Children at Play!

Fun Fountain Ideas for Your Child's Play Area

Memorial Day has come and gone, and summer has definitely arrived - long, hot, sunny days are beckoning us out of our homes and into the backyard for some outdoor fun. The kids are out of school, and can't wait to get out and have a good time with their friends. A cool play area in the backyard is the perfect solution for safe, fun outdoor activities - and it wouldn't be complete without a water feature! Add a water fountain to your child's play area to create a fun atmosphere that kids all over the neighborhood will want to come over and enjoy.

Whether it's just for decoration, or something that they can play in, kids are drawn to water features. Here are some great fountains that can be enjoyed by children of all ages:

Moon & Clouds Garden Sculpture Sprinkler - This fun work of art can just be connected to any standard garden hose, and it's ready to work its magic. Once the water starts running through the sculpture, it starts to twirl around, flinging streams of water far and wide in a beautiful pattern. Kids will love it, and your lawn will get watered at the same time.

Brass Baron Pond Spitters - You'll have the coolest swimming pool on the block with one of these beautiful pond and pool 'spitters'. These fountains can be placed in or beside your pool, streaming water from the top to create both a stunning focal point for your backyard and a fun place to play. The Double Dolphin Pond Spitter is great for those who want to splurge - the large size is 60" high! Or, you could create a fun little scene with some rocks, plants, and a few of the smaller spitters, such as the 'Crazy Frog' pictured, the 'Hippo Head', or the Goldfish Pair.

Butterfly Dripper Fountain - If you don't want your kids getting wet from a fountain and would prefer just to use it as an accent, the Butterfly Dripper Fountain is a great choice. It's extremely easy to install - just place the pump in a bowl of water, birdbath, pond, or any other watertight container and sit the fountain inside. Water streams down from the butterfly, providing the wonderful sound of flowing water and a whimsical look for any outdoor space.

Keep in mind a few safety tips when kids are playing with water fountains:

• Make sure the children are being supervised by an adult at all times.
• With an outdoor fountain that is being used in such a way that the children can play in the water, the water should be replaced often.
• Swimming pools are a great place to use pond spitters - they create the fun water spray that kids love to run through, and the water is chlorinated. Just make sure the fountain can't be toppled over by kids running. You can contact a local contractor or handy man for help with securing a loose fountain.

For more information on kids and fountains, check out Fountains in Kids' Rooms.