| |
By Lisa Puster
As a kid, I remember playing outside for hours at a time.
The whole neighborhood would be outside playing
together and having fun. One backyard, usually the yard
with the lead-based painted metal swingset (it was the 1970s, afterall),
would sometimes have as many as ten or twelve kids running,
jumping, climbing, sliding and swinging. If it was above freezing
and below 100 degrees, you were probably outside playing! But we
didn’t mind. It was considered punishment to have to stay inside!
Now, it seems, kids would prefer to stay indoors and watch television,
play on the computer or hang out in the playroom or media
room. So, what can you do to get your kids out of the house and
back into the great outdoors known as the backyard? Here’s your
guide to what is big in backyard fun these days!
Playsets
Playsets are good for children’s development and can provide
fun and entertainment for everyone, from baby swings
for the youngest thrill seeker to elaborate and challenging
play equipment for older kids.
When it comes to choosing a swingset, there are many
options available – from plastic, to metal to various wooden
playsets, made with cedar, pine and redwood. Each type and
style has its own unique distinctions and characteristics.
Plastic swing sets can provide younger children with hours of
entertainment and exercise. Most plastic swing sets are ideal
for toddlers since the plastic can’t support too much weight.
Swing sets made of plastic provide flexibility and are less
dangerous than metal and wooden swing sets, plus they can
even be used indoors if space permits.
Quality metal swing sets use galvanized
steel, which is rust
resistant and very strong.
Also, metal swing sets
are certainly more
cost efficient than
wooden swing sets.
For the price and
the strength, metal
swing sets make
a great backyard
playground for
years to come.
Compared to wood
swing sets, metal swing
sets don’t last as long.
Weather and use wear them down faster than most wooden
sets. Also, though metal swing sets are sturdy, they don’t
match the strength of most wood constructs.
Wooden swing sets are sturdier than most metal swing sets,
supporting, on average, more weight per child. Second, a
wooden swing set will typically last longer than its metal
competitors. Depending on the type of lumber and whether
or not it is pressure treated, some wooden swing sets can actually
be guaranteed for anywhere between 10 and 25 years.
Lastly, wood swing sets have a more natural look for your
backyard and offer more accessories and construction variation.
Cost is the major factor working against wooden swing
sets. Being that price is always the first consideration for a
consumer, many potential wooden swing set buyers may be
turned off by higher priced equipment. However, remember
that you get what you pay for. You want the most fun and
safest set you can find, and price tags rise with safety and
enjoyment ratings.
Playhouses
There are many playhouse options out there. You can
choose from a basic, plastic playhouse for toddlers to a huge,
extravagant wooden playhouse fit for a king (or queen,
as the case may be)! But for some good imaginative fun,
you can’t go wrong with an outdoor playhouse. Younger
children can play house, family or restaurant in a smaller
playhouse while a larger wooden playhouse can serve as all
those things and even double as a campout spot for older
children, during warmer weather. Some larger wooden
playhouses even offer a lofted area for extra room for the
kids to really spread out!
|
|
