Many parents feel that their children do not spend enough time outdoors, leading to vitamin D deficiencies, sensitivity to light, and even obesity. While it is not possible to drag your child outside and force them to play, you can get them interested in the outdoors by making your yard landscaped for the whole family. If you're not interested in installing a playset with swings or a slide and want your yard to look great, consider some of the following landscaping projects.

Put Together a Homemade Sand Box

Depending on the age of your kids, they might love the addition of a sandbox. Although plastic store-bought sandboxes can work fine, a homemade sandbox can be designed to fit the style of your yard and allows for plenty of creativity in sizes and shapes. When beginning the planning process of your sandbox, consider the following ideas:

• Design the sandbox with wide sides for seating
• Keep it covered to prevent damage from rain, wind, or snow
• Include a plastic container for storing shovels and building molds

Grow a Child-friendly Garden

Another way to encourage your children to spend time outdoors, while providing them with a way to get healthy, is by growing a garden together. Many parents feel that their children cannot garden due to the sensitivity of some plants and the amount of patience needed, but with the right choice of vegetables and supervision, your children will enjoy watching seeds turn into delicious treats.

In order for the garden to grow well and entice your kids to eat healthier, consider some of the following vegetables:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Pumpkins
• Snap peas

By choosing vegetables that are easy to grow and don't take along a lot of time, your children will begin to see how rewarding gardening can be on their own.

Design Their Own Fairy Garden or Secret Hideaway

A creative alternative to a playset is a tucked away area of your yard that can be used for a fairy garden or secret hideaway. To design a fairy garden, all you're limited by is your imagination. Try hanging strings lights on branches, placing colorful stones and glass orbs, and creating a seating area. For a secret hideaway, you have a lot of options, including a pirate cove or a medieval moat. Keep your kids interest in mind when designing a private area for them to enjoy in your yard.

With the various ways that you can spruce up your backyard, you'll be able to add to the value of your home, while encouraging your children to spend more time outdoors. For more information, contact companies like Creative Landscape Designs.