Reddit mentions: The best play sets & playground equipment

I got 3 boys - I take them hiking and fishing. Total cost is approx. $15/day including fishing licenses and/or parking fees (usually donations) and a gatorade to share.

 

We have a Stone Mountain pass (not the expensive membership, although it has been tempting). They have a lots of fun places like playgrounds, hiking, and a neat area where kids can kinda splash in a creek. (Near the grist mill, just walk along the creek/trail until you get to where it crosses the creek).

Your area has tons of great trails though, download the "AllTrails" app and you can find lots nearby. A 4 year old can do all the "Easy" trails and a fair amount of the "Moderate" Trails, as long as you are willing to turn around instead of finishing longer paths!

My favorite Roswell trail is the Old Mill Park. I've seen people fish in the stream there, too, but I haven't fished there myself, yet.

I also like to take my kids to different parks, I have an inflatable pod swing that I keep with some strong rope in my trunk, as well as a seat-disk . When we go to parks and trails we keep an eye out for a good place to hang the swings, temporarily. Depending on how busy the places are, sometimes a bunch of other kids will want a few pushes on the swing.

1. School supply? Not necessarily-but if you have a daughter who doesn't already use perfume, you may soon want these.
   
2. If the kids are jealous, they'd better keep it to themselves.
   
3. Should humor fail to make your teacher smile, you can always give her these.
   
4. No matter what subject you're taking, one of these babies can't possibly hurt.
   
5. As a kid, I loved swinging on the swings.
   
6. It's a pillow, it's a pet, and now it's a mascot!
   
7. Though my mom never packed cookie dough in my lunch as a kid, it's still delicious. Best part of being an adult is that you get to eat cookie dough as your WHOLE lunch!
   
8. One of the funniest books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
   
9. Classic backpack. The sturdiest backpack I ever owned.
   
10. Naptime!
    
    In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

I want to second the slide. My son got a slide for his first birthday and he is almost two now and still uses it every day. My four year old niece also loves it when she comes over, so I think it will be a favorite for awhile. It is a favorite toy during playgroup and is great for keeping him active in the winter. Plus it's a big fun toy to unwrap at a birthday and you can put it together and use it right away easily. It's this Little Tikes slide: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-First-Slide-Blue/dp/B008MH5H4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420773325&sr=8-1&keywords=little+tikes+slide

1. This Slide because my daughter loves to climb on everything and her outdoor toys are here favorite toys and this could be used inside too when it's too cold out or raining. She's got so much cabin fever right now. This is a great way for little ones to burn off energy inside or outside.
   
   
2. This office chair I work from home on a laptop so I need a good, supportive chair for my lower back pain. This chair is ergonomic and great for use when you're online!
   
   
3. Memory foam cool pillow. Everyone could benefit from a high quality, comfortable pillow to improve their sleep!
   
   
4. This book on making yourself happier this is an awesome book!! It's a creative way to find more happiness in your life and help depression and anxiety. This book would be a great tool for anyone.
   
   
5. Cooking, with SCIENCE how cool is this?! It's using science to learn awesome ways to cook!! This is for anyone who needs food to survive, but hates those annoying kitchen fires!

Your kids are quite young, so I'd say yes go for it. Kids start to lose interest in swing sets by 8 or 9 years old, so getting one for a 6 or 7 year old is not ideal.

One thing I'd recommend, especially with the ones you're looking at, is to get a variety of swing attachments and change them out periodically to keep it fresh. So you might have a basic swing and a tire swing, then change them to a trapeze and a "horse" thing, then a swing and rings. I think you can even change out the slides if you have a place to store an extra slide.

When my kids had a play set, I got a bunch of these and just put them all over it. They're going to climb where they're not supposed to, anyway, so might as well make it more fun.

Well, if you want a dome, this might be up your alley.

Joking and mild mockery aside, your best bet is to find a community of people in your area through something like Fetlife that will allow you to meet people in person and make friends with folks who are into similar sorts of things. They'll be able to fill you in on the scene in your area, and give you a bit of a support network.

I have a few ideas.

