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Playscapes give your children a way to play outside and burn off their energy. Play sets vary widely in size and can have anywhere from a few swings to several swings, slides, forts, and rock walls, among other activity areas. They can also be made of wood, metal, or plastic. To learn more about your options, read our review on the best playscapes and swing sets on Amazon.
In This Guide: Top 5 | Buying Guide | FAQs | Why Trust This Old House
Top 5 Playscapes and Swing Sets
- Most Comprehensive: Backyard Discovery All-Cedar Wooden Swing Set
- Best for Toddlers: Simplay3 Climber and Activity Playset
- Best Swing Set: Swing-N-Slide Ranger Wooden Swing Set
- Best Budget Playscape: KidKraft Appleton Swing Set and Playset
- Best Portable Playset: Step2 Shaded Canopy Playset
Compare the Best Playscapes and Swing Sets
| Product | Weight Capacity | Material | Recommended Age | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Discovery All-Cedar Wooden Swing Set | 150 pounds | Cedar | 36 months to 10 years | 271 pounds | 169 x 173 x 118 inches |
| Simplay3 Climber and Activity Playset | 60 pounds | Plastic | Not listed | 25 pounds | 49 x 32 x 29 inches |
| Swing-N-Slide Ranger Wooden Swing Set | 350 pounds | Wood | 3 months to 10 years | 85 pounds | 104 x 92 x 82 inches |
| KidKraft Appleton Swing Set and Playset | 110 pounds | Wood and plastic | 36 months to 10 years | 140 pounds | 108 x 123 x 95 inches |
| Step2 Shaded Canopy Playset | Not listed | Plastic | 24 months to 8 years | 40 pounds | 47.5 x 47.5 x 60 inches |
| Product | Weight Capacity | Material | Recommended Age | Weight | Dimensions |
Most Comprehensive: Backyard Discovery All-Cedar Wooden Swing Set
Backyard Discovery All-Cedar Swing Set
- $799
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes an acrobat bar and monkey bars along with the two heavy-duty belt swings
✔ The slide is eight feet long
✔ Is easy to assemble thanks to the manufacturer’s app, which provides step-by-step instructions
✘ Excellent value, but more expensive compared to other playscapes and swing sets
✘ Kids 10 years and older may damage the playset
What Customers Are Saying
Many reviewers thought that this playset was ideal for kids older than toddlers, but younger than nine or 10 years old. Most families were satisfied with the number of physical activities this all-cedar wooden playset offers. Conversely, there were several complaints about the quality of the slide, stating that it felt flimsy and the included screws for installation didn’t seem sufficient.
Best for Toddlers: Simplay3 Climber and Activity Playset
Simplay3 Climber and Activity Playset
- $159.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Is made of weather- and UV-resistant plastic
✔ Fits through a standard doorway
✔ Is lightweight, so parents can easily move the playset indoors or outdoors
✘ Has limited features compared to other playscapes
✘ Some customers thought that this playscape was overpriced
What Customers Are Saying
Parents who reviewed this climber and activity playset valued its simplicity and quick, pain-free assembly. They also liked that the playset was safe for younger kids given its lack of small objects and being low to the ground. However, other reviewers said that the playset was much smaller than they expected and that their little ones quickly grew bored of the set.
Best Swing Set: Swing-N-Slide Ranger Wooden Swing Set
Swing-N-Slide Ranger Wooden Swing Set
- $299
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Uses Plastisol-coated chains to prevent pinched fingers and rust
✔ Includes pre-fabricated materials and detailed instructions for assembly
✔ Meets and/or exceeds ASTM safety standards for backyard residential use
✘ Some customers said that the set was smaller and less sturdy than they expected
✘ The swing set can’t support fully-grown adults or those over 115 pounds
What Customers Are Saying
Positive highlights in customers’ reviews included the quality of materials, clarity of the assembly instructions, and responsiveness of the manufacturer’s customer support team. Negative feedback included the swing set’s relatively small size and flimsiness.
Best Budget Playscape: KidKraft Appleton Swing Set and Playset
KidKraft Appleton Swing Set and Playset
- $387.6
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ The beginning-level rock wall helps inspire confidence in young climbers
✔ The wave slide has extra-high rails at the top for safety
✔ The covered deck offers kids a cool, shaded spot to play
✘ The swing set can only accommodate kids aged 3 to 7
✘ A trapeze bar isn’t included
What Customers Are Saying
Parents of young kids liked this playset for its value and overall build quality. Some users also said that the swings accommodated fully-sized adults, despite the manufacturer recommending against this. Other users thought that the instructions were unclear and that the playset was smaller than they imagined.
