Outdoor playsets?

[justbeth]

Does anyone have an outdoor playset? If so, do your kids use it a lot? Or was it fun at first but now it just gets ignored? We are considering getting one, but those things are expensive! Our neighborhood has covenants against the metal ones, so it has to be the wooden kind, which are overpriced it seems. We also have a playground in the neighborhood, but it's a few blocks away. Nothing terrible, but it would be a lot easier if she could just run out back and play, especially one we start fostering and have babies in the house. I just don't want to commit to this big wooden playset if it won't get a LOT of use. Do kids play on these things? We never had one growing up. I just feel like I see them sitting dilapidated in people backyards a lot, like they don't get used.

[mrsrek10]

We are shopping around to get JA one. My nephews love theirs and play on it a lot. JA loves it when he goes there. As kids, we played a lot on our swing set. I think they are worth it. My brother got theirs at Academy Sports and it was only around $500 and has held up well after 3 years of use. Shop around and you will find a variety of cost levels. We don't need a big one so that helps. Big ones can be $1500 or more!

[Riverdong11]

Right now we have a small step 2 playset that has a slide and 2 swings. We bought it from my husband's coworker last year and it's a good size for Liam right now. He loves playing on it and runs to it every time we go outside. My parents have a small wooden playset that he loves to play on as well.

We are hoping to upgrade to a wooden set in a couple of years. My husband is big at diy so he wants to design and build his own. I just want to buy a kit from Costco or Menards and assemble it ourselves. I've been looking at Gorilla playsets. They get great reviews online and in person from a couple of friends who have gorilla playsets for their kids.

[lainikins]

We have a very basic one that has two swing spots and a slide. Last summer it got a lot of use and I think it will this summer as well. We got the kit from Home Depot and if I remember right the wood and kit all together was under $200. DH, BIL, and FIL put it all together in one afternoon.

[traceyt07]

My sister got one for her kids last year off of craigslist. It's huge (3 towers, twisty slide, everything!) and ended up being around $200. They did have to replace one piece of wood that was a little chewed up from a weed whacker, but other than that it's in great shape. Perhaps check there?

[roo1582]

We got Kayleigh one last year for her birthday. She didn't use it a ton last year since she was still in her cautious phase, but by the end of the fall she was starting to get into it a lot more. We bought a wooden one from TRU and used one of their coupons that they had for an additional 20% off. I think we ended up paying $350 for it. Its not huge, but plenty big enough. (It this one).  We saved money by picking it up from the store and assembling it ourselves (It was an addition $150 if you wanted them to do it).  We try to take her to the park pretty regularly since its a lot bigger and she has other kids she can play with, but like you, wanted something in the back yard for her to use for when we are out there working/etc.  

[justbeth]

Thanks ladies! I'll get DH to look into some of these more affordable options! He is stuck on getting her the one they have on display at Costco, which is really nice, but is 1,000. He just got a bonus from work, so I guess if that's what he wants to spend it on he can, but it's too much money for a playset to me.

roo1582 I really like that set! It's a good size and a way better price.

@lanikins I really feel like two swings and a slide is all we need!

[xanthepants]

We got a cedar one from Wal-fart for around $700 that had a tower, a playhouse under with a table, 2 swings, a slide and monkey bars. I really like it. We replaced the fabric awning with a wood roof with shingles we built ourselves to hold up better. It is in great condition after 11 winter. It was a 2 person job for a full weekend to put together. She loves it and asks to play on it daily in one capacity or another and I think it will grow with her still. I think it was well worth the money to go with cedar and for us to get the playhouse since she uses that part a ton. They do have sales once in a while, but I watched prices between Wally, HD, Kmart, Costco, TRU etc. They all might have slightly different brands but similar pricing for similar styles. Some decent sales though.

[xanthepants]

www.walmart.com/ip/Adventure-Play-Sets-Atlantis-Cedar-Wooden-Swing-Set/1343731

Closest to this one. Doesn't look like they have the same one as we got - but this is pretty close.

[britbratjf]

Apr 1, 2015 8:33:13 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Thanks ladies! I'll get DH to look into some of these more affordable options! He is stuck on getting her the one they have on display at Costco, which is really nice, but is 1,000. He just got a bonus from work, so I guess if that's what he wants to spend it on he can, but it's too much money for a playset to me.

roo1582 I really like that set! It's a good size and a way better price.

