The backyard swing set you installed for your kids when they were still very young was probably packed with challenging and fun equipment just right for their size and age. Bucket swings for safety, a short ladder leading to a scoop slide, and maybe even a club house for hours of pretend play. As children grow, though, their beliefs about what is challenging and fun change. Making sure that the backyard swing set doesn't become an abandoned eyesore means keeping up with your children's ever-changing abilities and interests. By updating the swing set periodically with equipment that meets your kids' current needs, you will increase the chances that the swing set continues to appeal to your kids throughout the years.

Alternative Swings

Swings are an affordable way to begin when it comes to updating a swing set's accessories. If you haven't done so already, swap out the bucket swing or half-bucket swing with a traditional belt swing or two. The belt swing is a standard "big kid" swing that will continue to interest kids as they grow. Don't stop there, though. Swings come in all shapes and styles, and a little variety adds a lot of appeal to a backyard swing set.

Some of the more popular alternative swings include tire swings and disc swings. Kids like that these two types of swings move in any and every direction, rather than just back and forth. Kids also gravitate toward the tire swing because of its ability to hold two or more friends, which brings an increasingly social and cooperative element to the activity of swinging. Glider swings are another fun alternative to standard swings. Glider swings seat two people, back to back, who work as a team to keep the swing flying high. Additionally, older kids and even adults can find enjoyment in a wooden chair swing. A chair swing hooks up to the swing set in the same way as any other kind of traditional swing, and it offers a soothing way to swing gently while reading a book or talking with a friend.

Slides with Swoop

Swing sets generally come with a standard scoop slide, which is straight, smooth, and sufficiently exciting for younger children. As kids get older, though, they like a more exhilarating ride. Replacing your original slide for a spiral slide can give older kids the extra thrill that they seek. Spiral slides are often completely enclosed tubes, too, similar to what you see on commercial or public playgrounds. The enclosed spiral brings an additional measure of excitement to the sliding experience.

Climbing Accessories for the Adventurous

Climbing equipment offers growing kids a variety of fun ways to challenge their bodies' developing abilities. While not usually appropriate for young children, climbing accessories help older kids gain confidence, strengthen muscles, and refine gross motor and motor planning skills. Monkey bars may be the most common type of climbing accessory found on standard swing sets, but they can be added to an existing swing set that doesn't already have them. Rope ladders and rock wall climbing kits are available, too, and are particularly appealing to adventurous kids.

Updating the backyard swing set to meet the changing abilities and interests of your growing kids can be as simple a task as replacing the existing swings and slide and adding climbing features more suitable for older kids. Making small but thoughtful changes over time will not only keep your kids interested over many years, but will also reinforce the value of your initial investment in the swing set.