The next time you see your kids enjoying themselves on the wooden swing set or sliding board at your local playground, think of Charles Wicksteed.

Wicksteed was a British engineer whose company built the first commercial playground in 1921, fashioning swings from the pipes in his factory. In 2013, a couple in the UK found one of those swing sets in their garden, still more or less in working condition.

But the history of playgrounds and swing sets goes back much further than post-World War I England. In this week's blog post, we'll explore the history of the swing set.

It can be hard to pick favorites.

Your favorite song might change with your mood. Your favorite movies? How can you compare comedies to drama? Your favorite food? Who can pick just one?

We’re the same way when it comes to backyard playsets. Which material makes for the best swing sets? Cedar? Redwood? How can we choose?

Well, we can’t. But we can devote this blog post to the benefits of redwood, and why it’s a standout swing set material. (Don’t worry cedar. We’ll get to you eventually.)