*This is a guest post*

Building a playground in your own backyard can give your children lifelong memories, cultivate their imaginations, and instill healthy habits of play and fitness. Read on for some key tips on how to design the ultimate kid’s playground.

Consult the Kids

Once you’ve decided to build a playground on your property, do some initial research to determine what elements you can include given your budget and space constraints. Once you have a few options to choose from, start talking with your children about what they’d like to see in their playground. There’s no point in spending time and money building a playground that your kids won’t enjoy, so involve them in the planning and designing process. Playgrounds can be great spaces for kids to forge friendships and creatively collaborate, so encourage them to think about what types of playground equipment would be most fun to play on with friends and neighbors. Once your children are excited about the playground, it’s time to start planning with their fun, and safety, in mind.

Creative Spaces

As you begin to design your playground, think beyond the typical swing and slide set-up. Playgrounds can be a great place for children to explore and imagine, so try to incorporate some elements that allow for that. A sandbox is great start, but you can take it further by providing buried treasures and fun tools for the kids, like shovels and archaeologists brushes for them to indulge their paleontologist dreams. Other fun additions include tunnels or talk tubes, so kids can play hide and seek and send secret messages across the playground.

Durability

More practically, it’s important to build your playground out of durable materials. Wood may seem like your best bet, but be sure that it is properly treated to withstand the elements to avoid termite infestation or water damage. Wood can be cost-effective, especially when it comes to repairs since typically you can swap out the damaged boards without having to replace a whole section of the structure. Steel is quite durable, but can be too hot or slippery in very hot or wet weather. Generally speaking, synthetic materials are more expensive, but typically last a long time and are resistant to rust and water damage.

Safety

Of course the most important consideration when designing a playground is safety. Consider the areas where kids may be most prone to fall, and reinforce them accordingly. Most slides come equipped with safety bars or fencing at the top, and you can also install springy surfaces made from recycled rubber in order to cushion stumbles and tumbles. The greatest injury prevention comes from adequate adult supervision on the playground, so be sure to give plenty of space for you to watch out for smaller kids on the equipment.

Building a playground is a great way for kids to get exercise, be creative, and enjoy the outdoors. No matter what equipment you choose, your kids are sure to have a blast, and they might even let you take a turn on the monkey bars.

Written by Lachlan Gadd
Lachlan is a proud dad of three boys and runs a construction business in Queensland, Australia. He regularly uses MetroSteel for his steel supplies. When Lachlan isn’t working he spends lots of time in his home workshop doing DIY kids furniture.

*This is a guest post*

Female cyclists are getting serious about the sport. Since Melbourne has some of the best cycling trails, the sport is becoming more popular. It is a great way to view the beautiful scenery and also to get some exercise. Many women ride together for camaraderie.

For the most comfortable ride, the top three road bikes for female cyclists will be evaluated. Based upon the evaluations, women can choose the best bike based upon how it will be used. Consider these three bikes before embarking on a cycling journey in Australia.

1. Road Bike to Ride Around Town

If the bike is used to simply run errands or visit friends, the Trek Allant WSD is an affordable option to consider. This bike is recommended for flat streets and good weather. This particular bike has an aluminum frame and is a 7-speed Shimano trigger gearing. The 700c wheels make the bike fast, comfortable and lightweight. The bike retails at $569.99.

2. A Commuter Road Bike to Ride Around Town

If the bike will be used to commute to work, the Specialized Sirrus Women’s road bike is a good choice. This bike is made of aluminum and is reliable, fast and durable. Even with these attributes, it is lighter than most bikes in its class. The bike is flexible enough to maneuver through congested traffic even in inclement weather. This option is a hybrid between a road bike and mountain bike and can be used for commuting or cross country. This hybrid gives the bike more flexibility and stability. The seating is more forward, and it features a flat bar and an 8-speed drive-train.

3. Road Bike for The Aspiring Athlete

Serious athletes want a bike with ultimate performance. This is why Terry bikes are recommended for women athletes. Experts recommend the durable aluminum alloy road bike for an everyday road bike around town. There are numerous options, but the Terry Symmetry is one of the best valued road bikes available. Terry Symmetry is a mid-range performance level road bike with an aluminum frame and a carbon frame. The bike also features a 9-speed drive-train and can be purchased with a flat bar or a drop-bar configuration. This bike’s price starts at $1,069 MSRP.

Top Three Bikes Made for Female Cyclists

These three bikes are some of the best bikes made for female cyclists in an affordable price range. Women should evaluate all of their options to identify the best bikes available. These three bikes are comfortable, flexible, and fast. Choose the bikes that best match the needs of the cyclist. Most women will be pleased with any one of these three bikes.

Written by Kelly Holmes

Kelly prides herself as an active mum of three boys. Kelly has recently purchased mountain bikes from Merida in Adelaide for her boys who love cycling.

*This is a guest post*

Recreation and studies are, arguably, the two most important parts of a child’s life. While studies allow the child to learn and grow, preparing them for the future, recreation allows them to exercise their imagination, have fun and enjoy their childhood. While recreation is certainly important for kids, having an area where they can concentrate on schoolwork and give it their full attention is important. For some academically minded kids, anywhere they happen to sit down with a book will be a suitable place for them to do their work and do it well- however, for others, distractions are a real problem which much be dealt with. For children who are easily distracted, a separate room for studies is a productive idea.

What Are The Benefits Of A Dedicated Study Room?

When a child is easily distracted and unable to focus on their studies, external stimulus can be one of the biggest issues to conquer. The mere sight of toys, video games and other activities that are more fun and interesting to the child than doing their homework can be enough of a distraction to completely derail them from the task at hand. In these situations, having a separate room where the child can study quietly and focus on their work can help them to better absorb the information they are learning, contributing to better classroom performance. Helping children to learn to focus by providing a quiet environment can also give them the coping skills necessary to focus more thoroughly in a classroom environment.

How Should A Dedicated Study Room Be Set Up?

Setting up a dedicated study room for a child does not need to be boring or tedious. In fact, letting the child pick out some decorations and accessories for their study room can make the process more engaging. If the child feels that doing their work in the study room is a punishment, they will not enjoy it- however, if they have input regarding the room, they are more likely to embrace the idea. A desk with pens, pencils, erasers and loose leaf paper is an important feature, as is a desk lamp. A bookshelf for school books, research information and other important literature will prevent books being lost or forgotten. An organizer for papers and other items that the child needs to keep track of will help to encourage organisation. A calendar that has important school related dates on it will help to remind the child of upcoming assignments.
If you are running out of storage space, consider buying a bunk bed with desk. This way your kid can use the bunk bed as a day bed for a retreat during the day, and the desk for storing school books and toys.

One fun addition that can be motivating is the use of a chart to reward the child for completed homework, good grades and good school behavior. If the child focuses on homework, behaves in school and gets good grades, they can earn stickers. When a certain number of stickers are earned, the child can be rewarded with a special treat, such as a trip to the zoo, a sleepover or another activity they enjoy. By using a system like this, a study room becomes a motivational tool rather than a chore.

Do you think kids should have separate study rooms and bedrooms? 

Written by Kylie Ward
Kylie is a proud mum of four boys and loves DIY home improvement. Living in a small inner city apartment, she prides herself for coming up with smart space saving solutions for her home.