It’s been a long three weeks. In this time, Jay and I discussed and bought The Mountaineer from Backyard Adventures. We didn’t buy the swing set that extends off the end, just the base fort with the slide, the rope ladder, rock wall and tire swing. I added a single swing to the side opposite the slide. We’ll get it delivered in May.
Why? Why spend a gob of money (man, these things are pricey) on a backyard set when we could go to the playground? It was a tough call. I want to be greener. I want to use public resources, BUT… I also want to get things done around the house. The girls love to play and climb and I know they will love this play set. We spent about 1 hour at the store and I watched how the loved to play on everything. I can watch from the back windows and maybe even sit on the deck and watch them play.
I feel better knowing that the wood is farmed, not wild wood. Silly, I know. I should be concerned about using too much wood to begin with, but if I go with wood, I would rather know it was farmed, which means it is replaced.
I do wonder how long it will take the girls to figure out how to climb on the roof of this toy?
Cool! I want one!
Sounds like a great investment. There are a lot of worse things your kids could do while you accomplish things around the house. Instead they’ll get exercise and fresh air.
I wouldn’t feel guilty. Having equipment right in their backyard will keep them way more active than relying on the playground. (Realistically, do you have time to go to the playground every day? I know I don’t.) And when they outgrow it, you can recycle it by selling it, or giving it away, or chopping it up and building something else out of the wood.
I bet thirty years from now when they’re all grown up, they’ll be telling their own kids about the awesome play set they had when they were little, and how much fun it was.
That is awesome! We are actually buying a 2nd hand one from a friend of a friend, so my compromise is that I’m recycling (of sorts). Of course, I don’t know how we’ll transport it and/or rebuild it, but I figure for the $$ we’re saving (they are only charging $300) we can pay someone to do it for us.
And in this day and age where so many parents don’t even let their kids play outside (or at least, don’t encourage it) you should be proud of your approach towards physical activity and outdoor play. We spend so much time outside when the weather is nice, I’m always amazed at how little other folks do!
How Cool! We wanted to buy the girls one last summer but our backyard really isn’t big enough for it….plus the money we’d still need to spend on landscaping, et al. We have a park within walking distance but, like you, I’d like to get things done around the house as well.
We went the playhouse route this summer. Hopefully that will come soon……maybe it can bring Spring and warmer weather as well.