Do You Know What Your Children Are Up To?
While looking at a number of different Backyard Discovery playsets (being the grandfather of a beautiful three year old granddaughter will get you back into looking at these things after your children have all grownup) I was struck by one of the comments imbedded into the description provided for one of their playsets. It stated simply that, "The glider, climbing wall, wave slide, and treehouse style will make this playset a favorite in the neighborhood." Well, let me tell you, that sentence started me on a trip down memory lane!
Reviewing my own life after seeing this sentence helped me to recall a stunning similarity to the way I was raised as a child and the way my wife and I raised our own children. My mother was always one to open up our home to the other children in the neighborhood as a place to play, and my wife was exactly the same way. One of the benefits of taking this approach is that my mother almost always knew what I was up to, and we always had a pretty good idea what our children were up to as well.
Another thing that was eerily common was that growing up my parents installed a swingset in our backyard and we had a jungle gym playset put up in our backyard as well. In both cases, the installation of this equipment proved to be a neighborhood "kid magnet" making it easy to keep track of what the children were up to a vast majority of the time. This is not to say that children of families with a backyard discovery playset are somehow put into "lockdown," as reasonable people know that the children need to visit other children's homes as well, but rather an acknowledgement that the addition of this type of equipment seems to create a natural gravitation back to the homes that have this type of playset.
For those that are committed to providing their children with the best developmental environment as possible, it is well known that a big part of positive development comes from simply displaying an interest in their lives. Yes, sometimes they will fight this as they are trying to develop their independence, but for the most part this method of nurturing is good for the child's soul. Perhaps you are thinking that it is a pretty big leap to go from adding a playset to your backyard to nurturing the soul of your child, but when one stops to consider a playset as an investment in their child's development instead of as just a toy for them to play with; things come into a little better focus.
Backyard playsets are more than just a toy. They are a learning environment that helps to teach social skills, enhances ones ability to problem solve, a way to conquer certain fears and develop self-confidence, and a means for providing a great vehicle for developing different muscle groups through climbing, swinging, running, and jumping. If a backyard playset were to be looked at as if it were a food group, it would be the "wonder food" offering a complete serving of all of the major food groups in one! There must be a good reason why a backyard playset is such a draw with the kids. Could it be because they are just fun and challenging at the same time?
The conclusion of this little trip down memory lane and re-visiting the positive developmental aspects of having a playset in ones backyard has just further convinced me that it is time for our granddaughter to be afforded the same opportunity to learn and to grow with a backyard playset of her own. So it looks as if Grandpa will have to enter into serious negotiations with his son and daughter-in-law to start the process of figuring out which style of Backyard Discovery playset is going to be best for her (and the grandson that is on the way)!
Building a backyard playground can be one of the best ways to create your own playground at a low price. Giving your kids this method of working off their energy can help you have a bit of peace and quiet, and can give them a means of staying healthy by doing vigorous exercise. While building your own backyard playground set will take you a good deal of time and effort, it can be a great project that can help you exercise your carpentry skills. Building your own backyard playground set can also be an excellent project that you can do with your children, and you may find that it is one of the best things that you can do to make your home a happier place.
Building your own backyard playground is a fairly straightforward process, and you need to be sure to do each step properly in order to ensure that your backyard playground is the best one possible.
1. Take Measurements
The first thing to do is to evaluate the space you have to work with. Whether you have a small or large backyard, there will be obstacles that you will have to work around. Trees, rocks, your roof eaves, gardens, walls, and other obstacles will limit the amount of space that you have to work with, and it is vital that you measure these obstacles and limits to ensure that you know the dimensions of the playset that you will build.
1. Gather Materials
The materials that you will need will depend on the side and complexity of the playground that you will be building. You can easily find plans for any number of playground sets online, and you can use these diagrams to help you draw up the plans for your playground set. The advantage of building your own playground is the fact that you can customize it to fit your backyard, and you should draw up detailed plans of your playset. Make sure to label every measurement, every angle, every joint, and every cut that will need to be made. Being prepared is having more materials that you will need to complete the project, and you should make sure that you have all of the materials that you will need before getting started with the project.
1. Build
The time has come for you to build your home playground set, and you should make sure to take your time in doing so. Make sure to build slowly and do a good job, as you will want to be certain that your playset is properly built. Building too fast may mean that you cut corners and do a sloppy job, which could result in your playset breaking before its time. Take the time to go slowly, follow your plans exactly, and make sure that everything is built well.
1. Finalize
Once you have completed the construction, take a few final precautions to ensure that the playground set is properly constructed. Instead of just using screws or bolts, make sure to add some wood glue in between the joints to hold them together properly. Make sure that the structure is sound, and add a layer of sealant to ensure that the wood doesn't get rain, snow, water, or other weather damage. Make sure that you also seal the wood against any bugs or termites that would contribute to its damage. Sand the entire structure to remove any splinters.
1. Test
Always make sure that you test your playset before allowing your children to play on it. Make sure that the frame of the playset is sturdy and doesn't wobble, and make sure that no boards or planks are loose. Check to ensure the none of the boards have weak spots that will cause them to crack, and reinforce the structure and support of your playground as much as possible.
1. Play
Once you are certain everything is ready, let your kids run wild over their new playset.
If you would rather buy a backyard playset for your children rather than make one, you may want to consider a Backyard Discovery playset. These playsets are easy to assemble, and the price of a Backyard Discovery playset is actually fairly low. You can find a Backyard Discovery playset in a number of department stores around the country, and one of these playsets could be a simpler and easier investment for you than building your own would be.
