11 of the Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids You Should Check Out Today
Every parent knows that playing outside is one of the best ways to give kids some exercise as well as help them learn and have fun. It doesn’t even matter if they don’t have an actual playground to explore.
Even an empty space can work really well. Some parents, however, might want to provide a nice jump off point for their little one’s fun and games, so there’s definitely a need for the best outdoor playsets for kids.
Getting a playset for your wee one is no easy feat, though. With all of the different available options, you’ll need to make sure that you’ll get the best one. It should ensure their fun but should also guarantee their safety. Of course, your budget is also important to consider, as the finest outdoor kiddie playsets do not come cheap.
To help you find a great match for your home, here are a few products that you might get interested in.
Table of Contents
- Comparison on 11 Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids
- Reviews of 11 Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids
- 1. Lifetime Ace Flyer Teeter-Totter
- 2. Easy Outdoor Space Dome Climber
- 3. Sk8Swing The Original Skateboard Tree Swing
- 4. ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Boat with Pirate Flag Play Structure for Kids
- 5. Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center
- 6. Little Tikes Cook 'n Play Outdoor BBQ
- 7. Step2 Skyward Summit
- 8. Step2 Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center Swing Set with Glider
- 9. Little Tikes Tree House Swing Set
- 10. Gorillaplay Sets Home Backyard Playground Treasure Trove Swing Set with Timber Shield and Deluxe Green Vinyl Canopy
- 11. step2 Playhouse Neat & Tidy Cottage
- Final Verdict
Comparison on 11 Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids
Image | Product Name | Dimensions (inches) | Weight (pounds) | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
49.5 x 22.2 x 13 | 107 | |||
91 x 91 x 46 | 103 | |||
33 x 8 x 5 | 4.8 | |||
54.3 x 30.7 x 56.7 | 36 | |||
16 x 16 x 5.5 | 14.6 | |||
29.2 x 12.1 x 35.2 | 18.1 | |||
52 x 80 x 80 | 138 | |||
201 x 88.5 x 102.5 | 203 | |||
139.1 x 93.4 x 81.1 | 145.5 | |||
330 x 228 x 156 | 1.163 | |||
35 x 51 x 46.5 | 53 |
Reviews of 11 Best Outdoor Playsets for Kids
If you have a budding pilot in your household, a Lifetime Ace Flyer Teeter-Totter might just be the perfect outdoor playset for them.
This play equipment is fashioned after an old school aircraft, so your little one can spend hours role playing as one of the Wright brothers.
Made from heavy-duty, powder-coated steel, this product is honestly one of the most nostalgic items in this list. As it is patterned after the frame of a propeller plane, it has a nice vintage vibe to it.
The utilization of its elements is noteworthy as well, as it uses the wings as a seesaw that can bring in hours of fun with siblings, friends, and even parents.
Suitable for kids aged 3 to 12, this item also has an adjustable height, guaranteeing years of use. This makes its price very reasonable as it’s sure to last for years.
Pros
- Adorable vintage appearance
- Extremely sturdy
- Great value for its price
- Heavy duty materials and construction
- Guarantees years of enjoyment
- Available in two colorways
- Equipped with an interactive dashboard
Cons
- Assembly can be a bit challenging
Giving your little ones the ability to explore what their bodies can do is not just a great way to foster their health and fitness but is also a great learning process.
This is why climbing equipment has always been a part of playgrounds all around the world. And now, with the Easy Outdoor Space Dome Climber, you can easily introduce one to your backyard.
This product is a heavy-duty play equipment that your little ones will love. Your child can learn how to balance their bodies and strategize how to move around without falling into the gaps. It offers an exciting and challenging outdoor activity that it will surely bring hours of fun to your home.
The best part about this product is that it’s very affordable. Despite its sturdiness and durable construction, it’s easily one of the best outdoor playsets for kids with the friendliest price today.