Best Portable Playset: Step2 Shaded Canopy Playset
Step2 Shaded Canopy Playset
- $177.93
- $199.99
- 11% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes a 16-piece accessory kit for enhanced pretend play
✔ The walled plastic construction is durable and resistant to chips, fading, and cracks
✔ The playset is designed to encourage and develop fine motor skills, role-playing, and more
✘ Doesn’t have a swing set, slide, or traditional playscape amenities
✘ Some reviewers complained about poor customer service
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers enjoyed watching their kids play for hours on end using this simple plastic playset, stating that it was easy to put it together. On the other hand, some customers thought that the assembly instructions were unclear, and wished that the set came with more interactive toys.
Buying Guide
From material to assembly, here are a few of the factors you should consider before purchasing a playscape or swing set.
Activities
Your playset may have swings, slides, tunnels, rock walls, monkey bars, climbing ropes, and forts, among other activities, depending on the model you buy. If your child has a specific activity they want to be able to do on their playscape, make sure to choose one that includes it. However, we recommend choosing a playscape that has several other activities in addition to the one they prefer to give your child some variety to play and explore.
Material
Swing sets are made of wood, metal, or plastic. Some may have components made of a combination of materials.
Wood
Wooden playsets have an outdoorsy appearance that allows them to blend in with your yard. They also have a sturdy frame. However, they can take a long time to assemble, and they require yearly maintenance in the form of staining and other wood preservation treatments. They also cost more, but this is balanced out by their decades-long life.
Metal
Metal swing sets are highly durable as long as they have a powder coating to protect them from the elements. They’re also fairly stable and easier to assemble than wooden playscapes. However, as soon as their coating starts chipping, they can bend, break, and rust. They don’t have the same aesthetic appeal as wooden swing sets, either.
Plastic
Plastic swing sets are the most affordable and easiest to assemble. They’re usually smaller in size with a lower weight capacity and fewer activities, making them best for toddlers. The plastic material can also warp or fade from being repeatedly exposed to the elements.
Size
Measure your backyard and choose a playscape that will comfortably fit. Leave extra space on all sides to ensure that your child can maneuver around it and use climbing ropes, slides, and other activities that stick out from the frame.
Weight Capacity
The manufacturer will tell you how much weight its playscape can hold. This is usually expressed in terms of how many children can play on it at once and how much each child can weigh. These numbers vary depending on the set’s size and material, but most will be able to hold at least two or three children who each weigh around a hundred pounds.
Assembly
It can take days to safely assemble a swing set yourself, especially if it’s made of wood or has several built-in activities. If you want to speed up the process, get a friend or family member to help you or hire a professional. Choosing a metal or plastic set will also cut down on installation time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I prevent my children from getting injured on a playscape?
Small injuries, such as falling off the swings, are inevitable with a playscape because children are still learning how to balance and maneuver their bodies. However, you can prevent major injuries by following these steps to ensure your swing set is safe:
- Ensure that moving parts, springs, and hooks are covered to prevent your children’s fingers from getting jammed, pinched, or crushed.
- Do a thorough inspection of your swing set at least once a month to ensure that all of the parts are working correctly and that it’s not showing signs of wear.
- Oil metal parts once a month to ensure smooth movements.
- Sand your wooden swing set when you see splinters forming.
- Apply a stain to your wooden playscape once a year.
- Surround the playscape with sand, mulch, or wood chips to ensure a softer landing if your child falls.
How much do playscapes cost?
It mostly depends on the types of material used in their construction:
- Wood: Basic wooden swing sets with just a few swings cost $100-$500. A medium-sized playscape with a few activities can cost $500-$2,000. A massive playscape with several activities can cost upwards of $10,000.
- Metal: Standard metal swing sets cost $80-$500, but you can get high-end models for $500-$4,000.
- Plastic: Plastic playscapes are much cheaper, usually costing between $100 and $1,200.
Are playscapes and swing sets the same thing?
The terms playscapes, playsets, and swing sets are used interchangeably, but technically speaking, swing sets just have swings, while playscapes and playsets have several activities, usually in addition to swings.
At what age should a child get a swing set?
The recommended age for a child to get a swing set is between three and four years old. Generally, if your child is able to safely climb onto the seat of the swing without any assistance, they’re old enough to swing. However, at this age, parental supervision is still recommended.
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