Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Does this look boring for young kids?

70 replies

Yebbie · 30/01/2022 16:59

Been trying to find a climbing frame for toddler, wanted the pirate ship off Wickey but I'm reading reviews for Wickey that they just send you piles of wood, none it pre drilled or marked so you've got to measure and cut parts yourself and they don't offer an assembly service so it just seems risky

This is the best other option I can find and they will come out and install it all for us. I added a sandpit kit to make the underneath of the tower into a sand pit with a lid, and I added binoculars, steering wheel etc? It'll be for 2 kids, one currently unborn and one 2.5. I ordered it, with an extra wooden roof for the other tower and the other bits I mentioned including installation for £1200. Dh is now saying to cancel it as it's boring compared to the pirate ship and that's too much money for a boring climbing frame!

Is he right? I know it's a bit more simple than the pirate ship (second pic) but it does sound a lot simpler to be installed?

Does this look boring for young kids?
Does this look boring for young kids?
OP posts:
toppkatz · 30/01/2022 17:01

Looks very nice, it won't be boring at all. The pirate ship effect doesn't exactly stand out for me on the other one anyway.

iklboo · 30/01/2022 17:02

You could put your own bits on the first one to make it look like a pirate ship if you wanted. It's still a really good set with lots to do. The children can use their imagination so it can be anything they want. Is he maybe balking at the price?

Camomila · 30/01/2022 17:04

The non pirate ship one would be my DCs favourite I think because of the wobbly bridge.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Toys
Original poster
Yebbie · 30/01/2022 17:04

Pirate ship ends up more expensive once you add on the anchors and a baby swing etc, and it doesn't include assembly so we'd have to try and figure it out ourselves or pay a carpenter.

I think I'll just stick with the one we've ordered.. he convinced me it's crap but I'd of killed for something like this as a kid whether it's a pirate ship or not!

OP posts:
Camomila · 30/01/2022 17:05

Ignore me, the pirate ship also has a wobbly bridge!

Original poster
Yebbie · 30/01/2022 17:06

@Camomila

Ignore me, the pirate ship also has a wobbly bridge!
My toddler has insisted that a wobbly bridge is a non negotiable Grin
OP posts:
Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 30/01/2022 17:06

I think it looks great. But £1200 does seem a lot for a climbing frame, which may or may not get good use.

AnnaSW1 · 30/01/2022 17:07

I think the pirate ship one looks much better

BeBesideTheSea · 30/01/2022 17:07

What if your children aren’t that into pirates? The one you have ordered can be anything their imagination can conjure up - including a pirate ship

ParkheadParadise · 30/01/2022 17:09

I think it looks good.
The wobbly bridge is my favourite part.

JugglingJanuary · 30/01/2022 17:10

There are lots of places that do climbing frames, I'd have a look around.

Also I'd wait a while, unless you have a separate garden area. You'll have a small toddler wanting to play on it while you have a newborn, you can't leave the toddler on it alone while you take the baby in for a feed, bum change or settle to sleep. Really think about the timing, I think next year would be better or you're going to have to be very diligent at not leaving the toddler in the garden alone AtAll even when they appear to be playing with something else!!

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 30/01/2022 17:11

Stick a flagpole on the one you've chosen and it can be anything they want. They could even make flags themselves.

grey12 · 30/01/2022 17:11

Don't know in which planet either of those options is boring 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
Yebbie · 30/01/2022 17:12

@JugglingJanuary

There are lots of places that do climbing frames, I'd have a look around.

Also I'd wait a while, unless you have a separate garden area. You'll have a small toddler wanting to play on it while you have a newborn, you can't leave the toddler on it alone while you take the baby in for a feed, bum change or settle to sleep. Really think about the timing, I think next year would be better or you're going to have to be very diligent at not leaving the toddler in the garden alone AtAll even when they appear to be playing with something else!!

Toddler will be 3 a couple of months before baby is due and is park mad! Thinking it'll be a life saver with a newborn and not having to get a bus to the park all the time!
OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 30/01/2022 17:13

Both look fine but unless there is a reason you can't get out to a park I honestly wouldn't bother. Most kids enjoy the park not just because of the equipment butblso because there are other children. Initially they will only play alongside them but then start to play with them as they get older. I know people who have bought similar things and they very rarely get used.

LazyYogi · 30/01/2022 17:13

Actually imo the plainer the better. The kids can imagine it into anything they want...a castle fort, a spaceship, a house or indeed a ship!

Snowiscold · 30/01/2022 17:15

Your one is fine/great. I had no idea people put these in their own gardens. They look the sort of thing you get at playgrounds.

QforCucumber · 30/01/2022 17:17

We have one similar but much smaller, slide loookout tower and 2 swings. Ds1 is 6 next month and it’s still used on a daily basis in summer. Be careful to cover the sand though, cats like to use it as their toilet

PinkWaferBiscuit · 30/01/2022 17:25

Both look great but honestly £1200 is absolute madness to spend on something which will most likely sit unused for a good portion of the year.

I would definitely not spend so much especially as it's unlikely to buy you the peace you crave with a newborn as your son will likely want you to play with him. If you're set on a playset my advice is you could get a much cheaper option which will still be as enjoyable plus will leave you more money to buy a properly covered sand pit and lots of other garden toys.

minipie · 30/01/2022 17:26

They both look fab and very similar tbh. Kids care about what they can do on play equipment, not what shape it is.

LadyCatStark · 30/01/2022 17:30

How could that possibly be boring?? 😵 it looks awesome!

Original poster
Yebbie · 30/01/2022 17:35

It is a lot of money but dh just got his annual bonus from work and this works out just under 5% of that so it seems a fair amount to spend on the kids. I can't find anything better priced including installation that includes a bridge and 2 swings. Just don't want to spend that much on a boring play ground so panicked that I'd made a bad choice.

Toddler is park mad and the bus is a pain in the arse so I'm happy to pay for the convenience. I know what you mean when you say he may not play with it but I would be really surprised if he didn't. Hope I'm not wrong!

OP posts:
RedCandyApple · 30/01/2022 17:37

Kids will play on it, so I don’t agree with pp, I think you will definitely get use out of it mine would love that

truthfullylying · 30/01/2022 17:37

@grey12

Don't know in which planet either of those options is boring 🤷🏻‍♀️
ha - my thoughts too - seems completely Confused to be worried about a massive piece of play equipment being 'boring'!
gogohm · 30/01/2022 17:37

Just be aware that they never seem to enjoy what's in the garden as much as the park!