Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

AIBU?

To not get any sort of large garden toy

107 replies

lecce · 31/05/2013 21:16

Sorry this is so dull but it is on my mind as neighbours have just installed a huge slide/swing/cabin-combo as well as the trampoline they already had. This has been noted by the dc.

These things all cost a bomb and I am unsure whether we would ever get our money's worth. We have two decent parks with a variety of play equipment within easy walking distance, as well as loads of countryside we can walk to from the house. We get out and about all the time to various places with adventure playgrounds etc so they have plenty of access to playground equipment of various kinds.

And yet...I look out of my bedroom window and most of the gardens have a trampoline, a swing, a slide - often more than one item. Some houses must be childless, so the vast majority of families have these things, right? Are they worth it?

We could afford to get something but money isn't limitless and I would feel mightily pissed off if it sat there ruining the lawn and not being played with.

AIBU?

OP posts:

Thanks

Share

Report

SizzleSazz · 31/05/2013 21:17

Our trampoline is fab and worth every penny 4 times over

Thanks

LindyHemming · 31/05/2013 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 31/05/2013 21:20

We have a wooden playhouse that is fantastic and worth every penny.

No trampolines or anything though. Not a fan of trampolines anyway.

Thanks

welliesandpyjamas · 31/05/2013 21:21

Sticks, buckets, stones, planks of wood, water pistols - this keeps my two boys outside from under my feet and entertained for hours! We may build a treehouse in time but no slides and swings attached. That's what parks are for imo.

Thanks

SizzleSazz · 31/05/2013 21:22

Why no fan Sirzy? Ours is sunk into the ground so no ugly net etc

Thanks

BarredfromhavingStella · 31/05/2013 21:23

We have trampoline, sandpit, swings, playhouse, slide & see-saw-my two play out most of the day so definitely get good wear out of them.

Thanks

Toughasoldboots · 31/05/2013 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorkingtoohardMama · 31/05/2013 21:25

We've got quite a lot, 2 slides, a trampoline and a little tikes house.

The house is mainly used for storing the smaller stuff (scooters etc) but the slides and trampoline have been fantastic value for money, the dc use them at every opportunity (even in the snow!)

I do sometimes gaze enviously at my neighbours lovely toy free gardens, but the things we've got have been worth every penny.

Thanks

Liara · 31/05/2013 21:26

Our trampoline is possibly the best investment we have ever made in terms of keeping us sane the dc entertained.

Swings are nice but don't get anything like as much use, other things are used more.

Haven't built the treehouse yet, but it's next on our list.

We do have a very large garden though.

Thanks

ShatnersBassoon · 31/05/2013 21:26

Your choice.

We have a climbing frame, a swing, a rope swing, a see-saw and we've just built a tree house. They mean I don't have to make outdoor play an event and I can get on with stuff at home and let the kids run riot without me having to give up an hour or so taking them somewhere. It's worth it for the convenience. I like being at home more than I like being at the park.

Thanks

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 31/05/2013 21:29

You can sometimes get trampolines on Freegle OP. Also on Facebook selling pages cheaply. DO it. They are very good.

Thanks

Almostfifty · 31/05/2013 21:31

We had swings, slide, trampoline, sandpit so that I could do some gardening while they played.

We used to spend every single minute we could outdoors when mine were young.

Thanks

Maryz · 31/05/2013 21:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hottea7 · 31/05/2013 21:32

Our garden is full full of shit trampoline massive slide climbing frame combo boat swing sand pitt tractor prams, I look at my neighbours garden all beautiful with one swing.... and I think fuck it they will move out one day!

Thanks

Maryz · 31/05/2013 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mootime · 31/05/2013 21:34

After swearing I'd never get one as they are seriously fugly we have just given in and got a trampoline. I actually think I live it. DS and all his friends love it. Between that and the tree house I may never have to face a hideous soft play ever again!

Thanks

TigOldBitties · 31/05/2013 21:36

YABU, its fun.

The trampoline is one of the best things we've ever bought. We've had 2 and I have never regretted it.

We've had other things, slides, sandpits, swings, I wasn't that impressed by any of them, but I'd say the trampoline was the best thing.

Trampolines are also excellent campsites and sun loungers.

Having a decent sized paddling pool is wonderful when the weathers good but you don't get the full use in this country.

Thanks

AnneEyhtMeyer · 31/05/2013 21:38

We have a trampoline, a slide, a swing and a sandpit. Plus other little stuff we keep in the garage and bring out on sunny days.

DD loves it, I love being able to let her play out with no effort from me, and the equipment is used all year round - she was even using the slide in the snow.

Anything that keeps her occupied and uses up her energy is worth it in my book.

Thanks

AnneEyhtMeyer · 31/05/2013 21:39

Meant to add, one of our friends refuses to put toys in the garden because they ruin the grass. I thought grass was for playing on.

Thanks

Smudging · 31/05/2013 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dogsmom · 31/05/2013 21:41

I remember looking at my area on google maps and was amazed at the amount of trampolines there are.

Thanks

hardbeingme · 31/05/2013 21:44

have just officially handed garden to dcs or you'd think so anyway...

the trampoline i like least, just cos with the safety net it takes up so much room, got that in the tesco exchange thingy so didn't technically take any cash, and the kids love it

my best buy would be the littke tikes wave climbing frame £60 off ebay but i think for amount of use we've had from it its been more than worth it. will sell it on in a couple of years and probably get back what we paid regularly doubles up as rapunzels tower and i believe naughty pirates live under it too :)

we had a plastic playhouse but once ds1 and 2 discovered they could dismantle it it got rehomed
also have a large little tikes slide which mil got even though i didn't want it loads of ride on toys and seesaw things

it doesn't look great but they love it and spend hours out there, plus it won't be for long aside from the trampoline as they'll be too big for it all.

Thanks

whiteandyellowiris · 31/05/2013 21:45

its nice to have things at home though

we have a lovely playhouse, a swing,slide and skyride combo thing
and a big trampoline

the trampoline is the best buy

and dd loves it and visitors love it

we also have bikes,scoters, sandpit, space hoppers.

been out there half the day today

Thanks

Taffeta · 31/05/2013 21:45

We have a climbing frame thingy with swing, slide and things for them to dangle off. It's wooden s looks quite nice, but it's also quite well hidden so isn't an eyesore. We've had it 6 years and its had a lot of use.

We've also moved it, which was easy ish to do.

Thanks

lecce · 31/05/2013 21:47

Thank you for replies.

Just want to add that our dc do have garden toys, just nothing big, apart from a delightful purple hippo from Toys R Us that doubles as a sand-pit and paddling pool and has, tbf, been played with a lot.

Am leaning towards a trampoline as I do have a secret desire for one and I can imagine my two playing under it in dens etc, as well as on it.

I think my reluctance to buy this sort of thing stems from my childhood - this sort of stuff was like drinking Coke at home - something other people did but not what 'our sort' did .

OP posts:

Thanks

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.