When the summer months come around, one of the things everyone looks for is a way to get the kids out of the house. Prying your family away from screens when the sun is shining and the backyard is open for business can be a chore. But with the promise of some wet and wild excitement, you can get them off the couch and outside. If you don’t have a pool, don’t worry, because there are plenty of ways to use water to create some summer fun and some great memories.   

In this article, we will give you some ideas on how to create your own backyard water park that can keep the kids entertained all summer. By using some of these ideas, you can keep everyone out of the house and enjoying themselves while getting some good use out of your backyard. You can even get the dog in on it!  

The number one thing you want to consider with a backyard water park is safety. First, make sure there are no objects or uneven spots on the lawn that the kids can trip over or hit their head-on. If you’re going to set up a slip and slide, be sure to keep it as far away from the fence as possible, and always make sure you’re supervising the kids when they’re playing. Nothing ruins a fun day in the backyard like an injury.   

There are so many water activities you can set up for your backyard water park. Slip and slides, water guns, and balloon-filling areas are excellent additions that are sure to keep the kids entertained all afternoon. However, instead of throwing everything out on the lawn and telling them to go for it, set up stations and plan out which activities will happen at each one. Kids respond well to structure and some rules. This will also give your backyard water park a more official feel.   

While it’s always great for the kids to go out and get some exercise, have a place for them to rest as well. A shady spot with comfortable places to rest and lots of drinking water is an important part of making sure that no one gets overheated from the excitement.   

Summer is all about getting together with friends. To make your backyard waterpark even more fun invite some of the neighbor kids over and get them involved as well. This will make it more likely that your kids consistently use the backyard water park. You might even get a break from supervising if other parents come over to help, too.   

Dogs love playing in the water just as much as kids do. Set up a rotating sprinkler head for the dog to play in and invite some of the neighbor dogs over to play along with the kids. Just like you did for the humans, make sure there is a shady spot for the dogs to relax in and get some water. They can get overwhelmed and overheated, too.   

One of the most important things you can do with your backyard water park is cover it up or clear any standing water when the kids are done for the day. Mosquitoes and other pests love to lay eggs in still water. If you leave standing water in your yard, your backyard water park could end up being a perfect habitat for them. At the end of the day, you could even get everyone to play a game of puddle hunt to make sure everything has been cleared before coming inside for the evening.   

If the kids are too tired to play another game after a full day at your backyard park, make sure you address any standing water. Use a broom to disperse any water that may have accumulated in certain areas of the backyard and cover any other water that you plan to use again the following day, like a small pool.   

While the puddle hunt game and other methods are a great way to clear out any standing water and help eliminate mosquitoes, to make the outdoors fun again,   call the professionals at 247 Local Pest Control. Our experienced technicians will get your backyard ready for summer fun by getting rid of potential breeding grounds for pests like mosquitoes, spiders, ticks, and fleas. Creating a backyard waterpark can lead to a lot of fun and some great memories for you and your kids.