Garden Play Equipment

If you're tired of the kids asking to be taken to the park, why not bring the park to them? A backyard playset can be set up easily and cheaply for some healthy, creative fun...away from the T.V.

Choosing the right play equipement

The children's age and tastes will determine what kind of play equipent. Simpler sets of plastic work well for toddlers, while the better-constructed sets a better for older imaginations. The more you invest, the more important it is to choose equipment that will hold their interest as they grow up. More complex systems let you add and adapt activities as the children grow. After all, even adults can enjoy a swing or a teeter-totter.

For added interest, sets are available in almost any theme -- Disney, a medieval castle, wonderland, wizard's lair, outerspace, underwater, and more (Harry Potter, anyone?).

Location

Even if the kids are "old enough to know better" the safest place for play equipment is within easy view from inside the house. Keeping the play area itself should be well-defined and designed for safety will also minimize problems. Allow at least a 6-foot safety zone -- a space free of hazards like fences, trees, or hard surfaces -- to minimize injuries in case of a fall.

Landscaping

Landscaping around a play set is unique in that safety, rather than aesthetics, is the primary concern. Ground that's as open and soft as possible is the best bet. Instead of asphalt, concrete, and grass, opt for mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel. At least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, is needed to effectively cushion a fall. Other options include synthetic soft play surfaces specifically designed for use with playsets, such as shredded rubber mulch, engineered wood fiber, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials. This surfacing should cover the "safety zone" of 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar. Make sure play structures higher than 30 inches are spaced at least 9 feet apart. Also look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.

Choosing quality

Construction
In most cases, a general common sense check of the play equipment will reveal any hazards. Things to keep in mind include:

• Dangerous hardware like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends.
• Sharp points or edges. While they can be padded later, it's easer to avoid them altogether.
• Spaces that could trap children, such as spaces between guardrails or ladder rungs. Any spaces like this should measure either less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
• Chain or anthing else small fingers could get caught up in.
• Anything that will require re-painting, re-sanding or other repeated maintenance.
• Elevated surfaces. Platforms, ramps, and ladders should have guardrails to prevent falls.
• Trampolines. These are a lot of fun until you bounce off one and hit your tailbone on the egde coming down. They're best left out of an outdoor play yard.

Will it stand up to active kids?
Anyone who's watched kids on a playground knows they don't always follow the safety rules. Although supervision can prevent most problems, it's nearly impossible to watch every second, so equipment should still be prepared for potentional mis-use. Consider how the playset will react to a child standing in a swing-seat, twisting in the swing, climbing the bars or chains of the swing set, walking near a swing in use; jumping off or in front of swings, see-saws, or merry-go-rounds; climbing up the front of the slide; or climbing on top of equipment.

Material
Look for well-designed equipment made from durable materials and put together with high-quality hardware. Most treated lumber contains arsenic, which not only comes off on the hands, but leaches into the soil around the play area. For more on arsenic and play equipment, see http://www.cpsc.gov/phth/ccafact.html

Installation

Make sure equipment is assembled properly and set on a level surface, anchored firmly to the ground. Bumper pads for corner cushioning and non-skid strips can also minimize accidents.

Maintenance

Playsets get a lot of wear and tear, so be sure to inspect your equipment regularly for anything that could be a hazard to kids, such as loose nuts and bolts, sharp edges, rust or cracking and splintered wood. Check the area at least once a week for sharp sticks, rocks, toys and any other possible hazards.

Slides, swings, and monkey bars can provide young kids with hours of healthy entertainment. When properly installed and landscaped, they can add value to your home, as well. Although many homeowners assume garden play equipment is outside their budget, browsing through a few garden Web sites will show you playsets can actually be quite affordable.