Spending time outdoors has various benefits when it comes to the overall health and development of children. This is the reason why more and more parents are converting their backyard into a safe play area for their children.
This article details how you can build a safe and fun backyard playground for your kids.
Consider Important Safety Features
In building a safe and fun backyard playground for your kids, the first thing that you need to consider is the safety features necessary. Keep in mind that you may come across different materials, such as wood beams, in creating the best backyard playground for your children. In this case, the wood used should be treated with a solution that will protect it from decay, pests, and mold, but not with toxic chemicals that may be harmful to children. The key is to go for companies that offer a solid beam construction that is durable and safe.
Alongside the use of wood, the metals used to connect your playset is equally important. As much as possible, go for fasteners made from hot-dipped galvanized metal because this will likely be resistant to corrosion. Your hardware bolts should also be snag-free or recessed to avoid and cuts or pinches. It is also necessary to opt for textured and powder-coated grips, handrails, or swing chains to prevent the hands of your little ones from slipping off.
Backyard Playground Necessities
Swings
As soon as you are well-aware of the safety features that you need to adhere to, the next thing for you to do is to complete your backyard playground necessities. One of the key pieces of equipment that you need to install in your playset is a swing. If you have a sturdy tree in your yard, then all you need is a tire swing kit that is built to last. Otherwise, you can also go for a belt, bucket, or trapeze swings, as well as glider, rope, or daydreamer swings.
Slides
Another playset equipment essential is a slide which also comes in various styles and sizes. In this case, you can choose from a wave slide, super slide, or a spiral slide. There is also the option for you to go for a tube slide.
Climbing Features
Aside from this, you also need to incorporate a climbing feature in your playset, which can greatly help in building the strength and coordination of your children. In this case, some of your options include a rock wall or a ramp, as well as a rope or step ladder. You can also go for some monkey bars or crawl tunnels, as well as bridges.
Other Add-ons
Apart from the playset essentials that you need for your children’s play area, there are several add-ons that you can also consider such as some picnic tables or a sky loft, as well as lower-level playhouses or additional ladders. Just take note that these add-ons can affect the size and layout of your playset so make sure to include them during the planning stage. Rest assured that if they are installed appropriately, your backyard can be transformed into anything that your child dreams of, whether it is a pirate ship or a castle.
Customize
When you have all the essentials that you need, all that is left for you to do is to customize your backyard play area. In this case, the first thing that you need to do is to choose your base which can either be a traditional square base, or an angle-base open design. From there, you need to choose the size of your backyard playground, considering the age of the children who will be using it. Thus, think about the deck height, headroom, swing beam height, as well as slide length to ensure that all of your essentials are appropriate for the kids who will be playing in your yard.
Encourage your kids to spend time and play outdoors during their leisurely break rather than allowing them to spend a long period busy with their gadgets. While the latter is not bad for them, providing a healthy balance between free outdoor play and screen time is the key to their overall health and development. The key is in creating a safe play area in your backyard where they can enjoy just being kids. Alongside this, maintain your backyard playground regularly to ensure that it is safe for your kids’ use. Also, make sure to supervise your children while they play and teach them the proper use of each of the gears in the playset.
I found it interesting when you suggested we incorporate climbing features in our playgrounds such as rock walls or monkey bars since they help build strength and coordination. We have a wide backyard that we barely use, so I was thinking of setting up a playground for my kids to play with. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind while I look for where to get outdoor playground equipment soon.
My husband and I want to add a playset to our backyard for our kids. I like what you said about considering the safety features you need. We’ll be sure to find a playset that is extremely safe for our children.