Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Oct 10, 2008 2:39 pm We have a raised backyard and are looking at the possibility of kids in the near future. We are a bit concerned about our backyard and are looking at different options for barriers/guards in the yard.
Can anyone please offer any suggestions as to how we could approach this? We have the aim of sprucing up our garden so would prefer something that wouldn't obstruct our soon to be view much if at all.. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 2Oct 10, 2008 2:58 pm I can just see them flying down that slope on their bikes............
You may also have to check with the council about your spa too - I'm not an expert though so I am not sure what the regs are around this. Sorry I am not being too helpful but kids are very complicated. I have a 2 and a 4yo and the 4yo would not be a problem but the 2yo would be playing superman off that wall in a flash. Putting a barrier or fence at the top would not necessarily stop him, it would just give him something higher to launch himself off or climb up. He is not a naughty kid, just adventurous and not very fearful I think what I would do it plant a wide-ish garden with a low wall around on the top of your wall to create a visual barrier, ban them from the garden(which maybe hard) and then stop them using bikes etc in the back yard. If you put up a wall or visual barrier between the house and the yard it would block your view of the garden which will raise other safety concerns as you won't be able to keep an eye on them when they are outside. I'm sure other people will have some ideas as well, good luck!! Al Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 4Oct 10, 2008 3:48 pm Our last yard was pretty much the same as that and I was a nervous wreck everytime DD was outside!! And this was a fairly timid not quite 2yr old - I could only imagine what my "show no fear" 18mth son would be like now!!
I would have to put some sort of barrier up - I like the idea of a garden bed but then think that I would have to put up some sort of barrier to the ceiling of the pergola - like lattice to stop any temptation of climbing over and through the garden. Not much help am I - too much of a helicopter Mummy I am so our kidlets are always (and I mean always) supervised by at least one person at all times. Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 5Oct 10, 2008 3:51 pm Rachelle Yeah I agree, a low garden bed around the edge would stop them tumbling off but you still wouldn't be able to leave them unattended. By all means , put up a lovely border garden along the retaining wall. But that's as far as I'd go. They will learn pretty quickly what it's all about. I've had 4, doing all sorts of things.. ..........& to this day they still reminisce about clambering onto rooves, climbing up trees, doing crazy things with teheir bikes. They're all in their early 20s, so it wasn't that long ago. So don't get too precious with them, afterall they need to be kids & discover their environment. Also, give them a little bit of credit - kids are smart Sorry about preaching I do get carried away, but I feel strongly that children's lives nowadays are far too santitised for their own good. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 6Oct 10, 2008 4:01 pm Southies - I know what you mean but I took way too long and way too much effort to get my two so they will have to cope with me "hovering" around them. They are however allowed to get as dirty and rough as they want but as I said always supervised - but then again they are only 18mths and 3yo. Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 7Oct 10, 2008 4:20 pm Southies Rachelle Yeah I agree, a low garden bed around the edge would stop them tumbling off but you still wouldn't be able to leave them unattended. By all means , put up a lovely border garden along the retaining wall. But that's as far as I'd go. They will learn pretty quickly what it's all about. I've had 4, doing all sorts of things.. ..........& to this day they still reminisce about clambering onto rooves, climbing up trees, doing crazy things with teheir bikes. They're all in their early 20s, so it wasn't that long ago. So don't get too precious with them, afterall they need to be kids & discover their environment. Also, give them a little bit of credit - kids are smart Sorry about preaching I do get carried away, but I feel strongly that children's lives nowadays are far too santitised for their own good. Great post Southies.... spot on. I have the same memories.... I was/am a big tomboy. Me and my siblings are in our twenties, thirties and forties and still talk about all our stitches and broken bones.... and all the fun we had getting them! I'd put a garden bed as a bit of a buffer if they come flying down the hill, but that's about all I'd do as well. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 8Oct 10, 2008 4:38 pm kyton Southies - I know what you mean but I took way too long and way too much effort to get my two so they will have to cope with me "hovering" around them. They are however allowed to get as dirty and rough as they want but as I said always supervised - but then again they are only 18mths and 3yo. Still a way to go then & yes I understand totally... your especially precious cargo Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 9Oct 10, 2008 6:01 pm Hi mcreidy!
