Garage as extra play area

[Anonymous]

We’re moving to a new area and want to use half of our 2-car garage as an added play area. What types of toys, activities, etc. would you keep here for a 7 year old? We’ve never had a garage, or outdoor space, so we’re new to outdoor toys that would be a hit. We still don’t have a yard, but have a parking pad that can be used to play on.

[Anonymous]

If you had a toddler, garage space would make more sense. You want to put messy things there like a small sand or rice table.

7 is old. Probably not going to play house or ride small ride-ons. So I'd go with a craft table, woodshop supplies, and maybe an area to make structures out of big cardboard boxes. Those creativity supplies will do o.k. in a garage and save other areas of the house from messy projects.

[Anonymous]

If you don't have a backyard worth playing in, you could keep a low, wooden balance beam in there. Only a few inches off the floor for safety reasons. Maybe a plastic bowling set, dartboard, or other mildly sporty type playset.

[Anonymous]

Nerf weapons. Sport equipment like a goal and hockey pucks or balls. Maybe stuff like chalk. Im not really sure how much use you will get without a yard tho.

[Anonymous]

Art easel

[Anonymous]

They make foldable soccer nets so it can be easily put away.
Bowling ball set is a great suggestion.
DS has a set of Velcro vests and you throw balls at each other that catch on the Velcro

[Anonymous]

We have a Ping pong and foosball table in our two car garage. We don’t put our cars in it since there’s more convenient street parking and it doesn’t snow in my area.

[Anonymous]

If you can put down rubber flooring as a base layer, it would be fun to turn it into a small gymnastics or ninja area. That depends on how dangerous your kids are with that kind of stuff. I live in a rainy climate and a lot of my child's friends have a setup with rings, a gymnastics bar, an air track, etc.

My sibling lives in Alaska and they set up punching bags and tackle dummies for their very, very exuberant boys.

[Anonymous]

If possible find a way to secure ninja course bands ….one lower for balancing and one higher to grab on to hanging obstacles. Loads of fun for a 7 year old and their friends.

[Anonymous]

Climbing wall

[Anonymous]

Roller skating!

[Anonymous]

You really don’t need an elaborate setup. Whatever you kid like to play with. My neighbors do this and they have 3 boys 3rd grade and under. They mainly play basketball, ride bikes, play flag football (they have a small grass area). They do chalk and water guns in the summer. We live in AZ so they are outside every day during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Don’t turn your garage into any thing else. You’ll have all your trash and crap outside.

[Anonymous]

We put a cheap kitchen counter with drawers from Home Depot and made it an art station and put a peg board over it for art supplies. Will convert it to a tool counter when they get older.