Outdoor Patio Ideas for Children

If your family spends a lot of time outdoors, you may want to consider arranging the patio with kids furniture, including chairs, a table, umbrella and swings. Earmarking a section on your patio for kids will give children a spot to call their own, which can be especially beneficial when you are entertaining guests. There are several options, including: 1) Buying assembled furniture that is undecorated; 2) Buying an assembled and decorated set; or 3) Choosing a complete do-it-yourself kit. It does not take the hands of a carpenter or artist to do any of the above.

A quick solution to introducing kids furniture to your patio is to visit any discount retailer and purchase an inexpensive complete set, including a table, chair and umbrella. These sets are ideal for toddlers 1 to 3 years old, who may grow out of chairs quickly. Often times these combination packages have plastic furniture pieces that are stackable or foldable, come in bright color schemes and feature personalities including Mickey Mouse and Dora the Explorer. Or, you can purchase assembled pieces a la carte, including wooden Adirondack chairs, tables and swings. Using wooden pieces may compliment your deck or patio look. For the adventurous type, consider building furniture. There are videos, pictures and instruction books to walk you through the process. One kids Adirondack chair in particular has the following dimensions: 25 inches tall, 12 inches wide and 17 inches deep. This size is ideal for growing toddlers 2 to 5 years old. Keep children away from the building process, as you do not want them to get splinters. Be sure the wood is smooth; consider sanding pieces with a sander or sand paper. Consider finishing the wooden chair with polyurethane, a substance that seals wood surfaces. After sanding and building, cover the wooden pieces with primer, which you can paint or spray on. Once the furniture dries, the designing begins. Purchase acrylic paints and stencils at any craft store. Let your kids pick out the design so they feel they are part of the project. You may even let them help you paint.