Very good topic - one that I was going to ask about eventually so I'm keeping a keen eye on this to get everybody's ideas! Our drop is over 2 metres high in one corner, tapering down to about 1 metre, so pretty damn scary when you're standing at the top. We have a 6 and 3 yr old (boys - read - mischief!) and newborn. I was thinking about putting something like this in: http://www.arcfences.com.au/arc/garden- ... l/lassiter I have no idea how much this type of fence costs though. You could also set it back just enough to plant some flowers in front of it - I reckon it would look great! Let us know what you end up doing! xMel _____________________ http://marshallmansion.blogspot.com/ Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 10Oct 10, 2008 8:14 pm I'm in Southies corner on this one. I'd go for the garden bed if you wanted something.
I have two boys, with the youngest one being action man. Yes, we've had plenty of cuts, grazes, stitches, casts, but mainly from other things, not the yard. And we've lived in places that have rocky bush backyards. They learn. Judie Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 11Oct 10, 2008 8:40 pm McReidy, to make up for my earlier rant, how about something like this but a short version. Nil maintenance & no toe-holds :
Available from Metalart Industries 03 9464 6880. This product is available in Sydney, so must be available your end, i'm sure. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 12Oct 11, 2008 10:09 am How about a row of hedging? short hedging? Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 13Oct 11, 2008 10:49 am sammy How about a row of hedging? short hedging? The hedging would look much better but what about the constant trimming ? The novelty would soon wear I think ? Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 14Oct 11, 2008 10:57 am I'd prolly go for a second hand pool fence or something like that. Councils usually require spa's to be fenced anyway. ( you could fence the spa too)
Personally I wouldn't plant a hedge or plants, little ones tend to wreck plants and pick flowers. You would have the grass growing into the bed you plant too - more work. The pool fence may not be ideal aesthetically,but sometimes we need to choose whats practical and safe for our kids over looks. At least with a pool fence it is safe and you can still see through it. If you go for a 'new' pool fence, you can get some pretty funky styles these day. Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 15Oct 11, 2008 11:11 am My backyard is almost identical ! Sloping terrain, low retaining wall - and small kids.
We planted a low garden bed to create the visual barrier, but that's not effective when kids will naturally - inevitably - ride their bikes and trikes etc down the slope. And when they're learning to ride their grasp on how brakes work, and when they should be applied, can be a bit off. So you need a barrier which stops vehicles. We've used large sleepers - about 12cm high on the edge. This way the view isn't obscured from the house, the garden bed has an edge, and yet it is big enough to prevent small vehicles rolling over the edge. And so far it has stopped a couple of potentially nasty accidents. I strongly recommend something more than just a visual barrier. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 16Oct 12, 2008 1:55 pm we've just build a similiar retaining wall in our back garden but don't have the slope that you do (I've attached a picture so you can see)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We have small children. One is 3 years and the other 4 months old. I wouldn't do anything at all. You've got a lovely yard, and (in my opinion) anything, other than a garden bed, would look ugly. Our three year old hasn't fallen off our wall yet, she always uses the stairs. We figure if she does fall off, she'll only do it once! You can't wrap your children in cotton wool, sometimes they just have to be careful. We are loving living in our new home ! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... &start=315 Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 17Oct 12, 2008 5:02 pm I think there's two very crucial differences:
1) Your yard is much smaller - not much room for a "run off" 2) Your yard has virtually no slope - there's no natural "roll down the hill gathering speed" effect Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 18Oct 12, 2008 5:26 pm I think a low garden bed would look great along your wall ... although don't know if you should trust the opinions of compulsive gardeners!
On a more serious note - I would child-proof your spa if there are any small children that even visit your house. Re: Safety Bariers in Backyard for kids - ideas please 19Oct 12, 2008 8:25 pm What about a glass pool fence?
You could see through it, and make the spa safe! I'd put a low garden bed behind it so the kids run into that and not the fence Paula Hi everyone. I am a single mother with little daughter, living in a small tourist town in WA Australia. I am thinking to install security screens to all the doors and… 0 22477 Bathroom renovation will likely include a back-to-corner bath and we’re considering a freestanding tap with hand-held shower such as the picture included. My hesitation… 0 24685 After some ideas on making our patio kid friendly . Currently we have exposed aggregate. The patio faces west and is always in sun even though it has a shade directly… 0 3520 |