With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

My parents want to buy us a swingset for the boys. My mom is hoping that I won't have to schlep them to the park so much in the summer.

My concern is really Tyler. I'm worried that he's such a monkey that I'll never be able to leave him out there alone. Right now, Jack is able to go play out there and I can wash dishes and see him completely. I don't know that I would trust Tyler with something like that for him to climb up.

So, if you have a swingset in the yard do you love it? Do your kids love it? Does it lessen the trips to the park? Is it dangerous for kids 2 and under?

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

BEST investment we've ever made. You won't regret it one bit!!!!

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We are getting the kids one this year too as there birthday gift.

What if you put a picket fence around the swing set.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We loving having the swingset in the back. Our girls were climbing up the stays, on their own, around 16 months. (with me behind them of course).

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We'll see how it goes but I'm not too concerned - i'm sure it's worth it. I'm excited to have it in our yard this year and know that this year Colin will have to be supervised, but next year he'll be fine.

I'll bump what we got from Wood Kingdom. I'm going to order the baby swing attachment and it doesn't have the monkey bars - thinking of adding that for a bday gift down the line (for Ryan's 5th maybe?)

I would def. get one!

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

I definitely have to watch my 22 month old on it just for safety. I would never leave her unsupervised anyway. She climbs the stairs alone & comes down the slide but I always "spot" her. If anything, it will lessen you having to trek to a park for sure. Better to be in your own backyard--so convenient.

ETA: I also have to watch my youngest DD when my older one is on the swings. She walks right in front of her without a second thought.

We got our set from Creative Playthings and we are very happy with it.

Message edited 1/27/2011 9:24:53 AM.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We have one in the garden. Last summer DD was 4 and DS just turned a year during the summer. It was great fun for them but I have to warn you I could not let them out by themselves as DS would climb up the climbing wall and go down the slide so it was a no go zone without a parent out there. It will be the same this year.

We still did trips to the park as it was a change of scenery but it was nice to have in the mornings and evenings when we didn't want to go into the village.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We ordered one from Walmart.com last year and will put it up in Spring. I think it's a must have, however, I would NOT leave Tyler out there for one minute without close supervision. It wpuld be very dangerous.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

DH and I just bought one a week or so ago (to be installed in April)... Right now is the perfect time to buy because they're running crazy sales since they're so slow!

We went to Creative Play Things and Wood Kingdom. I have to say, the quality and prices at CPT is MUCH better than WK. Everything just looked and felt better quality and we could tell this instantly! For $1699, we got 3swings, monkey bar top, a 5x5' tower with canopy top, slide, ladder, rock wall, picnic bench, and 4 accessory swings including an infant swing, seesaw, regular swing, and ring bars. WK would've been at least $500 more for the same set up.

ETA: the price includes delivery and installation

It's this one but with a picnic table built in on the bottom. The back wall is a rock climbing wall.... Kids not included.

Message edited 1/27/2011 9:41:37 AM.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We have a metal swingset since DC is one. And a climber with a bridge and slide.

BEST investment!

Yes, you can stay home and the kids can play for HOURS.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

Diana, Peyton is also that crazy climber. She is a big solid kid and she seems to fall all the time. When she goes down, she goes down like a ton of bricks. She is not one to fall and bounce right back up. I can not leave her out there alone. I am a nervous wreck. I am sure part of it is my whole "head trauma" issue with her. I am sure you know that story .

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

I think about this all the time. I heard that Creative Playthings is better than Woodkingdom. I am sure you have seen Jonathan go down headfirst on slides and this is why I haven't bought one. The same goes for the bunkbeds. I totally see him jumping off the top.

The other reason we don't have one is the swings. I know that the twins would be knocked into next week on regular basis if Ryan was on the swing.

You know that I tend to be a little bit more relaxed with the boys climbing and what not but I guess I draw lines somewhere.

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

Can someone convince my DH we need one?

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

We bought a Little Tikes set from a friend last winter (DS was 1.5) as a starter set. Retailed for $1000 we got it for $250. It has 3 swings, a bumpy slide, a rope ladder and a little fort. It's perfect for our needs now. I do eventually want a big set (a la CP), but I figured this was a great way to start out and teach DS how to use it and respect it.

It's hard when you have a little monkey because they don't want to hear that they can't climb/jump on something that looks so awesome.

Maybe you can get a small set to hold you over for the summer? (there are always ones on Craigs List) Then make the investment next summer when he can be trusted more?

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

I am looking into this in the Spring also...good topic on a cold day!

Re: With all this snow on the ground - it's the best time to talk SWINGSETS!

Best thing we ever got. Yes, it cuts down on going to the park. Turning 4 this past summer, I was comfortable just letting Jack run and play without feeling like I had to be ontop of him.

We have the Step 2 one:

step 2

I LOVE that every spring and fall DH whips out the power washer and it looks brand new!!