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?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

we have a sandpit, a paddling pool and swing ball and are getting another swing and a trampoline. The kids love them!

[surroundedbyblondes]

We have a playground at the bottom of our street but our 2 and 4 year old are in the garden every day, often several times a day. Play house and swing/slide set AND a trampoline. DDs love it. I love that we can all enjoy our house and garden. It's about being together and having fun. I don't want to always go to the playground. I like that I can potter around at home doing chores or relaxing while they have happy, healthy, outdoor play.

[IKnowWhat]

Trampolines are great even for older kids.

[IKnowWhat]

Monkey bars are also a great buy. We don't have them now but I used to go on them everyday, I have lovely biceps

[Gullygirl]

We have a trampoline,raised wooden playhouse with slide,ping pong table on the veranda and a pool.The kids spend most of their time out in the garden,out there just now,in the rain,having a ball.

[ShadeofViolet]

We have a wooden playhouse and a 14ft trampoline. They have both been worth their weight in gold. DS2 in particular has been out on our trampoline almost every day for 4 years, except in storms and snow.

[whiskyplease]

Grrr trampolines. Our new neighbours have installed theirs right by our fence. On our side of the fence we have a nice bench where we like to sit and natter. Five feet away is our conservatory. We now have two squealy little girls on the trampoline while their parents sit in perfect peace fifty feet away on their terrace. I pray for rain, wasps , and am wondering if I dare make ghost noises to shut them up.

[thegreylady]

My dgs aged 4 and 6 have a slide, a tree house and a playhouse. No trampoline because the garden isn't level. They also have many outdoor ride on vehicles,a basketball hoop and an optional huge pool for hot weather . They play out all the time and dig and climb , they are rarely in front of TV and the ds is hardly ever used. It means their dp can get on with stuff at home knowing dc are safe and happy.

[sweetestcup]

I much prefer my kids and their friends having fun in the garden rather than worrying about whether the grass is immaculate. We have a trampoline, double swing and a wooden play hut, in our previous garden we had space for a slide to. My DH did buy this mat for under the swings which protects it a bit and the grass grows over it so you dont even know its there. Wish we had space for a climbing frame. I caught DS3 on the trampoline this morning in his PJs.

Parks and are all very well and good but most often its not convenient for us.

[Fuzzysnout]

Trampolines are the work of the devil. Enormous fun for your kids, but he'll on Earth for your neighbours. When I run the country every single last one will be destroyed!

[Fuzzysnout]

He'll = hell
Autocorrect will also be banned!

[KatieScarlett2833]

DC had the full climbing frame, chute, tent, cargo net, trampoline combo.
Were the best toys they ever had by a million miles. Well worth the initial outlay as they were used for hours most days also by their friends

[quoteunquote]

14ft TP trampoline, one of the best things I have ever spent money on, already had ten years of children wearing themselves out on it, the frame has a brilliant warranty, and spares are easy to get. Good quality pads, nets and really good bouncy jump. off in a corner, with bamboo in planters around it, so you can't see it, ferns planted underneath, large netting around the bottom so dogs and children don't go underneath.

Swings in trees, ropes and wood, dens in the woods.

two massive deep ponds (one wildlife, one fish), made from cattle troughs (concrete and plastic), dug into banks, with a large domed hole cage over the top, so children cannot fall in,they have had hours of fun.

frogs, toads, newts,(control all the slugs and snails in the garden) something new is always happening in the ponds.

four very long treated 9 by 9 posts, set into the ground deep/ hardcore/concrete, with industrial eyes in, up and down the post, set far apart, slightly squishy square shape.

used for hammocks, rope lines, poles, nets, hanging platform, seats, all sorts of things get hung between them, ever changing, used by children and adults. few ropes and heavy duty carabiner,

it's an ever changing activity centre. which can swap from child activity to adult with a couple of clicks, check farmers merchant or builders for cheap big posts. farmers merchant for eye bolts(go all the way through), cheaper than an activity centre, but useable forever, and far more versatile.

loads of raised fruit and veg beds, with lots of things that can be picked and eaten straight from bed, so the children always get involved with the garden.

I'm in a hammock now watching the dragon flies zipping past, hoping the family take their time getting home.

[Fakebook]

We've had a 10ft trampoline for 3 years and has been used almost everyday by dd since she was two. 3 weeks ago we got a swing and slide set and those are being used everyday since by DS and dd. even in the rain.

We still go to the park. Park slides and swings have a different level of fun compared to the garden ones IMO.

Our next door neighbours have every outdoor toy imaginable. About 6 tricycles, 2 play houses and a wooden play house, a trampoline, swings and slide. The only thing those children ever use is the trampoline. Everything else is rusting away.

As long as you don't go overboard, I think a few things in the garden will get used and you'll get your money's worth.

[GreenPetal94]

We have always had a shared garden with nothing in it, kind of wild and good for bug trapping or water pistols. We have two very close parks and now the kids are older they tend to find garden stuff is a bit tame compared to the park. I think my kids have survived just fine.

[quoteunquote]

slackline are also good, you can take them anywhere up in seconds, get used a lot.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Re annoying the neighbours, it's JUST as annoying for me when the neighbour gets out his strimmer and mower and various other garden business.

WHHHIIIIRRRRRRR right in my ear is not pleasant but I'd not dream of moaning about it.

[WhiteBirdBlueSky]

Gardens are for gardening. Children can play generally, or help garden.

[BeeMom]

Trampoline here, but our DD is disabled, so I could justify it as therapy. I also have a swing hung from the tree, but most of my garden is taken up by a large vegetable plot, so it was kind of a compromise.

As well, our garden has become the meeting place for the neighbourhood children. I like it this way, as DD is close to home if she needs help, but also because the others want to play here because we have the "fun" things.

[Taffeta]

Whaaaat? I love gardening, but "gardens are for gardening" is a bit precious.

Gardens are many things, a place to relax, a place to play, a place to socialise. A place for children to learn about nature. A place for freedom when there is little these days. A picnic, a swim, a bounce and a jump, a private outdoor escape.

Not just for gardening.

[BeeMom]

Taffeta I couldn't agree more

[notso]

Have garden envy now.

We've only got a back yard, and anything we do in it is marred buy the people who live behind us smoking weed all day, playing hardcore and bellowing at their DC and their dogs to "shut the fuck up" "Gedddd eyyerr" or "Geddd in".
We also have shared access so the neighbours can walk through the yard anytime and leave the bloody gates open or use it as overspill for their parties.

If I didn't love my house so much I would move.

[sjuperyoni]

We have a dinosaur slide, fireman rocker, wee paddling pool, small trampoline, quad bike and pop up tents and tunnels out backs... ds likes sticks he's only 19 months tho so he'll get use of them eventually plus dd2 can mess about in the next few years :)