Pros
- Made with high-quality steel
- Rust and UV resistant materials used
- Can hold up to 1000 lbs
- Very durable and sturdy
- Weatherproof
- Ideal for kids 3 to 10 years of age
- Fantastic price
- Will fit regular-sized backyards
- Great addition to backyard playgrounds
- Looks great
Cons
- Takes a while to assemble but not that hard to do
This product may not exactly be a playset but we can’t resist just how hip this addition will be to any backyard or home.
If your kids are starting to enjoy skateboarding or other riding sports of this nature, they’ll especially love this swing.
What sets this product apart is the fact that it’s handmade in California. The brand specialized in this product, as their name would suggest.
They’re also the original creators of skateboard swings, so you’re going to get an original concept straight from the people who came up with it. As the company is also family-owned, you’ll be supporting small entrepreneurs by getting one of these unique swings.
If you’re already considering DIYing something similar for a cheaper price, hold that thought right now. This product is carefully crafted with the highest considerations for safety using only the best materials there is.
So if you think you’ll be okay with some regular rope and an old skateboard, you might be risking your children’s safety. A Sk8Swing is guaranteed to be the safest option, thanks to its thoughtful development.
Pros
- Handmade in the USA
- High weight capacity
- Comes ready to hang
- Can be used by every family member aged 2 and above
- Very easy to install
- Lets you “skate” through the air
Cons
- Quite pricey
- Needs an additional weatherproofing treatment if you intend to hang it outside
Let your little one turn your backyard (or their playroom) into the high seas with this ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Play Boat.
This playset features a kiddie replica of a pirate ship’s bridge and front deck, so your little ones can easily transport themselves to a make-believe sea voyage with great ease.
To make this playset fun, your kid will need to climb to get to the bridge and helm the ship. Complete with a movable steering wheel and a pirate flag, a colorful imagination will be the only thing your little one needs to have hours and hours of fun in it.
Aside from the fun it can bring to your home, it’s also a very convenient playset option for lots of parents. It’s very easy to assemble as all you really need is insert the parts into slots.
Screws and power tools aren’t necessarily required, making its set up more fuss-free. It’s also very sturdy and durable, so you won’t have to worry if you want to leave it outside.
It is, however, a bit small. If you have preschoolers, they might outgrow this playset quickly. You’ll also want to keep an eye on your toddlers while they play as the bridge’s railing is quite short.
Pros
- Great for role playing games and pretend play
- Greenguard Certified ensuring an eco-friendlier production
- Unique design that will let your child explore their interests
- Equipped with a movable steering wheel and a plastic pirate flag
- Colorful design makes it fun and attractive
- Lets your child climb and hide away
- Very easy to assemble
- Durable plastic material
Cons
- Railings are quite low so close supervision is needed
- Quite small
With school out and plenty of time in their hands, kids will still want to play outside even in the sweltering summer months.
Make it more enjoyable and bearable with the Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center and you won’t have to endure your kids bugging you to visit a water park all day long. It’s very affordable, so it might just be the perfect outdoor playset for your home.
What makes this Intex product a solid pick for a playset is its interactive design. It has an inflatable slide, a ring toss game rainbow, and railings that also serve as ball slides.
Aside from getting some relief from the heat, this playset will also let you try out more activities, so your child can enjoy hours of fun under the sun.
Its primary feature is its two small pools, though. One’s a baby pool with higher walls that you can fill with more water and let your wee one submerge themselves for a refreshing play time.
The other is more of a wading pool that bigger kids can chill in. It also has a spout that you can connect to a hose to make a nice fountain and basically replicate a fun water park experience for your kids.
Pros
- Inflatable slide design makes it a mini water park for kids
- Equipped with a fun rainbow detail that also serves as a ring toss game
- Water spout can be attached to a hose to serve as a sprayer
- Additional ball slider game also available
- Inflatable construction makes it easy to store after use
- One of the cheapest playsets in this list
- Ideal for toddlers to young school kids
Cons
- Cleaning some areas can be a challenge
- Takes a while to set up and put away
A compact and simpler outdoor playset for kids who love to mimic their parents’ movements is the Little Tikes Cook ‘n Play Outdoor BBQ.
