Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

Oftentimes, the telltale sign of a house with children is the landscape. A worn down yard and a driveway littered with toys and bicycles are just a couple of the indicators that children are afoot. Another increasingly less common sign is the household swing set, once a fixture of many a home’s backyard but now a novelty in many neighborhoods.

Swing sets, it seems, have gone the way of the tree house, which also appears headed for extinction. However, just because these items are no longer as common as they once were doesn’t mean children don’t still want them. While a tree house is a more involved project (and one that could result in injury down the road), a swing set takes far less time to erect and carries with it a far lesser risk of injury.

Before installing your kids’ very own backyard playground, however, there are a few things to consider.

• Look for an adjustable swing set. As any parent knows, kids grow quickly. A swing set, be it a metal or wooden set, should be easily adjustable.

While kids will eventually grow out of a swing set, it should be looked at as something your kids will be able to enjoy for several years. Consider how much they’re likely to grow over that time span and buy a set accordingly.

• Place it in an area that allows for more room. Eventually, your kids will likely want a slide to go with their swing set. If you place the swing set in the wrong area, such as the rear corner of a fenced in backyard, you might be limited by how much you can expand, or you might have to move the swing set entirely. Place it far enough away from a fence so when it comes time to add a slide or jungle gym the process won’t take up too much time and will go as smoothly as possible.

• Read instructions carefully.

Some swing sets have strict weight restrictions, while others might need to be anchored in the ground with cement.

Read the instructions carefully or you could be putting your kids at great risk.

• Know the building code and call your insurance company. Some cities might require homeowners to get a building permit before they can erect anything in their yard, including swing sets. In addition, if your yard isn’t fenced in already, building codes might mandate you install a fence before erecting a swing set.

It’s also a good idea to call your insurance provider. Some insurance policies forbid swing sets and other items, while others will simply raise your premiums.