@lanikins I really feel like two swings and a slide is all we need!

While I agree 1,000 is a lot & you could find a cheaper one that will work, keep in mind that she'll likely use it for the next 8-10 years. It's not something she'll outgrow quickly.

[justbeth]

Y'all are convincing me! DH will be a happy man. I do think she would love one with a playhouse since she loves pretend play. I love xanthepants idea of a shingled roof. Our HOA covenants would love that since they won't allow the colorful awnings.

I'll do a little research and see what I can find today. I guess I should just be thankful that I married a man who is BEGGING me to let him spend his bonus on a Swingset for our kid. He is a good daddy!

[xanthepants]

Be sure to look at the size and the size they recommend for the play area. Some of them are HUGE! We bought one with a pretty small footprint because although we have 1/4 acre - it still takes up a good chunk of space. She will love it. And he doesn't have to spend the whole bonus on that - he could offer to take you to dinner!

[justbeth]

Oh, good tip xanthepants. We don't have a huge yard. Even thought we don't really 'use' the space is rather it not be filled with Swingset. Your right, dinner would be nice!

[justbeth]

We finally agreed this one on! mobile.walmart.com/ip/Cedar-Summit-Sandy-Cove-Wooden-Swing-Set/33680090

It's less than the one H picked out, and a little smaller, but I think she will love it. It's got enough to entertain her without taking over the entire yard. My favorite part about it is that it has a little water/sand table in it. She loves her water table but we broke it when we moved so she needed a new one anyway. It's supposed to be in next Friday!

Thanks for all the tips ladies! It really helped me know where to look and what to look for. Now I'm actually really excited about it. She's going to be thrilled!

[trixi282]

justbeth, that looks really nice! I think it's a great compromise for a somewhat small scale that still has plenty to do and can still grow with her a bit too since it has monkey bars and things.

I read the description, and it's neat that the water table can turn into a little café table too - a good feature!

[xanthepants]

Perfect justbeth, Now to have fun putting it together! Seriously that was not a fun weekend. HA! We laid everything out in the garage the weekend before to make sure we had everything and he picked away at little things throughout the week. Then we got a sitter for an afternoon and got the bulk of it done. Not a fun day. But her face will be priceless when she sees it the first time!

[bliz1712]

We have this one and I wish we would have saved our money and bought a cedar/wood one. It gets the job done, but V really can't do anything on it. And because it's so short to the ground it's not very easy to push them or help them. You end up half bent over. We probably won't get one because we live across from the school which has 2 separate parks. Seems like a waste of money when we can just walk there for free.

www.walmart.com/ip/Sportspower-Live-Oak-Metal-Swing-and-Slide-Set/33871515

[justbeth]

Apr 2, 2015 11:37:22 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

Perfect justbeth, Now to have fun putting it together! Seriously that was not a fun weekend. HA! We laid everything out in the garage the weekend before to make sure we had everything and he picked away at little things throughout the week. Then we got a sitter for an afternoon and got the bulk of it done. Not a fun day. But her face will be priceless when she sees it the first time!

I am the least handy person ever, but we have already invited her 'Grumpie' over to help H put it together! I'm sure we will end up with a few leftover parts...

[mrsrek10]

Apr 2, 2015 22:35:04 GMT -5 justbeth said:

Apr 2, 2015 11:37:22 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

Perfect justbeth, Now to have fun putting it together! Seriously that was not a fun weekend. HA! We laid everything out in the garage the weekend before to make sure we had everything and he picked away at little things throughout the week. Then we got a sitter for an afternoon and got the bulk of it done. Not a fun day. But her face will be priceless when she sees it the first time!

I am the least handy person ever, but we have already invited her 'Grumpie' over to help H put it together! I'm sure we will end up with a few leftover parts...

I love that she has a "Grumpie" that name would fit my dad so much better than Grandpa! lol.. My dad is awesome and does whatever we ask/want/need but he also likes to grumble about it so we all joke with him about being a grump. I wonder if I can get the 6 grandkids to rename him, lol

[justbeth]

mrsrek10 You should give it a try! I instigated her calling him that. She's the first grandkid, and he never really liked kids, so it fit. Of course now she has him wrapped around her finger and he does anything at all for her!