I guess I would start with grass seed before all the weeds take residence in your yard. Bermuda is tough and drought resistant

Amazon is right about Bermuda being tough and drought resistant. It would also be kid and pet friendly but it does have a dark side. It is extremely invasive which is okay if you don't mind it taking over your back yard, it is hard to get rid of if you later decide you don't want it, and it does go dormant in the winter. Just look before you leap with Bermuda.

You didn't mention what part of Nevada you live in. I live in Las Vegas but conditions are so different in the Northern part of the state that plant selections would be very different. You sound like you want shade and of course there are shade structures available all over or great shade trees wherever you live.

I think to get good help here you are going to need to be more specific. Do you want a lawn for the kids or would you rather have gravel or mulch for a ground cover. Do you want a tree for shade or would you rather have an arbor. Only you can answer those questions.

Good Luck, Maria

I'm in a completely different climate than you, but I do have kids. ;) How old are yours? What do they enjoy? Sports, gardening, digging, climbing, lounging...

One of my kids' (2 yo & 5 yo) favorites is our sandbox. We don't have a swingset or pool, however. They also like helping with my garden, but mainly playing and admiring the flowers, lol. Another nice thing is a shady spot to sit and watch them play. I'm assuming in Nevada, shade is even more important than here!

Also, do they have or want a flat surface for playing ball or riding bikes? Tho, that would tend to reflect heat, too.

Just throwing out ideas...

When my children where little I had a sandpit, which had a cover on it. That was great for little ones.

Later on we got into growing food plants, that was wonderful for young school kiddies.

I have had a trampoline, which is good for when they have friends over, when they are a bit older, and can be trusted. They all go out and sit on that and leave the house intact.

Now, my son is 14, and he has a bike area, and a small basketball area with a hoop. Thats also good for when he has friends over.

Grass is a good place for you to start.

When my daughter was little, baby to todler, we spent most days in the garden, sitting on the grass, looking at flowers, leaves, making things out of them, gazing at the sky.

Think laterally, and you will come up with some good ideas, good on you, for wanting to improve your garden for your children, its a wonderful idea.

Popi