Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

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

Flip

1 2 3

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?

OP posts:

truthfullylying · 30/01/2022 17:39

It is a lot of money but dh just got his annual bonus from work and this works out just under 5% of that why not just start a thread called 'my DH got a massive bonus and I would like everyone to know'

PinkWaferBiscuit · 30/01/2022 17:42

@RedCandyApple

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

I didn't mean that it wouldn't be played with at all but honestly i know so many people with similar set ups although not quite as extravagant and they do indeed sit unused for a good portion of the year. The novelty wear off and it soon becomes just something that fades into the background of the garden.

Original poster

Yebbie · 30/01/2022 17:42

@truthfullylying

Just explaining why it seems reasonable. If it wasn't for that we wouldn't be buying anything like it.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Toys

FionnulaTheCooler · 30/01/2022 17:43

That play set looks amazing and hopefully your children will get a lot of enjoyment from it. Lazy summer days in your own garden with ice lollies and your own toilet nearby are so much easier than trailing two young kids out to the park. You can always add a trampoline for bit more variety if you don't already have one and have the space.

minipie · 30/01/2022 17:48

I do agree with PP who said this may actually make life more difficult in some ways.

Right now you have (I imagine) a safe garden which you could let 3 yr old DC pootle around in while you are indoors or popping and out with the baby.

Once you have a climbing frame you’re going to need to supervise older DC out there at all times, or bring him inside any time you have to go inside.

Do consider that before you go ahead. Sorry to be boring!

Also anything that is the right size now, the eldest will grow out of quite quickly.

In your shoes I might be more inclined to buy some safer play equipment - eg water table, space hopper, mud kitchen, play tent etc. Save the big climbing frame for when he is 5/6 plus.

2holibobssofar · 30/01/2022 17:50

Growing up, we had a swing set, an inner tube from a lorry for bouncing on, a sandpit and a small, vary basic ‘house’.
We were out playing on it all the time, throughout the year.
Even in cold weather, but a good coat, hat and gloves on and children will imaginatively play happily for hours.

Original poster

Yebbie · 30/01/2022 18:03

Does anyone here have older kids? Say 6+? Would your kids play on something like this still or would it be too small?

OP posts:

Suzi888 · 30/01/2022 18:04

Ooh looks fab!

JugglingJanuary · 30/01/2022 18:07

@grey12

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

There's not much actual play on them. a swing & a slide - it's an expensive way to get a swing & a slide, there are better options for £1200+

PinkWaferBiscuit · 30/01/2022 18:07

@Yebbie

Does anyone here have older kids? Say 6+? Would your kids play on something like this still or would it be too small?

Of course it won't be too small for 6 year olds, most parks have something similar. However by the time your child is 6 they will have had it for 3 years and the novelty will most likely have worn off. However your new child will then be using it so you'll get many years of it being used but probably not for parts of the year and probably not as independently for a while as you may imagine unless your almost 3 year old is very good at playing independently.

Goldbar · 30/01/2022 18:08

It looks great but personally I'd go for something a bit smaller and safer (unless you can fence it?) because I like to relax in the garden rather than having to watch DC every second. I also would never have swings in the garden (slide fine) because then they constantly ask to be pushed. Also, your baby will be on the move and climbing before you know it. My DC could have climbed that ladder by around 13/14 months so I would have spent my time hovering anxiously underneath.

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 30/01/2022 18:09

That looks amazing. And I'm sure kids 6+ would be still happy to play on it.

EducatingArti · 30/01/2022 18:10

My nephews have the pirate ship one and still play on it aged 8 and 6. They would play on the other one two to be honest. They turn it into all sorts of things in their imagination, not only ships. They put sheets over bits to turn it into dens and all sorts. I think your choice has some good play value for years.

womaninatightspot · 30/01/2022 18:15

We have one like the second but no wobbly bridge and three swings. I reckon we got three to five years decent use out of it before it was supplanted by massive trampoline and ninja line. It was really good with a newborn (two in fact I had twins!) Twin 6 yo sometimes still have a go but it sways slightly worryingly when older children swing enthusiastically. We have some wooden steps going over the garden wall to the veg garden. Highly recommend somewhere you can perch with a cup of tea.

Tinkywinkydinkydoo · 30/01/2022 18:19

Where I live you could easily get a carpenter to make and install either of those pictures for probably less than what you’re paying. Maybe see if you can get a quote from local tradesmen?

Undertheoldlindentree · 30/01/2022 18:23

I like the second one...more to spark the imagination. The little counter under the slide for playing shops...the dragons head on the front of the ship etc. I'd go for that and pay a carpenter to assemble it safely.

Redlorryyellowduck · 30/01/2022 18:25

My Wickey set definitely came drilled and pre cut, with excellent instructions. I'm baffled that they'd change that

JugglingJanuary · 30/01/2022 18:25

@Yebbie

Does anyone here have older kids? Say 6+? Would your kids play on something like this still or would it be too small?

They'd play on it, swings definitely, but mostly for a 'base' for building dents,playing rescue games, making it a house etc

For those saying how could it be boring? Don't look at the size of the structure, look at what it actually has! Swings/slide, there are better ways to spend £1200 IMO

At a previous house our structure like that had swings, Shuggie boat (thing like a small dinghy they sat in facing each other) which we changed to a sit on one as they got bigger, a small slide & a tall slide (proper ladder to climb up) fireman's pole, cargo net, rock climbing wall (just the foot holds like on the pirate one, but higher) a spiral thing they could climb up. A rope they could climb up or swing on. Plus some bits & bobs.

@Yebbie

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!

I understand that, but have a good think about how safe it is/how happy you'll be to leave him out there unsupervised or dragging him inside with you every time you/the baby need something. It was an arse ache!! The always get 'stuck' your step inside.

Also as others mentioned it's not just the swings & slide they like about the park. It's having your attention, other kids, the adventure.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!!

Original poster

Yebbie · 30/01/2022 18:32

People saying there are better options online for less/same price - where/what? I've been looking for weeks!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 30/01/2022 18:44

Your DH has a job including £20k+ bonuses and you have to take the bus?

Sorry I know that's not what you asked nor the point of the thread.

Hb12 · 30/01/2022 18:45

At 3 all of my kids would have been well capable of enjoying that competently, I would get it and enjoy it.

Get a swing seat for you too.

4pmwinetimebebeh · 30/01/2022 18:49

I want your husband and his bonus. That’s more than my yearly salary!

Caspianberg · 30/01/2022 19:06

I wouldn’t buy something like that either for a 2-3 year old. You will have to be watching them all the time, rather than letting them potter around whilst you feed baby.

You will have an almost 3 year old who will need watching a good 2 years, and then baby will need watching several years as well.

I would buy some stuff from plum uk. You can see that they mainly recommend the bigger stuff for 6+ years.

This would be lovely. He can climb, side, water play, lift stones and toys in the bucket, draw etc
www.plumplay.co.uk/discovery-woodland-treehouse.html

Buy a separate sandpit with lid. That way baby can play in sandpit and they are safe away from play climbing frame of older one is going crazy with friends.

Leave swings for the park. You have to push them until older and Lethal if baby crawls or toddlers in the way

grey12 · 30/01/2022 19:10

We got our more modest (a playhouse with a slide) play thing from TP toys. It's good quality. And we painted some features with the kids' favourite colours

HerRoyalHappiness · 30/01/2022 19:13

I'd play on that still and I'm 30
It looks amazing. I wish I had the money and space for one for my 6 and 8 year olds.

Flip

1 2 3