This swing secures the baby, so it's pretty safe, and I'm sure you could find a way to mount it inside if necessary: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-Snug-Secure-Swing-Pink/dp/B001P5GRF6/ref=pd_sbs_t_3

Now, this is a personal favorite, when I was a child I LOVED disney princesses. I still do really, and if I got one of these as a kid I think I would just have exploded out of happiness: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Disney-Princess/dp/B007J3FBKU/ref=sr_1_190?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1383115192&sr=1-190

My brother as a toddler HATED to be on a stroller, now, if you turned that stroller into a car, he would be so happy. so maybe if she's a bit dificult to keep on a stroller this could help: http://www.amazon.com/Step2-824200-Pink-Whisper-Buggy/dp/B008CO812U/ref=pd_sim_t_1

and this one is kind of a classic: http://www.amazon.com/Tek-Nek-Rock-Ride-Pink/dp/B00186DECG/ref=sr_1_291?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1383115631&sr=1-291

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Inversion-Aerial-Yoga-Hammock-Anti-gravity-Swing-Trapeze-Flying-900-kg-Large-Bearing-Beauty-Fitness-Sporting-Training-Exercise-Accessory-9-19x3-28ft/577246268?selected=true


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RBEFUDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s58lDbQCAWRVY


And I picked up some large eyebolt screws from a local hardware store for $2 each.

Drill into the frame of your door or if your ceiling has a support beam that works too. Attach carabiners. Secure both ends of fabric and assure it’s not twisted. You may have to adjust the length as some fabric is stretchy.

Was less than $40 total. And super easy.

Would investing in a small slide to play with indoors be an option? http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-First-Slide-Blue/dp/B008MH5H4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450798873&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+indoor+slide

If you know anyone in town who has something to borrow, that would be great. My 20 month old is getting one from Santa Grandpa in Jacksonville. Other big hits that would be quiet could include an inflatable pool full of plastic balls-- that would travel pretty well also, once it's deflated.

A swing set! I got mine when I was really young, 1 or 2, and I loved it! I had that thing until I was in like 8th grade. And still loved it.

Good tips thanks! I’m planning on printing out pieces of paper with quick instructions. Wish the lab was piecemeal like robot repair (stand alone exe) - might be tricky to describe pulling the sphere toward your head...

Going to get these disposables
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07PQB45KB/ref=ox_sc_act_image_4?smid=A2MQR1TB40DDHV&psc=1

And now I’m contemplating a cable management system vs a foam floor (kids type with puzzle piece assembly). Gaffers tape around the foam floor. Then shoes off.

Lots of mixed reviews about cable management systems. I have essentially unlimited ceiling height, and am eying a swivel. I’m imaginging running a ratchet strap up across the play space (tight) and then attaching the swivel to the strap at midpoint and adding a block to the cable so it doesn’t slide through the swivel too far.

Center Swivel
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07T8GXTCV/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A8QS2LDO4K4S1&psc=1

And other support swivels
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0777H24ZG/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=AN3HMS2D505PT&psc=1

Kids floor mats:
https://www.amazon.com/Stalwart-Interlocking-Flooring-Exercising-Playroom/dp/B01D1X0U3O/ref=asc_df_B01D1X0U3O/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167148646512&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9426578871373252278&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014226&hvtargid=pla-273886514766&psc=1

Our first daughter only got one big gift for her first birthday - a little wooden play kitchen with a few plastic foods and utensils. Two years later, and it's still a favorite toy in our house. https://www.amazon.com/Hape-Playfully-Delicious-Gourmet-Kitchen/dp/B006WZLGXW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468949047&sr=8-2&keywords=Wooden+kitchen

We got our second daughter a small indoor slide for her first birthday, and, although it took a few months before she could safely climb it herself, that's been a big hit too. https://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-First-Slide-Blue/dp/B008MH5H4M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468949104&sr=8-2&keywords=Plastic+slide

>I'd love any feedback

This is DIY, so I've got to let you know that you have serious design flaws that might result in spontaneous combustion. Here's what I suggest to fix these issues:

Serious lack of iceberg spotting technology

Better add the '10,000 leagues under the sea' version, just in case

Also, what about if they need to dodge an asteroid? (No need to make it electronic, just lots of fun levers and switches that make satisfying clicks)

Btw, make sure whatever you buy actually works. It's silly to pay the same price for a periscope you can't see through.

\>I have attic access, and could attach it security to a beam.

Do not do this. Add a 4x4 on top of and perpendicular to the existing joists and drill a hole through the center of the new beam for your attachment point. You'll then have the weight supported by multiple joists

Brackets to hold the 4x4 to the existing joists are a buck or two a piece, but honestly you could probably toe-in a few 3" screws if you have them and a hammer drill. That part probably isn't going to slide... it's the lag bolt/anchor pulling from inside the wood you have to avoid.. thus drilling the hole all the way through your new crossbeam and then you can get something like this (with a bigger grade 5 or grade 8 washer cause overkill) to mount the swing to. I found a similar one in a single pack for under $3 so it should be pretty cheap

Depending on how much room you have inside for a swing and how heavy toddler is... I think something like this is the best you're going to find.