Parents who love hosting barbecue parties at home should get this and watch how well their kids know how to make their own burgers and entertain guests on summer cookouts.
Designed to look just like an outdoor grill, this Little Tikes playset will engage the bbq master out of your little one. They can grill their toy patties, fry in their tiny range, prepare ingredients in the counters, wash dishes in the molded in sink, and even bake pizza in their play oven. It definitely has everything your little one need to get a backyard bbq luau started.
Pair this with a kiddie picnic table and you’ll make the perfect backyard for kiddie play parties. You will need to buy additional toy food to “feed” all of your kid’s guests, though, as this playset only comes with one burger and hotdog alongside essential play cookware.
Pros
- Designed to look like an actual outdoor grill set
- Working oven door and grill cover
- Comes with counter spaces for a more realistic cooking play time
- Clicking knobs make play time more realistic and engaging
- Won’t take up too much space
- Can also be used indoors
- Durable and weatherproof
Cons
- Only comes with a few toy food pieces
- Holes are not pre-drilled
Those who do not have the space or budget for an outdoor dome climber might still want a playset that will let their little ones explore the use of their limbs to climb up and down a platform.
So a nice alternative would be the Step2 Skyward Summit. This will help you set up a nice jungle gym in your backyard or playroom that will offer your kids hours of great fun.
What makes the Skyward Summit special is the fact that it’s designed to look like a mini mountain. It has hand and foot holds that will help your little one ascend to the top and get a good dose of physical and mental exercise.
Every time your wee one reaches the top, they’ll also feel more confident and accomplished, letting them enjoy their time in the backyard even better.
Aside from climbing, your child can also enjoy playing right inside this playset. It has two storeys of space where your kiddo can spend some time in, letting them explore more ways to have fun.
As for is quality, there’s also nothing to worry about. It can hold up to four kids (one in each climbing platform), so you’re guaranteed that it’s pretty sturdy. The only drawback it has is it’s quite challenging to set up. If you’re quite adept in construction or has someone else to lend you a hand, it won’t be that hard to assemble.
Pros
- Sturdy construction
- Made from really durable materials
- A quick alternative to building a jungle gym
- Very stable
- Suitable for kids 4 to 8 years of age
- Will provide hours of fun
- A challenging and exciting playset to have at home
- Weatherproof materials used
Cons
- Can be a challenge to put together
- Not for independent play
Regular swing sets may prove to be inadequate playsets for homes that see quite a few kids every now and then. A pair of swings and a slide really won’t cut it if your kids like to bring friends over to play in your backyard.
While bigger playsets tend to be pricey, one of the relatively affordable options is the Step2 Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center Swing Set with Glider.
This playset can accommodate ten to 12 kids in one go with so many activities that it offers. With two swings and a two-seater glider, it can already keep your kiddos happy swinging their lazy afternoons away.
It also comes with a basketball hoop, a rope climber, a slide, and a two-storey playhouse, so it offers more activities in one package. They can even bring friends home and still get to find something to enjoy in this playset.
With so many offerings, you might be worried about its construction and quality. The manufacturer guarantees that it will be able to hold up to 75 lbs for each swing, so you can be guaranteed that it’s pretty sturdy.
It also uses a double-wall polymer construction so it won’t balk at your kids’ weight and won’t crumple due to heat exposure.
Pros
- Serves as a mini playground and playhouse in one package
- Accommodates more kids so everyone can have fun
- Equipped with so many features that offer different ways to play
- Has a two-floor playhouse
- Very easy to set up
- Low maintenance
- Sturdy, durable, and weatherproof
- Suitable for kids up to 75 lbs in weight
- Promises years of use
Cons
- Parts are not labeled which can make assembly more complicated than it should be
- A bit pricey
If you want to turn your backyard into a mini playground, then you’ll need a nice swing set. For those with smaller kids, a Little Tikes Tree House Swing Set will be a great pick.
