How To Choose The Best Swing Set For Your Back Yard

There was a time when the term “swing set” often meant a shabby metal or plastic structure with two or three swings attached.

But these days, swing sets are more sturdy, more elaborate and more fun, featuring swings, slides, climbing walls and other features that can provide your kids or grandkids with hours of backyard play.

There’s more to purchasing a swing set than just going to a retailer and ordering one. There are a number of factors you should consider when you choose your new swing set.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Swing sets typically require six feet of clearance around them for safety. You need a flat space free of overhanging branches. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends having a six-foot barrier between all playground equipment and structures such as homes or fences.

Note the height of your swing set’s crossbar. The buffer around the set should be double the height of the crossbar, according to the CPSC.

And you should think about how you position the swing set. Make sure you’ve placed it somewhere you or your spouse or other adults can spot it from the house.

How Many Kids Will Be Using It?

If you expect only one or two kids to use the swing set, pick something basic. But if your backyard typically plays host to a horde of small children, you’ll need something a little more complicated, like a set that features slides, monkey bars, and a sand box.  Today, climbing walls and forts add room for more kids to explore and play.

What Material Do You Want To Use?

Swing sets are made in a number of different materials. Wooden sets, particularly those made from redwood, look great and are made to last. Sets made from vinyl offer protection against the elements.  If you live in a shore community, vinyl might be the best choice for you.

Safety

You want your children to have fun on their swing set, but they should be safe while playing.  The Good Housekeeping Research Institute suggests a few tips for making sure you have a safe swing set:

• Inspect the set regularly. Look for missing parts, rotted wood or corroded metal or peeling paint. On hot days, check slides before children use them. One solution to protecting the base is to use a system called “Level Dry.”  This patented solution not only prevents rot but provides level stability.
• Most serious playground injuries are the result of falls on hard surfaces, so provide some ground protection. Cover the area around the swing set with bark, rubberized mulch or play sand. Whatever playground surfacing you pick, your ground cover should be 6-12 inches deep.
• Leave things to a professional. Make sure your swing set is put together properly and safely by trusting a professional to assemble and install it.

Think In The Long Term

A swing set can be a big investment, so be careful not to buy something your kids will grow out of in a year or two. Choose something they’ll enjoy whether they’re starting pre-school for finishing grade school. You may want to consider a modular swing set that lets you add pieces as your kids get old enough to use them.

If you’re not quite sure what type of swing set will work for you, visit Swingset & Toy Warehouse. We’ve spent the last 32 years helping our customers choose quality outdoor play equipment, whether it’s swing sets, trampolines, basketball hoops or playhouses.

Let’s Play Outside™

Looking for more ways to provide your kids with creative ways to play?  Download our new Busy Parents’ Guide to Outdoor Games and Play.  And when you are ready for you next outdoor play purchase, you can conveniently Shop Swingset and Toy Warehouse online or visit one of our four New Jersey locations.  We’ll work with you to bring the vision you have for your backyard to life.