The smaller baby swings aren't made to hold more than 25 or 30 pounds, typically. My 15 month old is 24 pounds and 47% for weight, so beyond a year and a half most toddlers are just too heavy.

ETA - What about... if you have something to anchor it to (a door jamb, maybe? an exposed beam?)... something like this?

Looks like something you'd see in a Pottery Barn catalog. So pricing would be on the more "high end/rustic" side of things.

Considering this swing on amazon is $40 I would say you'd be comfortable charging anywhere from $90 to $120. Possibly more due to this example

Now then, that will be $150 for my consulting fee ;)

Edit: Make sure your paracord meets any standards for weight guidelines before selling. Or include something about the max weight. Don't want someone 300lbs sitting on it and suing when it breaks.

Here are some instructions to follow.

Joists don't take well to lateral twisting forces, so I would get some additional clear 2x6 to act as blocking between the joist you hang the swing from and the adjacent one(s).

Some of those joists have enough big enough knots in unhelpful places that I'd want to sister the one I'm hanging from with a second joist of clear timber. If you rip down a wider one, you can end up with a joist to hang from that has the 2 hooks level, because it tapers to 5-and-a-half inches at the gutter end and is notched to fit over the ledger at the house end. Swings that have one end hung from a higher point with longer chains swing funny, with an odd twisty motion. And just using a longer lag-eye at the higher end to make the eyes level is bad news for metal-fatigue problems.


I've seen plenty of porch swings hung successfully with the standard hardware-store National Swing Hangers, but I'm much more comfortable when the "weight capacity" is 5X or more greater than the expected weight.

Sure thing! Would recommend these.

Amerigo Ultra Strong Hammock... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KV7QQ6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And this so that is swivels really smoothly and quietly -

AusKit Swing Swivel, 30 KN... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P54NHFK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Just as an FYI, most permanent hardpoint installations require bolt holes that can be easily patched if you are in a rental. Before you conclude that it's definitely not possible, first learn how to do a permanent installation, and then see if that's right for your setup.

I've seen quite a few portable ones. You can do a reasonable one with swingset brackets, using 4x4s for the legs, and a 4x6 for the horizontal crossbar. Here's an example of the brackets I'm talking about: https://www.amazon.com/Frame-Brackets-Complete-Mounting-Hardware/dp/B01M28VV0N

I've rigged on both those portable swingset designs as well as purpose-built metal suspension tripods, and I actually prefer the swingset designs because they are heavier and more stable. All of the suspension tripods I've used have a lot of movement in them.

IMO it was pretty easy. I can’t remember how much pressure it took to pop it together, but other than that it was pretty simple.

this video has the assembly instructions. You might watch that to see if you could handle putting it together yourself? Or maybe have a neighbor pop it together for you?

Those things are insanely expensive! I wanted to do the same thing this summer for my kids (11, 10, 7, 4 and 4) but I had to build it myself to get one long enough to have 5 swings.

It's not that hard and took me (and 2 friends) a day, using brackets like these. I did just the swingset this year; may replace one of the legs with a proper fort next summer.
https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Jungle-Gym-Bracket-Install/dp/B005KUL00O?ref_=ast_sto_dp

But don't make the legs 8 feet long like I did. Turns out a triangle with 8 foot legs is really tall!

A toddler boy would be into simple toys like trucks with big tires, giant lego type blocks-Duplo or Mega Bloks would be the right size, maybe trains, Hot Wheel's cars, or anything that makes noise except dad will hate you for that one. Bath toys would be a big hit most likely. Amazon does a pretty good job of breaking the sections down by age and gender. Fire Trucks, Police Cars, but bigger ones not tiny ones that have parts to break off. Toys usually have an age range on them.

This slide is only $19 and free shipping with prime, but it might take up a lot of space if he lives in an apartment. http://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-624605M-First-Slide/dp/B008MH5H4M/ref=sr_1_53?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1417556596&sr=1-53

I want to know what sorta tools/screws/etc I'd need to install [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015OXL2MW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1DT1OYFNGDVOF) hangers into solid wood ceiling beams. I'd be using them for a variety of purposes (yoga, hammocks, gymnastic rings, rope suspension, etc).

