With technology taking up more of our kids’ time it is important that we urge them to spend some time outdoors. Obesity is becoming a huge epidemic in the nation and the lack of exercise caused by technology addiction is one of the main health problems for children. With the Spring months swiftly coming in it might be time to work out a small backyard playground for your children. This can be an expensive task, but there’s a few ways to work around the total price to help your kids have some fun outside. You may even notice they might actually want to go outside without your constant pleading or bargaining. Before you know it your kids will actually prefer spending time outside opposed to sitting in front of a glowing screen, which will make them a lot healthier and happier.
1. Shop Metallic
One key factor to keep in mind while you’re shopping is to look for metallic designs. There are plenty of amazing wooden and plastic designs on the market, but if you’re looking to get a good value for the money metal is the way to go. Wooden designs tend to rot over time which can make them dangerous for children, especially if you live in a moist area. Plastic also begins to age poorly and becomes brittle which can lead to you replacing the equipment sooner or an injury. Metallic equipment can last for decades if you upkeep it. The building material tends to withstand the elements and will ensure your kids get plenty of play on the equipment. In fact, they may even outgrow the equipment before you ever have to replace anything. The best thing about metal equipment is the weight limit is extremely high so even parents can play with younger children who are just learning to work with the new toy.
2. Some Assembly Required
When it comes to shopping for playground equipment you may want to skip out on the assembly cost. A lot of the time when you purchase pre-assembled equipment it requires the company to deliver and set up the playground for you. The fee is also usually included in the price of the equipment without your knowledge. Of course, most stores will also waive this fee if you ask, so make sure you find out how much it cost for delivery and assembly before you finalize the sale. Usually playgrounds are pretty simple to put together and require basic tools that tend to be found in just about any household. You may even make putting together the playground a family affair as you ask the children to take on small and safe tasks like handing you tools or screws. Every new set of equipment should also come with easy to follow instructions which makes it more convenient to do it yourself. However, if you’re still having trouble getting it all together you can easily look online for a video tutorial that will have you on the right track to getting the job done.
3. Avoid Toddler Sets
A lot of parents tend to fall into the toddler equipment gap when they’re planning out a playground. These toddler sets tend to be made of plastic and are only good for a year or two, as children outgrow them remarkably fast. Despite the small amount of use you’ll get out of these sets you will stay have to pay quite a bit to set one up in your yard. Toddler sets tend to be great for anyone that constantly has small children in the home. So, if you’re running a home daycare it might be a safe investment for you. However, if you’re trying to make a play area for your own children it is always best to buy a traditional sized play set. When your kids are too small to enjoy all of the properties of the playset then you can add simple modifications. For instance, a lot of play sets will have special toddler seats that will allow your toddler to use the swing set portion of the play set. You can also work to apply special railing that makes it easier for very young children to slowly climb up stairs or use the traditional sized slide. With a few simple and inexpensive modifications you’ll wonder why you ever considered the small plastic toddler sets in the first place.
4. Know Your Yard
One crucial thing to consider when you’re shopping for a playground set is the yard. A lot of people go into the store looking for items they believe will please the children, but forget to consider the state of their yard. You should always measure the yard several times before you even begin to think about getting a playset. The size of your yard will allow you to decide on what pieces are crucial for your yard. Sometimes people tend to think their yard is a bit bigger than actually is which leads to a crowded play area. You want your children to still be able to move around freely in the yard so make sure you have several feet from the play area and any barriers that might get in a child’s way. Another thing to consider is the terrain in your yard. If you tend to have a yard that has a lot of bumps, or perhaps is one big hill then this might limit your choices quite a bit. You may even have to do a little renovation to the yard before you can move in a playground equipment. So, instead of going out and spending the money right away, make sure your ready to work around potential problems first.
