Swing Sets

If you’re anything like me, you’ve watched the birds as they fly by and wonder what it would be like to soar high up in the sky, riding the air currents and checking out the world below. The truly daring among us might try flying their own plane, skydiving or bunji jumping but those options are out of reach for most of us and certainly not an option for children.

Swing sets offer a glimpse of what it would be like to fly among the tree tops and are as accessible as the nearest playground or our backyard. I can remember as a boy swinging back and forth, feeling the whoosh of the downward fall of the swing and imagining soaring higher than anyone else in the playground. I absolutely loved it.

The swings are still my favorite and you might even catch me trying to do my best bird imitation at one of my local parks but I primarily limit myself to watching my children and my friend’s children dreaming of reaching new heights.

Perhaps as an enticement to get children to abandon their electronic gadgets, outdoor toy manufacturers have turned the traditional backyard swingset upside-down. While you can still purchase those triangular-shaped sets that usually came with a slide at one end, a pair of swings in the middle and some other activity at the far end, today’s swingsets feature castles, rock climbing walls, rope bridges and a whole host of other cool stuff. Safety is key and durability is a must.

Step By Step Guide for Swing set “starter”

Reply

Buying a swing set for your child is a wonderful addition to your outdoor play yard. You will find that owning a swing set provides entertaining fun, healthy exercise, and hours of enjoyment for your child. Whether you have one child or several, there are some things to consider before purchasing a swing set to ensure that your new addition will be safe as well as fun.

Wooden or metal swing set?

The first thing to consider is whether you will purchase a wooden or metal swing set. Both are very popular and you will most likely choose your type of swing set based upon personal preference and location. For instance, those who live in hot climates may prefer wooden swing sets due to the fact that they don’t retain as much heat as metal swings.

Child on a swing

Continue reading →

Outdoor Toys for kids – Then And Now

Back in the day, children were content to play out in the back yard in their sandboxes pushing around little metal trucks or filling little buckets with sand. When they got tired of the sandbox, they would ride their bikes around the neighborhood with their siblings or friends. Older children would pull the younger ones around in the little red wagon.

swing set wheelWhat a simpler time that was! Now children are clamoring for every new toy they see on the television. When it comes to toys that are used outdoors, they have definitely gotten more expensive than the sandbox or bicycle.

Swing sets have gotten more expensive over the years as well. Rather than just including a couple swings and a slide, many of these sets now have other things that the children don’t even use. More interesting to them are the modern jungle gyms that start at about $150 and go up to several hundred dollars which is comparable to modern swing sets. Continue reading →

Buying and installing a Swing Set

Reply

Children are not playing outside as much as they did many years ago. Now they are too busy playing video games, watching television, or surfing the internet. Many years ago you could see kids out playing in their front yards or riding their bikes down the street. Now it seems that nothing is available to grab a kid’s attention long enough to keep them outside for very long. The biggest problem with this is that kids are getting more and more obese every day, because they are not getting the exercise that they need. A good way to get your children interested in playing outside is to put a swing set in your backyard when they are young, so they get used to playing outside.

Swingsets

A swing set is a very good way to Continue reading →