Benefits of Outdoor Playsets and Outdoor Play
In addition to providing hours of enjoyment, a playset can significantly benefit a child.
Physical Benefits: Running, climbing, jumping, etc., all help build strength and endurance, and can help combat childhood obesity. These activities also help improve balance and coordination.
Social Benefits: Interacting with friends during play provides experience with decision-making and resolving differences.
Learning and Creativity Benefits: Outdoor play helps a child exercise imagination.
Choose the Best Play Structure for Your Child
Playset kits allow you to create a home playground that helps your child realize the benefits above.
Choose between a wood playset, metal playset or plastic playset. Wood playsets offer a warm, rich look that blends in well with the landscape. They’re designed to be insect- and rot-resistant but require some regular maintenance to keep the lumber in good shape. Metal playsets require less maintenance — typically just a bit of touch-up paint applied to scratches. Plastic playsets are generally a great choice for younger children since the design is smaller in size and the smooth material is less likely to hurt their skin. They’re also low maintenance, rarely needing anything more than a simple spray down with a hose.
Tailor your home-playground equipment to your space, your budget and your child’s favorite activities and interests. Most sets include a tower and a swing set. From there, you can find sets with slides, rings, sandboxes, picnic tables and climbing areas.
Make sure the activities and accessories are appropriate. For example, children under the age of five shouldn’t play on anything above 5 feet high. If they can’t climb a wall or swing on their own, then they’re not ready for the accessory yet. Gradually change accessories as your child grows. You can find add-on components, such as trapeze bars, punching bags, periscopes and basketball goals.
Match the playset to your space. In addition to room for the playset, you need an unobstructed area of at least 6 feet around the entire structure and its accessories. For swings, allow additional clearance in front and behind that extends at least twice the height of the swing beam. Think about future plans for flower beds, trees, shrubs or fences — any additions that could encroach upon the safety zone. You’ll also need room to stage the tools and materials during assembly.
Do the assembly yourself. Most playsets require only standard tools for assembly. Tools, such as a drill/driver, wrenches, a ratchet and sockets, a tape measure, a level, a hammer, locking pliers, and a shovel, will meet most needs. You’ll also need the proper suggested safety equipment. But if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, consider Lowe’s playset installation service instead. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from selecting a playset that’ll work best for your home to having it built by professional installers.
Some home playset kits include the components, hardware and wood or metal structural elements. But you may need to purchase and cut the lumber separately for other wooden swing sets and wooden playsets.
Assembling an Outdoor Playset
If assembling the playset yourself is your preferred option, use these guidelines below to help ensure successful installation.
General Things to Consider
- Read the assembly instructions before beginning your work and follow them during assembly.
- Follow all homeowners association (HOA) regulations or building codes that apply to your work.
- Playset parts can be heavy, so enlist a helper.
- Verify you have all the parts that should be included with the kit. Your manual should include information on what to do if anything is missing.
- Use only the specified hardware and fasteners.
- Plan realistically for assembly time. Depending on the size of the playset, construction could take 10 to 16 hours. Your manual should provide an estimate.
Select a Location for the Playset, Prep the Area and Level the Ground
- You’ll want at least 6 feet of open space on every side of the playset so kids have enough room to run and play freely.
- Think about visibility. If possible, install the playset where it can be seen from various windows in the house, so you can more easily keep an eye on playing children.
- Locate a level area for the playset, clear of obstacles like tree stumps, low-hanging limbs, overhead wires, etc. Don’t install over hard surfaces. Consider a location that provides some shade to protect your child from the sun and to prevent burns from hot metal surfaces.
- Call 811 to check for underground utilities. You may need to dig to level the ground, improve drainage or lay fill material.
- If you need to level the ground, measure out the space where the playset will go and mark the perimeter with wooden stakes and string. Then use a level to make sure strings are plumb, remove the grass with a shovel and choose the type of cushioning material — which is how you’ll determine how deep you need to dig to get level ground — though this will be added later. Check multiple areas around the location to ensure the whole foundation is level.
Playground Surface Options
- Add loose-fill material (shredded bark or rubber mulch, wood chips, sand, or fine gravel) under the playset and at least 6 feet beyond it in all directions to help protect children in case of a fall. The proper depth after the material settles is 6 to 12 inches, depending on the type of material and the potential fall height. Check your documentation for specifics or read our Mulch Buying Guide.
Swing Set Anchors
- Properly anchor the playset to keep it stable during play and in windy weather conditions. You’ll want to install the anchors before adding any mulch, gravel or other surface.
Test Your Playset
Before giving the okay for the kids to go play, test that the playset equipment and accessories are secure. This can be done by simply pushing or pulling down on swings, slides, anchors and other features.
Playground and Playset Safety
- Make sure the outdoor playset doesn't have gaps between 3-1/2 inches and 9 inches (for example, spaces between railing balusters and ladder rungs). These gaps could trap a child.
- Maintain separate play zones in your kids' playground to avoid collisions, and allow enough room for children to dismount from toys without hitting another component or a child.
- Keep the safety zone around the playset free of any obstacles.
- Anchor ropes and chains (except those used for swings) at both ends — so they can't be looped back on themselves — to reduce the risk of strangulation.
- Remove any tree branches that are too close to the play area.
- Remove worn-out or neglected playsets immediately to prevent accidents.
Adult supervision is a must. Stop dangerous behavior before injuries occur and teach safe play rules:
- Look: Never run behind or in front of someone who's swinging.
- Share: Take turns on swings, climbers and slides.
- Dry It: Don't play on a wet playset.
- Be Nice: Don't shove, push or roughhouse.
Maintaining Outdoor Play Structures
Frequently inspecting your playset and keeping it in good shape helps you provide a safe play area and protects your investment. Your manual should provide maintenance steps, but here are some general tips.
- Tighten loose fasteners and correct protruding bolts.
- Make sure guardrails or other barriers are intact.
- Replace worn and damaged parts: chains, ropes, hardware, canopies and activity pieces.
- Sand any rough areas.
- Maintain the correct depth of fill material.
- Clean the playset components with dish soap or an appropriate all-purpose cleaner.
- Take down swinging components and ropes before winter. Be sure to inspect them and before reinstalling.
- Lubricate the swing hangers every spring.
- Clean wood components with a pressure washer every three years. Once dry, apply a wood sealer.