Should My Wife and I Spend $500 on a Trampoline or Swing Set?

We heard about the dangers of trampolines, but our daughters love them. Julia loves swings. But the jury is still out with her sister Natalie.

One issue in our attempt to come to a decision is which one will stand up to weather, rain, sun, dry rot. We don't want to spend $500 on something that will rot in a couple of years. Anyone with experience with one or both of these?

Related articles

A New Indoor Trampoline Park & Play Structure You Gotta See

Trampoline park in East Providence, R.I., allows guests to catch some airtime

To be a kid again - fun with trampolines

Comments

[sara and bob matulich]

sara says swing because of usefulness and insurance issues with trampolines.

[herculodge]

So we have exposure, that is people can sue us of their children use our trampoline and get injured?

[Jerry]

These days, you even have exposure with a swing set, but more so with a trampoline. I had both growing up (swing set during the pre and early elementary years, and a trampoline during during mid-high years. If any of my friends wanted to jump on the trampoline, my parents made their parents sign a document waiving any responsibility in case of injury. And that was back in the 70s. You might talk with your insurance agent and also family attorney if you have one.

[herculodge]

If I have to hire an attorney before buying a "toy," then I'm not getting it. Thanks for the info, Jerry.

[Tom Welch]

Call the local ER, I'm sure they'll tell you trampolines are very dangerous.

[Ed]

Fess up, Jeff-- you're the one who wants a trampoline!

[Angelo]

Swing set/sliding board is a better idea than a trampoline. Much less risk of serious injury---great for kids birthday parties or play dates.

[Michael Brent]

Sell some of your watches and get them both a pony.

[Bill Bush]

Go to an appliance store. Get a couple of stove or fridge boxes. Bring them home and cut doors that flap open/shut, some window holes, and let the girls play "house" in them. Throw them out after they've finished with them. They'll probably get to the point of stomping them down flat and rolling/sliding on them. Or sitting on a box and having you drag them around the yard like a sled dog. And you'll do it. Dump the boxes when theyre ignored. Just go to a swap meet and find one of those long round collapsable tunnels or a plastic slide and let them have that for a couple of weeks. There are lots of things they can enjoy and not get hurt on. When they're older, they can have another box and draw their own windows and doors and let you cut them. Then get some yard sale leftover wallpaper. Glue it to the inside walls in their choice of arrangements. Tape up scrap curtains on the windows. A bunch of thrift store or yard sale pots and plastic furniture will add to the fun. And a soccer ball, a beach ball, and a few other outside toys will let them have fun, with you and with each other. No No NO trampolines. Maybe a trip to a bounce house IF IF IF it is not full of kids. By themselves they can have fun and not be injured. A crowd is a dangerous situation in a bounce house that just looks like fun. Twister is fun, too. Teaches colors and silliness. A box of silly hats is good, too. Sheets or blankets to make caves out of the household or patio furniture = fun. Parks often have swing sets and other toys that would take up too much space for their usefulness. A box full of artificial flowers and greenery is a good tool for the imagination, I'd imagine.

[Brian]

backyard playground equipment is a waste of money, an eyesore and just not really worth it. I can't tell you how many neighbors around here install something and you see the kids on it rarely, if ever.

Swings ? Take em to the park

Trampoline? Enroll em in gymnastics

[Ed]

Rent a Bounce House for their birthday. The cardboard box suggestion is good too, though I always made Rocket ships out of them, not houses. Don't get those motorized mini-cars... Better are simple tricycles. Girls like the same toys boys like until about Age 5, so a small basketball hoop or t-ball set is good.