How to Turn Your Backyard into a Mini Water Park

Water toys for kids’ backyard fun

Are you looking for creative ideas to have some water-based fun with the entire family in the comfort of your garden? Create the ultimate outdoor experience with water toys that turn your backyard into a mini water park. Ranging from kiddie pools and water slides to water guns and sprinklers, there is a broad variety of kids' water toys to suit your specific needs. Many of these toys are great options as they are portable and inflatable. Learn all you need to know before buying water toys for kids.

Reasons to install a water playground for your kids

With the increased use of entertainment gadgets for children, it's important to limit screen time and to encourage outdoor activities. Limited screen time helps prevent health problems related to physical inactivity and encourages imagination and energy release. Playing outdoors gives your children the opportunity to appreciate nature during their leisure activities. A mini water park in the backyard offers motor skill building activities such as swimming, climbing and running, which all help to improve overall health and wellness. Most activities involve family and friends, so garden water parks provide an opportunity for kids to shape their social skills.

Considerations before buying kids' water toys

Here are some factors to consider before purchasing toys for your kids to use in the pool or with water sprinklers.

Space in your yard

How big is your yard? The amount of space you have determines what toys will fit comfortably in the space. Are inflatable pools worth it? If you don't have a swimming pool, an above-ground kid's pool can help your children cool down in the summer heat while splashing around. Consider your backyard's landscape before installing any water toy to avoid damage to grass or bushes, and to offer easy access to the kids. Place your kiddie pool in locations that have long hours of exposure to sunlight to keep the water naturally warm.

Shape and size

Since kids' outdoor play equipment comes in different shapes and sizes, remember to choose pool equipment that complements your backyard layout. Get the correct measurements of your space to ensure that your play pool fits well. Choose from varying depths of kiddie pools based on your children's height and age. Make sure you determine whether the pool is deep enough for your kids to play safely. Remember that small kids can drown in just a few inches of water. Pool size and depth also correlate to the volume of water you'll need to fill the pool.

Build material

Choosing inflatable pools and toys with suitable materials ensures durability. Many of the backyard pool varieties have one or two layers of PVC and rubber. Standard pools have rigid walls that can withstand kids' play. Cushioned flooring is fundamental to absorb the shocks that come with activities like swimming and diving.

When buying a pool or slide, look for models with ample cushioning material against hard ground or concrete. Soft inflatable flooring enhances comfort for young occupants. Also, pay close attention to the stitching quality. The tougher the build material, the more water weight your inflatable pool can handle.

Inflation method

Some inflatable toys come with a foot pump or an electrical pump, while others require you to purchase a pump separately. Foot pumps are compatible with many of the inflatable pools and water slides on the market today. However, electric models provide rapid inflation and save time to allow use with larger inflatables. A good pump eases the installation and deployment of water pools in designated spaces.

Ease of installation and maintenance

Water toys for kids need to be simple to assemble, deploy and maintain. Many inflatable pools and play equipment assemble with ease using minimal tools and effort. Since they are often compact, kiddie pools set up quickly. Many come with drain plugs at the bottom for fast emptying during routine cleaning. In case of any tears or leaks, just repair your inflatable with a patch kit and you're good to go.

Have plenty of pool toys and floats available

A mini water park in your backyard isn't complete without a selection of pool floats and toys. Floats are great for relaxing and are available in a wide selection of styles and sizes. Toys like water slides and sprinklers are great fun for all ages and increase physical activity.

A splash pond water table with buckets, spinning wheels and squirt toys keeps your little ones active on hot days. Add some competitive edge to playtime with kiddie pool activities such as water balloon dodgeball.

Ensure everyone stays safe

Safety is always a concern when children play around water, so adult supervision is necessary. Join in the fun activities and enjoy interacting with the kids while they play. You can also opt to sit in the shade while sipping on a cool drink as you watch the children having fun.

Now that you know what to look out for when transforming your backyard into an oasis of watery fun, make sure there's some patio furniture nearby, such as lawn chairs so adults can supervise in comfort.