backyard play
Swing sets and trampolines are fun, but open-ended play areas that invite kids to use their imaginations and build and create... well, they're just plain awesome.
I have been staring at our boring, dirt-filled side yard now for over two years. It used to be a dog yard for the previous homeowners... but now we use it as a cardboard box graveyard and a place to stash baby pools and other random things.
It's been a total eyesore and I just knew it had the potential to be the ultimate kid's play area. So that's where the idea for our backyard construction play area was born.
Wooden Swing Sets
One week ago, I sat my husband down with Pinterest and showed him some different inspiring ideas and then I mapped out my vision with a quick sketch.
Fortunately, my husband was raised by an engineer and loves a good project, so he got to work measuring and sketching and doing all sorts of math equations he hasn't used since high school to figure out all the angles perfectly.
3. Next we got to work digging out the dirt to create a hole for the rocks to go in. We wanted the rock pit to be down pretty close to the ground so that it would be less of a tripping hazard for kids as they ran around.
The 9 Best Swing Sets Of 2022 For Your Backyard
4. We also used yarn (and stakes) to rope off the outline of the rock box so that we knew what to dig out. Our neighbor was so kind to lend us his pickaxe to break up the soil since Bay area clay soil is so hard to dig through!
6. Then he covered the bottom of the hole with ground cover and secured those into the ground with more stakes so that it didn't move.
7. Finally, he secured the little low bench to the corner side of the rock box. I wanted a place to sit and watch the kids and play along without having to sit in the rocks. I love what he came up with!
Fun Diy Backyard Play Areas The Kids Will Love
8. Once everything was secure, it was time to add the rocks! We got rocks from a local masonry shop. They were half the cost of what we would've paid at Home Depot.
The biggest challenge at this point was finding a truck to haul the rocks! Fortunately a good friend offered to lend us her truck and saved the day!
9. Once the rocks were poured into the pit, we leveled them and spread them out and then it was time for the kids to get to play!
Diy Outdoor Kids' Play Area
(PS- At any point when I use the words "we" in this project, just know that I was the brains and vision behind this project while my husband did all hard labor. I was the task master and helped keep everyone hydrated, fed, and complimented!)
Although we could've just left it as a plain rock pit with trucks at this point, I knew that adding a few other tools would ensure longer playtime for the kids!
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Swing Sets & Outdoor Playsets
We purchased some rubber baseboards from Home Depot and turned them into car tracks. This genius idea was from Tatertots and Jello.
I used acrylic paint to paint some simple white lines on the baseboards and then we let them dry for a few hours. Once they were dry, we added some toy cars and kids were ready to play!
In addition to using wood to build the rock box, my husband also cut some extra pieces of wood that the kids could use in the play area for building. These wood pieces come in handy for building car ramps, digging, and making all sorts of creative things.
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