5 Reasons Artificial Grass Is Great For Children

There are plenty of benefits to having a lawn made of artificial grass. It saves a lot of money—and helps to preserve the environment—by dramatically reducing water consumption. It will never turn brown or become bleached by the sun. Conversely, it will also never struggle to stay green in a patch of shade. But these are all reasons that adults love artificial grass lawns. Homeowners don’t just have artificial grass installed for the grown-ups in the family; they get artificial grass for children too. Here are five reasons artificial grass is great for children.

1. No Toxins or Pesticides Means a Safer Place to Play

Traditional grass lawns require the use of a lot of chemicals to keep them looking presentable. Herbicides to kill weeds, pesticides to eliminate harmful insects, and fertilizers to keep the grass thriving. All of these chemicals may be great for the grass, but they are decidedly not so good for children (or pets for that matter).

UW Health recommends you avoid letting children play on lawns that are full of toxic chemicals such as pesticides. And while it’s possible to maintain a lawn that doesn’t utilize any of these hazards, it’s also a fact that they are used for a reason. A lawn without fertilizers and pesticides may struggle to thrive.

As children’s bodies are still developing, they are far more vulnerable to these common toxins building up in their bodies and leading to both acute and chronic health conditions. Avoid the problem entirely by making the switch to artificial lawns, which require no fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides at all.

2. They Also Cut Down on Allergies

Grass, as a plant, produces pollen, which many children are highly allergic to. Tiny grains of these pollens are embedded within the grass itself, and to sufferers of allergies, they can cause coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and asthma. Many children who play in grass end up with hives all over their bodies as a result of their allergies. These children may wish to avoid playing in grass entirely as a result, missing out on activities with their friends and family members.

There are certain treatments that can be used for pollen allergies. Antihistamines often work very well but have the common side effect of drowsiness. This means that while they’ll work to reduce the symptoms of allergies, they’ll also reduce the energy needed to go out and enjoy the grass.

Artificial grass avoids the problem entirely, as it of course never produces pollen or any other allergens. As a result, it’s best to install artificial grass for children who would otherwise have to avoid playing on the lawn entirely.

3. It’s a Safer Place to Play

Artificial grass is excellent for active kids who like to play outside since it provides a safer place to do so than a natural grass lawn. Traditional grass will eventually grow to the point of being uneven. No matter how well-maintained your natural grass lawn is, it will eventually start to pose an obstacle as it develops hills and valleys as a result of erosion and other natural processes.

Artificial grass, on the other hand, provides all of the benefits of playing on a traditional lawn, with none of the downsides. It provides a flat surface for children to play on, as well as a built-in cushion to protect from falls. This is a major reason more and more playgrounds are beginning to utilize artificial grass as a safer alternative to natural.

4. It’s Incredibly Durable

Just as it’s important to protect the kids from the lawn, it is also important to protect the lawn from the kids. That is to say, heavy play on a traditional lawn will prove to be devastating for the grass: feet will tear through it, leaving muddy, damaged holes, and kids may even pull or dig the grass out of the ground deliberately, damaging it further.

Artificial grass, unlike the natural equivalent, is incredibly hard to seriously damage. As it is constructed from some of the most durable materials that exist, and it can take a major beating before it requires any repair or replacement. Children will be able to play on it for hours without ever harming a single blade of artificial grass.

Of course, it’s also noteworthy that if the mass does end up becoming damaged, repairs are significantly easier with artificial grass. No seeds are required to replant artificial grass, nor are specific soils with their pH carefully calculated to help artificial grass survive. Instead, repairing a damaged area of an artificial lawn is as simple as contacting the experts at an established company like Sportech. They will be able to install an artificial lawn where it’s needed and maintain it if any damage does occur.

5. It Will Protect Your Home Too

Natural grass has another major downside: it’s dirty. Children who play in natural lawns can become grass-stained and muddy and dirty, and that dirt and mud will eventually find their way into shared living spaces. In other words, children who play in natural grass will track a lot of debris into the house.

Using artificial grass for children means you’ll be confronted with far fewer messes and a great deal less dirt caked into the carpets of your home. While it’s impossible to keep children completely clean—and nor should you, as being dirty is an integral part of childhood—it is possible to dramatically reduce the amount of soil and other contaminants being tracked into your home.

Artificial grass is also extremely easy to clean. This means you can reduce the incidences of mud being brought into the home even further. Leaves, twigs, and other obstructions can be removed with a lightweight rake, while simply spraying with the garden hose can remove most dirt, pollutants, and pollen that can lead to allergies.