Thank you :)

I have this: Eastern Jungle Gym Easy 1-2-3... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M28VV0N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I like it a lot because it's cheap and I can use bamboo with it, which is a taste thing. It's a bit annoying to move, but it's strong and cheap and I've never gotten the ceiling with it.

I'm looking to mount rings to the joists in my garage. Would there be any noticeable difference between a mount like this one where the straps will be in carabiners which can move slightly or a mount like this one where that's not the case? I like the idea of being able to use the carabiners to quickly take the rings down without having to mess with the straps.

​

Best of both worlds seems to be this mount but it's wicket expensive for two.

I hang em in the garage from a joist. Lots of height is good.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness/comments/1vdop2/indoor_ring_mount_an_example/

D-ring tie down for cheaper mount. For the same price as the TRX mount you can do better, note there's a load spec:

https://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Gym-Kingdom-Playground-Capacity/dp/B015OXL2MW/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_21_tr_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GK38ZDZMW79E8THXBM2Z

It looks like it is this

It's pretty expensive tho.

Tomy bar swing happy price hunting!!

well then riddle me this! I purchased some brackets to make a swing set for my kids (https://www.amazon.com/Frame-Brackets-Complete-Mounting-Hardware/dp/B01M28VV0N/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=eastern+swing&qid=1555638619&s=gateway&sr=8-12). Where should I buy my lumber for it? Recs for specific types of wood... redwood?

I bought it off amazon in December. It took a couple weeks to ship from Japan to California.

I checked out your product and saw this Jungle Gym Heavy Duty Swing Hangers in the recommendations. It's rated for humans and I see reviews posting images doing aerial yoga. Could this work in place of the tie down rings I suggested earlier? I know it doesn't solve the problem of the rope not being enough.

I'm not big on the idea of building any furniture because my space is very small (300 sqft studio) and I don't have anywhere to store it when it's not in use.

We have a fenced-in yard.

Our daughter (now just over 2.5 years old) has always had some kind of swing hung from a tree limb back there - at first it was a baby swing, now it's one of these spider-web swings. We also have this slide (she got it for her 1st birthday from a family member), a small plastic seesaw I got for $2 at a yard sale, a toy lawnmower, and a teeball set (the newest item we just got this year) kind of like this one.

We also have bubbles, chalk, and various balls.

Reminds me of this that I bought for my kids: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K0Q8LG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not apples to apples obviously, and to get the effect you'd need to build your own riser wall.

Link on Amazon


Edit: Old Asian dude in a wife eliminator for scale.

Edit 2: u/plainclothespolice has identified the gentleman.

Tomy giant swing horizontal bar-kun

What about this one

It's still $30 in Japan

http://www.amazon.com/TOMY-Giant-Swing-Iron-Bar-kun/dp/B00KMPA9N6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&dpID=51jg0NzxAOL&dpPl=1&keywords=gymnastics%20toy&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1451198119&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_2&sr=8-2

found it.

http://www.amazon.com/TOMY-Giant-Swing-Iron-Bar-kun/dp/B00KMPA9N6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451294267&sr=8-1&

Turner-tenåring. Svingstang-turner som tar salto og lander. https://www.amazon.com/TOMY-Giant-Swing-Iron-Bar-kun/dp/B00KMPA9N6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&dpID=51jg0NzxAOL&dpPl=1&keywords=gymnastics%20toy&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1451198119&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_2&sr=8-2

AmazonSmile Link: Jungle Gym Kingdom 2 Heavy Duty Swing Hangers with Locking Snap Hooks for Wooden Sets Playground Porch Indoor Outdoor Seat Trapeze Yoga | 1260 lb Capacity | Ebook Install Guide

^Use AmazonSmile to donate 0.5% of your purchase price to a charity of your choice at no extra cost to you.

This is a bad, bad, bad idea. Those kinds of tie down rings are not designed or rated for lifting or suspending humans. And the idea of stringing up a suspension bar between them? Rope stretches. Even climbing rope. There's no way you're going to get it tight enough that it's not going to sag.

If you don't want to purchase a suspension tripod, you can build your own A-frame pretty easily and inexpensively using swingset brackets.

https://www.amazon.com/Frame-Brackets-Complete-Mounting-Hardware/dp/B01M28VV0N

Get those, and some 4x4's and a 4x6 and you can build an A-frame that will be more than suitable for the load.