The first question parents ask about an indoor playset is whether it will fit the room. The second, usually a year later, is whether it can do more. A modular playset answers that one. You start with a set that suits your child today and add to it as they get stronger, taller and braver. The catch is that not every add-on fits every set. This guide shows exactly what fits what.
What Is a Modular Playset?
A modular playset is built from parts that can be arranged, expanded or swapped, so the set changes as your child grows. Some are modular in their layout, like a wall gym made of separate panels. Others are modular through attachments, like a jungle gym that takes a slide, a swing or monkey bars later on. The best ones do both.
Our Wall Gyms at a Glance
| Wall gym | What it is | Heights | Listed age | Weight limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut | 9-in-1 Swedish ladder wall gym on one fixed frame | 79 in and 95 in | 1 year and up | 220 lbs per child, 500 lbs total |
| Walnut Modular | The same nine activities split across three panels you arrange yourself | 79 in and 95 in | 1 year and up | 220 lbs per child, 500 lbs total |
| Neem | Swedish ladder and rope wall | 79 in and 95 in | 3 years to adult | 250 lbs per person, 440 lbs total |
| Betula | Swedish wall ladder | 79 in and 95 in | See product page | See product page |
Walnut or Walnut Modular? The regular Walnut is one frame and the simplest to install. The Walnut Modular comes as three panels, a Swedish ladder, a rock wall and a rope wall, that you can mount side by side, in any order, around a window, in a corner or on different walls. It is also the only one that accepts extra wall panels later.
The Compatibility Chart: Wall Gym Add-Ons
A blank cell means the add-on is not listed for that set.
| Add-on | Walnut | Walnut Modular | Neem | Betula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra wall panels (ladder, rock, rope, ring) | Yes | |||
| Monkey bar attachment | Yes | Yes, Modular version | ||
| Stretch bar (pull-up bar attachment) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Ladder attachment | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sensory swing for wall climbers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tear drop sensory swing hammock | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Wooden roller slide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foam roller slide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Play tent add-on | 95 in with monkey bars only | No | ||
| Fitted floor mat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What Each Add-On Does, and When to Add It
Extra wall panels
Only the Walnut Modular expands sideways. Add a ladder, rock wall, rope wall or ring wall panel to widen the climbing wall or to continue it around a corner. Panels come in 79 inch and 95 inch versions, and the panel must match the height of your set. Start with the rock wall panel or the ring wall panel.
Monkey bar attachment
Monkey bars turn a wall gym into an overhead challenge. They are recommended for ages 3 and up, hold up to 200 lbs when properly installed, and adjust between two heights so you can start low. There are four versions: regular Walnut and Walnut Modular, each in 79 inch and 95 inch. Choose the one that matches both your set and its height. See the monkey bar attachment for the Walnut or the Modular version.
Stretch bar
The stretch bar is a pull-up bar attachment that mounts to the Swedish ladder itself, which is already secured to your wall studs. It is designed for kids 8 and up who are ready for hangs and first pull-ups, and parents use it for stretching too.
Sensory swings
A sensory swing gives a climbing wall a quiet side. The sensory swing for wall climbers is a cocoon-style swing for calm, enclosed swinging. The tear drop sensory swing hammock is a rounder seat for sitting and reading. Our guide to indoor swings for kids explains the differences.
Roller slides
The wooden roller slide and the foam roller slide add a rolling, sensory way down. Both are recommended for ages 2 to 10 and hold up to 120 lbs. Wood rollers give more feedback. Foam rollers are softer and quieter.
Play tent and mats
The play tent wraps the lower part of the regular 95 inch Walnut with monkey bars to make a fort or reading nook. It does not fit the Walnut Modular. Fitted mats are sized to each set, so order the one named for yours: the Walnut Modular mat is wider than the regular Walnut mat.
Add-Ons for Floor Climbers and Jungle Gyms
Our freestanding climbers take add-ons too:
| Add-on | Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden and foam roller slides | Hazel, Large Chestnut, Large Magnolia, Sweetgum Extra Large and Jumbo | |
| Sensory swing for large climbers | Large Magnolia, Large Chestnut, Alpine, Sweetgum Large, Extra Large and Jumbo | Medium Magnolia, Medium Grove |
| Sensory swing for wall climbers | Grove, Sweetgum Jumbo | Medium Magnolia, Medium Grove |
| Desk and chair attachment | Hazel and Olive Pikler triangles | |
| Tent cover | Hazel and Olive Pikler triangles |
One Wall, Three Stages
Here is how one wall gym can change over the years, using the ages listed for each product:
Stage one, from age 1: the Walnut or Walnut Modular on its own, with a fitted mat underneath. A sensory swing adds a calm option.
Stage two, from age 3: add monkey bars on the lower setting, and a roller slide for a new way down.
Stage three, from age 8: raise the monkey bars, add the stretch bar for hangs and pull-ups, and on a Walnut Modular, add a ring or rock wall panel for a harder climb.
Before You Add Anything
Match the set and the height. Check whether you own the regular Walnut or the Walnut Modular, and whether it is 79 or 95 inches, before ordering.
Use only add-ons listed for your set. Do not adapt an attachment to a set it was not made for.
Follow the lower weight limit. An attachment can have a lower limit than the set it mounts to. The attachment's limit applies while it is in use.
Install exactly as the manual shows, with wall gyms anchored into studs, and recheck every bolt after the first week of play.
Follow each add-on's age recommendation and supervise young children whenever they climb or swing.
Modular Playset Questions, Answered
Can you add on to an indoor playset later?
Yes, if the set is designed for it. Our wall gyms and large climbers accept attachments such as monkey bars, roller slides and sensory swings, and the Walnut Modular also accepts extra wall panels.
What is the difference between the Walnut and the Walnut Modular?
Both have the same nine activities. The regular Walnut is one fixed frame. The Walnut Modular is three separate panels that you can arrange in any order, split across walls and expand with more panels.
Do add-ons fit both the 79 inch and 95 inch wall gyms?
Roller slides fit both heights. Monkey bars and wall panels are made for one height each, so choose the version that matches your set.
What age are indoor monkey bars for?
Our monkey bar attachments are recommended for ages 3 and up. They adjust between two heights, so younger children can start on the lower setting.
Can adults use a Swedish ladder wall gym?
The Walnut and Walnut Modular hold 220 lbs per person, and the Neem is rated for ages 3 to adult at 250 lbs per person, so many parents use them for stretching.
Is a modular jungle gym worth it?
It suits families who want one set to last. Instead of replacing a climber when a child outgrows it, you add the next challenge to the one you have.
Explore all our indoor playgrounds and wall gyms, or see every climber we make.