I always say when you have toddlers your house (or, yard ) ends up looking like a plastic factory exploded there. The toddlers won’t be “toddlers” that long, as long as theyre playing & having fun that’s what is important. You don’t say what your budget or location is so impossible to make suggestions. It does appear that you need a patio or? for enjoying & watching over the children, maybe a table /chairs with an umbrella?

Do you need to set aside space for a pool?

I'd put some shrubs or trees in the corners. I might do a sitting area, although you might have one around your grill. You appear to have a lot of big, plastic toys and some other them appear to be repeats --- several houses, several slides. Your kids will outgrow them soon, so maybe you wait until they do so.

I have one suggestion that will not cost a dime. Young age kids like to help. Start a small garden plot, or several flower beds. Teach them to plant thing, and let them see their handy work.

Put in a couple of bird feeders and Bird baths and teach the kids about the bird and Bees. (The ones in the garden and flower beds ;-) Concentrate on kid proof plants and flowers that will attract the birds. A tree or two will provide protection. Before you know it you will have all kinds of birds and butterflies in your garden for you and the kids to enjoy.

With small children don't plan a formal garden, let the kids help plant every thing and explain why you are planting it and how it will bring in the wild life.

There are now a plethora of books about gardening with children. When my daughters were young a long time ago, I had a book called Sunflower Houses by Sharon Lovejoy. May be out of print now. It had charming ideas to encourage kids in the garden. We did scarlet runner bean tee pees, a patchwork quilt garden, a sundial garden and others. And their love of gardening stuck with my daughters to this day!

A lawn with perimeter plants and shrubs is classic. Some bushes taller than the fence will soften the look of the rooflines.

For the bare patches in the lawn get some temporary roll fencing to block off and reseed different areas over time. Let the new grass get long and thick before its first mowing.

There are many different looks for plantings:

Honestly, I love your garden ornamentation now. ;-) . Time passses so quickly and these are years to treasure, says this grandmother who has been enjoying toddlers for the second time recently. Let your trees grow and maybe add another Then, when the children are older (7+?), they will be thrilled to help plant with you. My oldest granddaughter is now 7 and has been helping me since she was three. She loves pruning dead branches now-with close oversight.