Mum builds window into garden fence so toddler pals can play together

It’s not been easy for children since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

They were quickly thrown out of their usual routines - of seeing friends and family and playing with people outside their immediate families - and don’t fully understand why.

Stepping in to help with her children’s lack of interaction with his mates, Amy Vickers, 27, decided to fit a perspex window in her fence.

This meant that her children, Arlo and Arabella Devonport, could hang out with their neighbour’s child, Leo, three, who lives next door.

Creative mum, Vickers, decided to build the DIY window after the toddlers admitted how much they missed each other.

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Leo’s mum, Becca, agreed to the hole in the fence and they set to work to create it in their homes in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Now, the three children can play together safely while still seeing each other.

The wipeable material even means that they can play noughts and crosses using markers to help pass the time until they’re allowed back to nursery.

Amy, a support worker, who lives with partner Danny, 30, said: “Arlo and Arabella have been finding it hard not seeing anyone during lockdown.

“It got to the point where they were climbing on top of the rabbit cage that we have next to the fence so they could see over it into the neighbour's garden which is clearly dangerous.

“Instead of them climbing up, we decided to make them a little window so they would be able to stand there and see their friend next door,” she explained.

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To create their masterpiece, they ordered a perspex panel on eBay after measuring the area in the fence they planned to cut.

They cut the hole during a circular saw and drilled holes in each corner to slot the window in place.

Vickers continued: “At least now the children can see each other and chat through the window.

“We also bought wipe board markers so they now draw pictures on it and we've been teaching them to play naughts and crosses on it as well.

“The kids are at the window all day every day when we are at home so I guess they love it!”