For starters, it has a great price. It’s one of the most affordable options in the market today that you won’t have to worry about the quality. Little Tikes has been selling fantastic outdoor playsets for decades now, so you can be sure of their quality and durability.
This product is also safe even for toddlers. While you might need to get an extra toddler swing seat for this, it’s definitely well worth it as it can further extend the lifespan of this set.
With its nice height, it can easily offer hours of outdoor fun for kids up to 6 years old. Starting your tot early on it will give you a solid half-decade of use, which will already give you a good run for your money.
As for your little one’s safety, you don’t have to worry. Each swing can hold up to 81 lbs, so that’s already a solid assurance that it can hold up a good amount of weight. The slide can carry up to four kids, so you can rest assured that your little one can play with this set for a while.
Pros
- Loaded with several features that will foster outdoor play
- Great for toddlers and young school kids
- Offers all the basic equipment you’ll find in a playground
- Really cute tree house design
- Encourages physical activities
- Encourages some role play
- Durable, weatherproof construction
- Amazing price
- Will fit a small backyard nicely
Cons
- Assembly is a bit complicated
Want to be the envy of the neighborhood? Then check out the Gorilla Playsets Home Backyard Playground Treasure Trove Swing Set.
This product is a fully decked playset that’s not too different from the ones you usually find in neighborhood playgrounds.
It will certainly bring all the boys and girls to your yard, especially if you don’t have a kiddie park in your area.
Being a full-sized playset, you can expect this product to have all the bells and whistles you’ll expect to find in a playground. It’s equipped with the following:
- 1 Wave slide
- 1 Tube slide
- 1 Rock climbing wall with rope
- 2 Swings/1 trapeze swing
- 1 2-seater glider
- 1 Clatter bridge
- 1 Traditional ladder
- 1 Rope ladder
- 1 Tic Tac Toe panel
- 2 Sandboxes
- 1 Picnic table
- 1 Play telescope
It basically has everything your little one would want to enjoy in a playground, making fun more accessible to them at home. It’s also made with real wood and high-quality plastic, so you can be sure that it will be safe for your child to use.
Pros
- Practically an all out playground
- Heavy-duty
- Built to last
- Loaded with different activities
- Extremely sturdy
Cons
- Will be a challenge to assemble if you’re not equipped and experienced
Playing house is one of the best and most enjoyable games for young kids. Not only does it let them play pretend, but it also lets them consolidate the things they’ve learned from observing the people around them.
It helps them make sense of how your household works and even lets them be in control. This is why a mini house can be a great choice for your little one’s first playset.
Step2’s Neat and Tidy Cottage is a top-rated mini house that’s great for small children. It has an open design that will let the breeze in with ease while letting you supervise your wee ones as they play.
It’s also very interactive as it comes with accessories like a working Dutch door, shutters, and door bell. It also comes with a built in letterbox, house phone, faucet, grill, shelves, and fireplace that can really make play times more fun and realistic.
Weatherproof and durable, you won’t have to worry about leaving this playset outside. It can withstand inclement weather but make sure to secure it when there are strong winds. It might not be that expensive, but it can still do damage to your property if allowed to be carried around by the wind.
Pros
- Comes with a kitchen table with faucet and grill molded into the unit
- Open design makes supervision easy
- Equipped with several features that will enhance play time
- Realistic doorbell actually makes a sound
- Functional Dutch door and shutters make the playset even more realistic
- Sold at a friendly price
- Durable weatherproof construction
- Floor has drain holes to ensure rainwater won’t accumulate inside
- Easy to assemble and take apart
- Suitable for kids 1 to 6 years of age
- Fosters pretend play and creativity
Cons
- Floor can get hot in the sun
- Low vertical clearance
Final Verdict
While there are tons of other products available today, these eleven are some examples of the best outdoor playsets for kids that managed to stand out for us.
They all offer great quality, safety, and opportunities for fun play times outside. Hopefully, you also get to like our picks and find it useful for your search.
Cool review. I might be brought one for my kids. Thanks for sharing