety of your child. After implementing the landscaping and fencing ideas, it is time to add some real play area ideas.Ideas to Design a Backyard for KidsPlayhouseIf you've been planning to turn your backyard into one interesting place for your kids to play in, then a playhouse is something you should definitely consider. What's more, there are numerous options when it comes to designing a cute little house where your kids can sit together and play for hours on end.Depending on the size of your backyard and your budget, you can either go for ready-made models resembling a miniature fort, or make one yourself using wood, or even fencing posts. Just make sure you add a window on each wall of the house, and a door at the entrance. Paint it in vibrant colors and see your kid's eyes light up with joy!Sand BoxRemember those childhood days when you used to have fun building beautiful sand castles on the beach? Now imagine your kids having such fun time right in the backyard! Well, all you need to do is get a sand box, fill it with sufficient quantity of sand, and voila! Your miniature beach is ready!Now, throw in a few shovels and sand buckets in vibrant colors, or a few beach-themed decorations to add to the "feel". You can even hide small toys or chocolates in the sand for a fun game of treasure hunt. However, don't forget to keep it covered if you don't want to find stray animals sleeping in it! When your kids grow out of it, you can easily convert the sand box into a flower bed.Kiddie PoolA little pool somewhere in the backyard, is something kids will cherish, especially during the summer months. If there's an existing swimming pool in your backyard, you can throw in some floating boards, tubes and floats in cheerful colors to make it look inviting to kids.However, even if you don't have a pool, you can get a small inflatable plastic pool, fill it with water, and place it in a cozy corner of your backyard. Just get some floating toys for your kids to play with, and they'll thank you for a fun-filled summer like never before!Basketball HoopPlaying basketball can be an exciting and challenging activity for kids of all ages, and a basketball hoop is all that you'll need to initiate your little one into this beautiful game. You can begin with a plastic hoop, and then as your kid grows up to be a skilled player, you can move on to a high quality hoop for slam dunk shots.Team sports play a key role in the all-round development of a child, and the afternoons spent playing the game with friends, would help your kid become a better person. What's more, you can bond with your little one on weekends, over a game of basketball. Sounds great, isn't it?Tree HouseA snug tree house tucked behind a canopy of leaves, is the stuff childhood dreams are made of! While you can construct a tree house in any shape or size, what you really need to pay attention to, is the safety aspect.You have many options when it comes to choosing a design for the tree house. You can construct a proper house with windows and a roof in place, or simply design a space with walls around it. And yes, don't forget to provide a safe way to reach the tree top. Your kids can spend lazy afternoons sitting inside the tree house, admiring the beauty of nature. However, seek professional help for building the tree house, instead of trying to do it yourself.SlidesSlides are fun, and more so when they are right in your backyard! Depending on your kid's age, you can go for small portable slides, or install bigger ones, some of which come with swing sets. You can even make one at home using wood, and paint it in fun colors to make it appear pretty.SwingIt's hard to imagine a kids' play area without a swing, isn't it? Well, if you really don't intend to miss out on a swing set when designing a play area for your kids in the backyard, you have a host of options out there! Right from grand swing sets in different shapes, to a humble swing installed on an A-frame, you can choose anything that catches your kids' fancy and suits your budget.Flower GardenIf you are lucky to have a spacious backyard, then you can create a small garden in one corner. We all love and admire flowers, and what makes a flower garden special is that your kid can take the responsibility of taking care of the garden. Choose bright-colored flowers and plants that grow easily. Your kids are sure to jump with joy on seeing their very own garden in full bloom.If you are lucky to have a spacious backyard, then you can create a small garden in one corner. We all love and admire flowers, and what makes a flower garden special is that your kid can take the responsibility of taking care of the garden. Choose bright-colored flowers and plants that grow easily. Your kids are sure to jump with joy on seeing their very own garden in full bloom.SprinklerPlaying for hours in the sun can be exhausting, and a jet of cool water emerging from a sprinkler can provide much-needed relief to the kids playing in your backyard. It is also a known fact that kids love to play with water, and sprinklers installed in different parts of the play area can add to the fun quotient.You can also turn a little creative with the sprinklers and position them in such a way that the water flows over the slides. This will bring the experience of a water park right to your backyard!HammockA hammock in your backyard is a great idea, as it would provide a place for relaxation and unwinding at the end of the day. You can choose to hang a hammock between two sturdy trees, or install poles for the same. Just make sure your hammock is hung in a shady corner of the backyard, so that your kids can spend their afternoons reading a book or playing a guitar while lying on it. You can even spend some quiet time admiring the stars shining bright in a clear evening sky. Get the picture?Backyard Landscaping Tips~A beautiful backyard is incomplete without proper landscaping. Landscaping is not just placing colorful plants at specified places. It's all about positioning of the many structures such that the child is always excited about playing in the backyard and never finds it boring. Here are some tips for the same ...

~Gather the required materials for turning the backyard into an exciting play area. Large cardboard boxes, sand, fake rocks, wooden planks, artificial boulders, etc, make some of the great raw materials to implement backyard landscaping ideas for kids.

~Place some artificial rocks to form a bench-like structure under the shade of a tree. This can be the resting area after a good play time.

~Children love to play inside closed structures. So, you can place some cardboard boxes and make a fort out of it. Use large boxes and mount them to form a fort-like structure with windows and doors. Else you can simply form a tent-like structure with a couple of blankets and strings.

~Place wooden planks to form a bridge as a route to go from one place to another. This can be fun and adventurous for the kids.So, you can see that you can implement plenty of backyard ideas for kids and your children will surely love and enjoy their new play area. All you need to do is, do some research, be innovative, plan properly and design the backyard, keeping in mind the safety of your child.