ᐅ Flooring for Garden Ground – Alternative to “Artificial Grass”?

Hello,
we plan to install about 1m x 4m (3 ft x 13 ft) of flooring close to our house wall in the garden (uncovered outdoor area). The adjacent garden has grass, while the 1m x 4m (3 ft x 13 ft) area currently consists only of some sand/topsoil. We want to place children’s play items on the flooring eventually (plastic playhouse, sandbox, etc.).

I was thinking about artificial grass carpet or protective mats used in construction. However, the artificial grass looks somewhat messy and unattractive. Protective mats are probably too hard for small children’s feet (1 year old).

Do you have any ideas for low-maintenance, weatherproof/waterproof coverings that could be installed with little effort?

Lay safety mats around the toys.
Outdoor carpet

Why not just grass?

haydee schrieb:

Impact protection mats ...

Impact protection mats are great. They are also available specifically for outdoor use and come in various shades of green.

MaxMustaman92 schrieb:

Protective building mats are probably too hard for small children's feet (1 year).

Children are capable of more than you might expect and can adapt well to their environment. My granddaughter is already 4 years old, but she has never had any problems going barefoot on our gravel surface, unlike us adults.

I find the protective mats useful and versatile.

I find wood chips quite practical for that. Best regards

She almost never goes barefoot. She has never liked it.
We have grass in the play area and wood chips under the trampoline.