Kid’s Structures with Swing Sets: Backyard Fun for Years to Come

If you are looking for backyard playground equipment, today’s kid’s structures are so much more than what you remember from your own childhood. The designs have now become much more creative and there is a wide variety of interesting features available that really boggle the mind.

It used to be that swings were about as creative as backyard playground equipment could get, but with the addition of new “play technologies,” today’s backyard playgrounds are a world apart from the ones of the past. They now might include spiral and wave slides, decks, playhouses, rope ladders, or even artificial rock climbing walls. You can also get them with wood roofs or canvas tarps to protect from weather.

A constant source of backyard fun, kid’s playsets keep your children occupied and get them outside for fresh air and healthy exercise instead of allowing them to spend hours in front of the television or computer. When you think of all that this provides for the healthy growth of a child, the investment in your backyard playground becomes nothing but a good thing for you family.

Not to mention the money you save on other expenses that your child might incur from movies, video games and other unhealthier options. For most parents, the investment in their backyard play equipment is worth it because it is healthier play, and with careful planning it can offer many years of entertainment, fun, and healthy exercise.

Many people like to incorporate trampolines or above ground pools into the backyard playground, but the hardwood timber kids structures are becoming the most popular type of playsets for children of all ages. There are many ways to incorporate various features into a kid’s structure that fits your budge. Don’t laugh, but even adults love to climb on the rock walls, or play with their child from time to time. For the child’s sake, of course…well, at least that’s what they say. In any case, you should definitely get the most quality, sturdy equipment you can find. You want something that will not only support a grown man but provide years of fun for a growing child and withstand the test of nature.

You may want to consider the natural durability of hardwood timber playsets because those that are made from Western Red Cedar, Cypress or Redwood are strong and don’t require chemical treatments. While both plastic and metal weaken and corrode when exposed to harsh weather, timber does not.

In addition, they are extremely attractive and can be built into any kind of design—they are constructed in such a way that it is easy to make additions and keep expanding the structure as money allows, offering all the features you desire most as you can afford them. The flexibility and durability of these outdoor children’s playgrounds make them a very popular choice for those who respect quality.

When searching for an outdoor kid’s structure or swing sets that can stand the test of time, go to http://www.treefrogswingsets.com/.

Backyard Playground Safety – Part 3: Inspection and Upkeep Through the Years

Ensuring the safety of backyard playgrounds is a significant concern when we plan and construct a backyard playground for our kids and their friends.  Equally as important, though, is the attention we pay to playground safety over time.  Playground safety should remain a concern throughout the duration of the playground equipment’s use.  Regular inspection and upkeep of the entire playground space is important for making sure that children stay safe over years of active play.  By following the guidelines for inspection and maintenance presented in this article, you can increase the safety of your playground equipment, protective playground surface, and the surrounding area, and lessen the possibility of injuries.

Over time, the safety of backyard playground equipment can be weakened by harsh weather conditions and active play.  Frequent inspections of the playground equipment and the condition of each part will lower the possibility of injuries.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that the preventative actions that follow be taken to ensure the safety of your backyard playground equipment:

Test for any loose nuts and bolts twice a month and tighten as needed.  Replace hardware that is damaged or worn or that has protrusions or projections. Apply oil to moving metal parts as directed by the manufacturer. Check to be sure that protective caps and plugs that cover bolt ends and ends of tubing are in place and tight.  Inspect twice a month and replace as needed.  Check the condition of the equipment, looking for signs of wear and tear such as broken or missing parts, bent pipes or tubing, and splintering or decaying wooden surfaces.   Inspect swing seats, ropes, chains, and cables monthly for deterioration and replace as needed.  Clean, sand, and repaint rusted areas with a non-lead-based paint.

 

Additionally, sandboxes should be checked regularly for insects, debris, and dangers such as sharp rocks, sticks, or broken glass.  Sandboxes should be covered when not in use to keep animals from contaminating the sand.

The amount of upkeep needed for protective playground surfaces will depend on the type of surface you have chosen. Loose-fill surface materials like wood chips, shredded bark mulch, pea gravel, play sand, and recycled rubber mulch require regular raking, and sometimes tilling, to remove rubbish, loosen compacted areas, and level the surface.  Also, maintaining the proper depth of your protective playground surface means adding more material to your existing surface once or twice each year.

Synthetic protective playground surfaces like rubber tiles, rubber mats, and poured-in-place surfaces often require less maintenance than loose-fill surface materials, but they should be checked frequently.  Look for gouges, burns, or loosened areas, and repair them as needed.  Additionally, sand, rocks, leaves, or other loose material should be swept from the protective surface routinely to lessen the possibility of slipping hazards.

The area surrounding your backyard playground can become just as dangerous as the equipment and the protective playground surface if routine upkeep is not performed.  Keep the area free of litter and any objects that may cause injuries, such as fallen tree limbs, sharp sticks, large rocks, and yard tools.  In addition, proper drainage should be maintained to prevent water from collecting on and around the protective playground surface.  Frequently moist or wet areas can be potential slipping hazards as well as inviting environments for fungus, mold, and other bacteria.

To sum up, make it a priority to take a few minutes every week to inspect your home playground equipment, protective surface, and surrounding area for possible safety issues. Doing so can greatly improve safety conditions for the children who enjoy your backyard playground.  Keeping kids safe is paramount, and no measure is too great to assure their well being during their explorative and developmental play.   Backyard playground safety is too important to allow any avoidable risk to go undetected.

Sources:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Document #323.  “Home Playground Safety Tips.”

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Document #324.  “Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook.”  2005.

Trey Collier is owner of BackyardCity.com – Where North America shops for Outdoor Living essentials for home and business.

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