With technology becoming increasingly accessible to younger generations, parents are struggling to get their kids to disconnect from their iPads or computers. After spending a good 8 hours between school and homework, some kids just refuse to let the tech go and take a much-needed screentime break.
Encourage your kids to put down the video games and experience fresh air and sunshine by getting them a fun wooden swing set. When they head outside to play, you'll also get some peace and quiet inside the house and maybe a chance to catch up on those emails.
There are a few key things you need to consider before you buy a wooden swing set: price, materials, assembly, design, and size. You want a wooden swing set that fits your budget, as well as your yard, and if you're putting it together, you want the instructions to be clear and concise. Otherwise, you're going to want the option to have it assembled for you.
Retailers like Lowes have professional installers available — but generally, installation can cost a few hundred dollars, with some larger, more complex sets costing upwards of $500 to install. Alternatively, there are many local and regional landscapers that can conveniently assemble it for you. As you might have assumed, the more complex the swing set, the more time it takes to put together. Simple swing sets are easy to assemble on your own and can be done in an afternoon if you don't have to add a concrete stability base. I once built a fairly large set from KidKraft, and it took five people about 8 hours to put together. Every swing set on this list is from a company that makes sets that come with easy-to-follow instructions that are also downloadable if they get lost.
The swing sets chosen for this article are all well-crafted, innovative designs and a variety of sizes and configurations suited for children from ages 3 to 11. I caution you that if you see one you love, don't hesitate, because wooden swing sets sell out quickly in the summer months, to the point where this list is routinely being updated and evaluated.
Your children will never be at a loss for activities with this set by Natus Inc. It features a cool rocker swing, two traditional swings, monkey bars, a wave slide, and a large playhouse with solid wood finishes.
Made with Scandinavian fir, this swing set is extra durable, and thanks to the solid steel joints, and blown-plastic slide, your kids won't wreck it right out of the box.
Two words: slide races. And those slides are a staggering nine feet long. The whole thing is pretty grand, to be honest. The climbing wall is almost vertical, the swings are well-separated, and the two-level playhouse is intricately detailed.
The footprint is a little bit larger, as you would expect from such a dynamic wooden swing set. It's over 21x8 feet and taller than 10 feet. The solid cedar construction and steel joints give this set lasting durability. However, there are a ton of parts to this bad boy, so make sure you have plenty of friends willing to help put it together or have the pros from Lowe’s do it for you.
We love Backyard Discovery's solid cedar and steel construction, along with the sturdy molded plastic slides, handles, and swings.
This set has a fairly compact safety zone of 27 feet, yet it offers a vast range of activities: a playhouse, bench, two-person swing, two additional swings, a lookout, a 6-foot-tall slide, and a shaded area beneath the playhouse with a serving window.
If you know your kids might grow out of their jungle-gym phase fairly quickly, or you just don't have the space for a big one, this simple wooden swing set is the perfect choice. The kids can spend a few hours swinging back and forth during the day, and Mom and Dad can sneak on at night for stargazing.
This particular wooden swing set caters to those kids who are a little more creative, as it has a blackboard on the second floor to let their imaginations roam free. It’s also a great place for them to use up all that chalk instead of making “art” on your porch.
It's impossible for a child to get bored with this wooden swing set — there's just so much going on. A punching bag, climbing wall, tic-tac-toe game, slide, ladder, lookout, and three different swings comprise this beast of a playset.
The footprint is smaller, at 18 by 8 feet, so you can use it for a smaller location, a boon to those of us with smaller yards. Made of durable hardwood, blown plastic, and UPF canvas, Gorilla Playsets are built to last — although we do suggest bringing in the punching bag in the winter.
This backyard jungle gym is the stuff that kids' dreams are made of. Like everything KidKraft makes, it is built with the highest-quality materials — like cedar, thick, molded, sturdy plastic, solid steel, and rubber. It will last for years.
It has two slides, including a fun, covered twist slide, a kitchenette with a stove, sink, a utensil shelf, a mailbox, a clock, trimmed doors and windows, and two different interior play spaces.
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Best for Climbing
Real Wood Adventures Wildcat Falls Outdoor Playset
It makes sense that Little Tikes would make a set that is absolutely perfect for smaller kids. It's about 6 yards square, so it's super roomy, and the playhouse on top is 4 feet high.
This set has two rope swings and so many different climbing opportunities that it's really set itself apart from other swing sets on this list. A rope wall, a climbing wall, a rope ladder, and a traditional ladder all engage children's major motor muscle groups, encouraging them to really work and exercise as they play.
But don't sleep on that 8-foot long slide because its wavy shape is an instant hit with kids.
You'll love how much play happens in this wooden playset's compact 27-square-foot footprint. Gorilla playsets are known for their quality, durability, and innovation in design. This set manages to have a wave slide, a climbing wall, two swings, a hanging bar, and a playhouse in an area not much bigger than your average bedroom.
The solid wood and vinyl-covered steel construction of the swing set lets you know that this will take everything from desert heat to a Great Lakes winter with no problems.
Cat BowenParenting EditorCat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
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