Outdoor Playset?

[Kabob]

Do any of you have one of those large wooden playsets? I've mainly had toddlers so the smaller plastic playhouses and slides are what I've been using and they've of course never complained. But now I have older (3+ year olds) in care and every day they whine about how I don't have a "big kid's slide".

It's a large investment and also I'm concerned about safety with the toddlers...I know for sure I would have to constantly watch out for the older kids kicking the toddlers if they are near the swings or the older kids shoving another when they are at the top or the toddlers trying to climb it (I have a 22 month old dcg that can climb up the toddler slide but she is in no way stable enough to be trusted to slide down it without falling off the side every time...I'm constantly her safety net)...but is it worth it? Dh wanted to get one for ds when he's older anyway...

What do you guys suggest? Save up for one or no? Any particular style?

[coolconfidentme]

I have a big wooden play set & the kids love it. Luckily I got mine for free. (someone left it behind in one of my rentals) At the end of the slide I have cushions from an old couch. As far of the swings go, the toddlers swing on their bellies. The hard part is teaching the little one to NOT walk in front of the swings. Unfortunately they get knocked down a few times before they learn that lesson.

[Childminder]

I have one. Got it on sale at season end. My daughter just got one from off craigslist for $100 that has a double house and is twice the size of mine. It's huge! They had to dismantle and set it up themselves but were able to do it in a weekend. Either way it is deductible.

[Kabob]

I have one. Got it on sale at season end. My daughter just got one from off craigslist for $100 that has a double house and is twice the size of mine. It's huge! They had to dismantle and set it up themselves but were able to do it in a weekend. Either way it is deductible.

Oh yeah...totally deducting the allowed amount for this one...just gotta figure out how much I wanna pay and for what...dh wants to go all out...

[Second Home]

You should check your regs about playsets . Some may require 12 or more inches of soft mulch beneath it . Others, limit the height from where a child can stand .
Better to know what is required before you slend the $$ .
I have used the portable play yards ( it is like gate panels ) to block the path on both sides of the swings . This forces the younger kids to walk around the path of the swinger.

[Kabob]

You should check your regs about playsets . Some may require 12 or more inches of soft mulch beneath it . Others, limit the height from where a child can stand .
Better to know what is required before you slend the $$ .
I have used the portable play yards ( it is like gate panels ) to block the path on both sides of the swings . This forces the younger kids to walk around the path of the swinger.

Oh great idea!

[taylorw1210]

I have a pretty basic wooden play set. It has 2 regular swings and a double swing with a "climbing wall" and steps to a "fort area" that leads to a slide. The older kids (2+) love it, and everyone enjoys the swings. The littles quickly learn not to go near the swings but majority of the time everyone swings on their bellies so there's very few "knock outs" from swinging. I got it for free off of Craigslist and it was only 4 years old when I got it.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I got rid of my wooden playset. It had been ds and they were getting some splinters. It was just too hard to monitor the little ones with it. I want this-

http://www.littletikes.com/climbers/adjustable-mountain-climber/invt/612404

or this-

http://www.littletikes.com/climbers/little-tikes-playground/invt/4370

I think I am ordering this next month! I have the castle!

http://www.littletikes.com/climbers/seek-explore-expedition-climber/invt/402w

[Kabob]

I am liking these ideas!

I worry so much about them falling and hurting themselves as it is so it's nice to have options. Definitely want to put in sand or something under/around the playset, whatever I get...

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I am liking these ideas!

I worry so much about them falling and hurting themselves as it is so it's nice to have options. Definitely want to put in sand or something under/around the playset, whatever I get...

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10051&storeId=10151&productId=20762&langId=-1&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&top_category=&urlLangId=&cm_vc=-10005

I have these under

[Angelsj]

I ordered from here
I love that you can design your own. They are expensive, however, mine is over 10 years old and no splinters, or any other issues with the wood. They have an amazing warranty. A storm tore the canopy and they replaced it for free. They have replaced a trapeze and the glider, also for free. Awesome company.

[Oss_cc]

What we did was monitored craigslist for MONTHS. We ended up finding one for around $150 an hour away. It was weather worn and a bit rickity, so we reinforced it and re-coated it with a nice weatherproof/splinter proof stain/paint. The kids love it! Even my 18 mo DS is stoked about the big kid swings (they are low to the ground).

[Wubby]

[QUOTE=MrsSteinel'sHouse;449247]I got rid of my wooden playset. It had been ds and they were getting some splinters. It was just too hard to monitor the little ones with it. I want this-

http://www.littletikes.com/climbers/little-tikes-playground/invt/4370

We have this, kiddos love it. $125 from craigslist

[KiddieCahoots]

Have had one for about 18 years now, that I built. It has a rock climb, club house, cargo net, tire swing, etc., It's great! The kids love it!
These things are solid!
I'm grandfather'd in with my child care license, so I don't have to put the required safety "cushion" on the ground.....but gonna eventually do it anyway.
Found on craig's list a cork screw slide, that's made it even more fun!
Ebay can sometimes have great add-ons at great prices too!

[Kabob]

I've been eyeing craigslist for a while now but am budgeting for it either way...dh wants to get one of those covered slides to help remove the falling risk...have any of you had any of those kinds of accidents with one? Some days the way the kids behave I wonder if I should just stick to the Little Tikes stuff...