To not get any sort of large garden toy

[lecce]

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?

[5madthings]

We have a wooden play hit on legs with a slide and climbing wall and rope ladder and a trampoline a d a sea saw, they are fab. We have parks close by but I don't always want to take them to the park and I know their is no dog shit in our garden unlike at the park!

They have def been worth the money.

[CreatureRetorts]

YANBU

Ds loves doing stuff in the garden like digging, running around playing with a ball or cars or making ramps etc.

I do think he'd love a slide etc but we are reluctant as we have a park a few mins away and I prefer not to risk it as he might not be that fussed. I am going to get a football goal and a playhouse one day though.

[CreatureRetorts]

YANBU

Ds loves doing stuff in the garden like digging, running around playing with a ball or cars or making ramps etc.

I do think he'd love a slide etc but we are reluctant as we have a park a few mins away and I prefer not to risk it as he might not be that fussed. I am going to get a football goal and a playhouse one day though.

[ShatnersBassoon]

[TigOldBitties]

Wait, whaaaat?! Drinking coke at home and not for 'our sort', what does that mean?

Are you posh?

[Bowlersarm]

Definitely recommend a trampoline.

1. the kids burn off loads of energy bouncing around
   
2. hours of entertainment when their friends come round
   
3. my teens still spend time on it either bouncing or just sitting or lying 'chilling' on it with each other or their mates
   
   Tis a fab investment, used for many years

[lecce]

Not my snobbery - my mother's wannabe snobbery really. I don't know, I'm just thinking about things we didn't ever have and can so imagine, and in some cases remember, her calling them 'common' - not how I think.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Lecce we didn't drink coke at home...because we couldn't afford it! Does it still mean we were "your sort"?

[LastOrdersAtTheBra]

We have a trampoline, assorted ride ons and a playhouse. They're all used loads, parks are great but I can't leave the DC there while I cook.

[Patchouli]

yanbu
I like the garden too much to put a trampoline in it. I might consider it if the garden was huge - but I also think I've seen too many 'You've Been Framed's... look like a death trap to me.
We've got a playhouse, ping pong and a tyre swing. With extras like picnics, bubbles, chalks growing, bug collecting rabbit and chickens that's more than enough.

[HenriettaPye]

I have a 3yo- we have a swing set, a climbing frame/slide, 2 rockers, a playhouse, a big car, a bike, a scooter, a sand pit and a trampoline. DS rarely looks at any of them- he much prefers the spray bottle we use to water the plants and the garden tap

[minibmw2010]

eBay is your friend. We've bought a slide for £22 (£95 new) and are keeping an eye on a climbing frame. Search for things that are being sold locally and need picking up.

[marriedinwhiteagain]

We might have had more stuff except that DH is a bit anal about the grass and we live next to one brilliant park and a short walk to a better one.

The sandpit was best followed by a cheap blow up paddling pool with the slide bottom on it. Used to keep slide on patio when not used to save grass and had a chargeable hoover to get sand back in sandpit . The slide went last year - to neighbours and it was very sad. We do luffs DH though - even his pernickety ways.

[WuzzleMonkey]

I don't 'do' snobbery about plastic garden tat.

My kids have stuff in the garden that they play with and makes them happy.

I don't concern myself with what nosey neighbours might think of us if they invade our privacy by peering at it.

[mootime]

My very posh inlaws bought des the trampoline. Does that make it better OP

[marriedinwhiteagain]

And I meant to add on warm sunny days most fun was had with the hose pipe. I can still hear the squeals of delight from small herds of under 8s dashing about in their pants and knickers. And the elderly lady next door leaning out of her upstairs window and laughing too.

[FoodieToo]

We have swings,rings,climbing stones ,huge trampoline,goals,basketball net and have plans for more. Hope to put up a climbing net,some kind of a putting green and a gymnastics bar soon.

I mean why not?

The more time the kids spend in the garden the better. Fresh air and exercise is good.
I have a friend who refuses to get swings because they have swings in the park??

I don't understand that at all.


Make your home as much fun as it can be.

[lecce]

Yes, the further I get into parenthood, the more I understand how odd my parents were/are.

I'm not on FB but dh has been instructed to investigate the selling pages. Btw, I don't peer into neighbours' gardens - my house is in a raised position and I can't help but see what's there. Don't think badly of anyone though - it's myself I think badly of for not having any of it yet - ds1 is 6.

[PoppyWearer]

Yes they cost a bomb unless you buy them on eBay in March like me

Asda Direct had good deals on garden toys and playsets earlier in the week, if that's still on.

[Southwestwhippet]

My mum bought us a trampoline in 1990ish. It is still going now. It saw 5 kids from babies up to adults and was never out of use.

Even as too cool teenagers, we still used it for lounging around chatting and secret smoking. In fact, my sister is at Uni and she still uses it for sunbathing.

The dogs lie on it quite a lot these days to catch the sun, and it is now seeing second round service for my mum's grandchildren.

Cannot recomend them highly enough. I bought my daugher one for Christmas when she was 2 and she plays on it all the time.

[racmun]

We have trampoline swing slide sandpit and live a 2 minute walk to the park.
It's great having stuff in the garden as you don't always want to have to go out and they can be just as happy in the garden.

The trampoline was £100 and worth every penny.

[fossil971]

It's hard to know what they will enjoy. I stuck it out against a trampoline because I think they look awful, but the climbing frame I got instead was a waste of money. When they visit friends they make straight for the trampolines! I wonder if it's still worth getting one now they are 8/9?

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

DD's trampoline is only a 6ft one, wish it were bigger so we could all use it. However my plan is that as she gets older and grows out of the other toys I will replace them all with one huge trampoline for me.