5. Buy Used
When it comes to shopping around for playground equipment you may find that the cheapest place to buy some amazing pieces for the yard is thrift stores or used sporting good stores. A lot of the time it may take quite a bit of looking on your part, but you will save a great deal of money if you can find equipment used. It might also mean you’ll have to piece together several different playground additions, but your kids will certainly enjoy the unique play equipment have. One important factor to consider when buying used is the shape of the parts. If something looks like it might break then don’t use it. You should also evaluate the screws that come with the set as they may be stripped out. This is a simple fix that won’t cost you a lot of money to fix.
6. Ask Around
It doesn’t matter if you’re living in a small or large community because chances are someone is upgrading their playground equipment. Maybe it be a public park or a local daycare facility, you might be surprised as to how willing many people are to give away old equipment so they don’t have to pay to get it hauled away. So, if you’re not in a hurry to get a playground set you might want to call around to see if anyone is upgrading their playground and looking to get rid of old equipment. You may have to put yourself on a waiting list, but it could be well worth the wait when you realize how much money you’re saving by being patient. Some places may require to you to pay a small fee for the item, especially if it is from a public domain area, so you might want to start with asking small businesses first. With a little investigative work your kids could have an awesome playground set by the time summer rolls around.
7. Go Clearance
Whether you enjoy shopping locally or love to hit online stores, the clearance bin can be one of the most convenient places to find your dream playground set. If you plan on shopping locally you should always ask the store to point you in the direction of the clearance section before you consider looking at the full priced items. This will allow you to see if there is actually anything that your children might enjoy at a discount. A lot of major stores, like Wal Mart and Home Depot, might only have their clearanced playground equipment online so make sure to check out your favorite places to shop first. Stores like these will often ship the item to your local store for free so you don’t have to worry about the huge shipping cost when it comes to checking out. There are also a lot of stores online that offer free shipping when you spend so much money, so make sure you play it smart when you’re browsing the clearance section.
8. Play with the Kids
It might not sound like playing with your kids could save you money, but you’d actually be surprised as to how much it actually can. When you hang out with your kids on the playground equpiment you’re not just getting some quality time with the kids, but you’re also teaching them how great it is to be outdoors getting some exercise. The more you take the kids out to get on the playground equipment the more they’ll actually use it, which will mean you’ll get a lot more use out of it for your money. Even when you don’t spend time with the kids outdoors they will still follow your example and enjoy being out a lot more. Playing with the kids also helps you keep an eye on the playground equipment. When you’re running around with the kids you’ll be more apt to notice any rusting, rotting or loose screws. This will you know what needs some maintenance work so the equipment will stay safe and fun for the kids longer.
9. Customize It
When you’re buying playground equipment don’t feel bad about wanting to customize it. A lot of kids have different interest on the playground, so if you buy one of the pre-made sets you might find that part of the set gets little to no use. This can be a huge waste of money as the piece could have been left out of the final bill or replaced with something the kids actually would use. The best thing you do before shopping is to talk to the kids before you buy anything. Find out what they actually like to play on the playground so you work around their interests to build the perfect playground. Of course, you might also want to consider monitoring their activities at a school or public park. This will also give you an idea as to how the kids actually play which will help you find a more cost effective way to meet their needs.
10. Build It
There’s a whole lot of playground gear that can be built with simple things online. For instance, a tire swing is a pretty iconic child’s toy that merely needs an old tire, some rope and a sturdy tree to hand it from. You can also work on smaller projects like a homemade sandbox. This only requires a simple wooden frame and some sand which can easily be purchased in bulk at a home improvement store. If you’re really feeling ambitious then it might be fun to build your own tree house or a smaller fort using scrap wood that is still in good shape. You will be surprised as to how many amazing playground toys you can make for the kids that will match your budget perfectly, so don’t be afraid to get out there and build.
Creating a playground oasis for kids should be a fun project for the entire family. These tips should help you step away from the price bracket and find a happy medium that will get your kids outside and exercising. You may even find that outside time becomes a favored pass time for the entire family that doesn’t cost you any extra.
