Thanks to our friends at Waterloo Sparkling Water who can keep the whole family refreshed with ice cold naturally-flavored sparking water, we’ve rounded up some ideas on how to make the most out of your own backyard…

— Grow a garden.
Whether you opt for pots, raised beds, or a straight-in-the-ground operation, Texas is prime real estate for growing gardens full of your favorite plants. From hydrangeas to lavender to that pesky tomato plant you try to grow every year that never actually works, a good way to use your quarantine time is to at least try and keep it all alive. Lots of home improvement stores are open in some capacity for curbside and delivery options, such as The Great Outdoors, Breed&Co., Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

— Have a family campout.
Take a little outdoor vacation by pitching a tent and setting up a miniature campsite in your own backyard. Kids will get a kick out of sleeping outdoors.

— Set up the sprinklers & kiddie pools for water play.
Dust off last year’s kiddie pool and set it up along with whatever various sprinklers you have on hand for a backyard water play day on a warm afternoon. You can also order a kiddie pool online for delivery from such places as Home Depot and Target. Whether you opt for the cheap hardshell or the inflatable fancy version, these will keep the kids busy for hours.

— Identify plants and birds.
With apps like PictureThis and Audubon Bird Guide: North America, take learning quite literally into your own hands by teaching yourself a thing or two about the plants and birds living and visiting your own backyard. If you’re looking for an extra homeschool project, have the kids research and present a little PowerPoint on a plant or bird they discover.

— Bust out the sidewalk chalk.
No sidewalk? No problem. Chalk can be fun for kids on any concrete surface, apartment patio, driveway — even a wooden fence. Leave front yard friendly messages of inspiration for the neighbors passing by or get really creative decorating the backyard with a mix of wild colors and designs.

— Build a fire pit.
If allowed (hey, we’re not the HOA), build a fire pit. Sit around roasting those marshmallows with the kids! A fire pit is a lovely place to spend a Texas evening in Spring. You can DIY with a YouTube fire pit tutorial using bricks, or nab an above-ground, super-safe fire pit from places like Home Depot or Lowe’s.

— Hang a hammock.
Got two trees about 13 feet apart? No, right, how about fences? Tall rails on your balcony? Okay, sweet. Hang a hammock! Make sure the two points of contact are super strong and read the instructions. Don’t have a hammock? You can order one online from places like REI, Whole Earth Provision Co., or Target. Once you’ve got the thing properly set up, hop in for an afternoon read (these Texas Books are a great place to start) or just take a nap and avoid your house chores.

— Go on a backyard nature hunt.
Give the kids a checklist of items that can be found somewhere in your yard and set them off on a hunt. From bugs to rocks, leaves, squirrels, and many other things, you can come up with lots of lists to keep everyone busy outdoors on a fun game.

— Have a picnic.
Spread out a picnic blanket in the yard and pack up your lunch or dinner for a memorable meal al fresco. Teddy bears are always welcome. Check out our list of Family-Style Meals for Curbside Pickup & Delivery if you want to skip the cooking and prepping yourself.

— Set up an obstacle course.
Gather a variety of objects to build your own backyard course. Hula hoops, cardboard boxes, cones, jump ropes, balls, etc. You can make a variety of challenges to climb through, jump over, throw balls through, etc. There are endless possibilities.

— Pop some bubbles.
Seriously who doesn’t love bubbles? Get out your summer stash of bubble wands and solutions, or simply make your own. Click here for steps on how to DIY your bubble solution.

How else are you utilizing your yard space?  Send us a message at [email protected] if you’ve got some fun ideas to share.

Keep cool when playing in the backyard with some delicious, refreshing, Waterloo Sparkling Water. With zero sugar, zero sodium, and zero calories — and a variety of flavors to choose from — Waterloo Sparkling Water is a great option for everyone in the family.