Wood Swing Set

Small Swing Sets

There are a couple of good reasons why small swing sets are so popular.

The first reason is that someone may not have enough money for a larger swing set. The second is that your yard may not be big enough to accommodate a larger structure.

If money is the problem, then it's really not a problem at all. Start by getting a small swing set, but be sure to get one that is expandable. Obviously you'll want to stay within your budget. Here's the beauty of it. If you start while your child is young, he or she will no doubt love the new set and play on it daily. But you can make sure he never gets tired of it. If you get an expandable swing set, you can simply add to it every year. This keeps the costs down and the interest up. Your child will continue to want to play on it because there is always something new each year. And believe me, you will run out of years well before you run out of possible additions. If you have a little more money one year, you can add two or three items. It's a great way to keep your kid playing outside and looking forward to whatever it is you plan to add. It sure beats him sitting on the floor and playing video games.

If however space is the problem, then you'll need to be a little creative. Fortunately swing set manufacturers have been creative as well. They have created a number of structures designed to fit into limited areas. All you need to do is set your budget, pick the material, figure out how much space you have, then go shopping for the ideal set. Remember bigger isn't always better.

We've seen activity gyms for younger children that fit into an area that is 4.5 feet by 4.5 feet. These come with holes to crawl through, a small slide and even a climbing wall.

Older children will enjoy sets that can easily fit into a 9 foot by 9 foot area. They'll have two swings, a glider and a trapeze. You can even put a sandbox underneath without taking up any additional space.

If you decide on a metal swing set just be sure it is galvanized. And check out the weight limit. Some small swing sets have weight restrictions for children. If you select a wood set, it will last longer and be able to support your child as he gets older and bigger.

Here's the thing that might surprise you. Small swing sets, for whatever reason, will often hold your child's interest just as well as an elaborate set up with a ton of accessories. And a smaller set will encourage him to use his imagination better as well. So before you go out and buy the deluxe model with the 4 swings, rope net, climbing wall, slide, monkey bars, covered fort, platform bridge and a ton of other things, consider how much of this your child will really use. We believe he'll likely be just as happy, if not more so, with a couple of swings and perhaps a slide.

It's certainly a lot better go get a small set your child can use today rather than making him wait until you've saved up a couple of thousand dollars to buy the ultra deluxe model.