Oh Go Play in the Yard!

Children are supposed to run and jump and climb and play and laugh and have fun, but today’s parents are worried that their children are not doing enough of these things. Because of parental work arrangements, over-scheduling, and fears about letting children run free, many children are not getting enough time to do those things that come naturally. To make matters worse, the news routinely tells us of the threats of childhood obesity and sedentary living.

One of the simpler things parents can do to help make their children more active is to provide access to a backyard swingset so that they can easily run outside to play and don’t have to be taken somewhere to get some exercise.

Grandpas Swingset Shop Dan Thomas, who runs Grandpa’s Swingset Shop in Kalamazoo, has suggestions for families who are in the market for a new swingset. Here are his tips:

• Pick a swingset that will grow with your children. A two-year-old needs very simple things, like a swing and a slide, while a ten-year-old needs monkey bars, fireman’s poles, chin-up bars, and other more fitness-oriented equipment. Some swingsets are more versatile and expandable than others.
• Find equipment that fits the size and shape of your yard. If the ground is uneven, you may need to level off the area before proceeding.
• Put the equipment in a spot that will cushion falls. Shock absorbing material should extend 6 feet in all directions from the perimeter of the stationary equipment and 8 feet in front and back of Swingsets swings.
• Have children help make the decisions about what to include in the purchase. They know best the things that they will use.
• Choose sturdy materials. Make sure that the wood doesn’t splinter. Grandpa Dan recommends Southern Yellow Pine naturally treated for longer life and greater strength. Bolts and screws are preferable to nails. Hardware should be recessed. Know how the swingset will be delivered and how much work it will be to install it. Make sure you will have enough help.
• Be satisfied that the compoents of the swingset offer maximum safety for your child. Design the components in such a way that children won’t be getting in each other’s way as they play.
• Pick a swingset that is strong enough to bear an adult’s weight.
• Include as many features as you can afford. In this case, more is better. Including forts, sandboxes, or other features that encourage imaginative play will make the swingset more flexible.
• If moving may be in your future, be sure that the swingset can be dis-assembled easily so that it can be moved.

swingset

Grandpa Dan got into the swingset business somewhat by accident. An engineering manager by profession, he was on the lookout for a second career or retirement business when he drove past a small swingset factory in LaFontaine, Indiana. With sudden inspiration, he realized that he could make a business of helping families set up swingsets in their yards, and he began Grandpa’s Swingset Shop and sells the equipment made by the Indiana company, Swingsets, Inc. He helps families choose the equipment that best suits their family’s needs, installs it on your property or works along with your own family members to make sure it is installed properly. In other words, he’s the Grandpa in charge of the project.

For 8 years, Grandpa has been helping families purchase and set up beautiful play equipment and swingsets for their yards. He gains pleasure from helping families “build a kingdom in their backyards.” He says that when he drives up Grandpa's Swingset Shop in his pickup after the equipment has been delivered, the children just can’t stay away their excitement level is so high. His greatest satisfaction comes when the swingset is installed and the children clamber all over it for the first time. “Everyone’s eyes just light up” – parents and kids alike.

Of course, Grandpa Dan stands by the equipment he sells, and you can be assured that you are getting the best product for your money. He is proud of the sanded, rounded edges, the recessed hardware, and the quality of the product. He is proud of the safety precautions and the expandability of the equipment made by Swingsets Inc. He is ready and eager to help you design and install the perfect “kingdom” for your backyard.