Outdoor Play

Kids Outdoor Play Equipment for Every Backyard

A backyard gets used when there's something in it worth going out for. Swinging, climbing, digging, pouring and pretending are different kinds of play, and most kids want all of them at different moments.

Everything here is built from solid wood, sized for a home yard rather than a public park, and designed to stay useful as children grow, from a toddler's first swing to a big kid's monkey bars.

Swing Sets and Jungle Gyms

A swing set is usually the anchor of a backyard. The Sycamore combines a saucer swing and belt swing with a rock climbing wall, monkey bars and a slide, in Large, XL and Jumbo sizes. The Forest pairs swings and a trapeze bar with a covered fort, wave slide and rock wall on a clean, modern frame. For climbing first and swinging second, the octagon Hawthorn jungle gym adds monkey bars at a height kids grow into.

Outdoor Play Equipment for Toddlers

Toddlers need lower platforms, gentle slides and swings they can sit in safely. The Forest Small swing set, the Palm 5-in-1 and the Banyan rocker and climber are scaled for small bodies, and the Palm measures just 82.7 x 42 inches for patios and small yards. Frames like the Chestnut and Magnolia indoor and outdoor sets work outside in good weather and come inside when it turns.

Playhouses and Mud Kitchens

Pretend play moves outside easily and gets messier in the best way. The Saffron playhouse is a kitchen and café with a serving window, the Mimosa adds a slide and climbing stairs to the clubhouse, and the Sumac gives kids a mud kitchen, market stand, pretend grill and planter in one.

Water Tables and Sensory Play

Water play holds attention longer than almost anything else outdoors. The Large Wooden Water Table lets kids pour, channel and experiment with multi-level channels and water wheels, and the Koa combines a water wall with a pretend market stand. Always supervise water play and empty the table after each use.

Featured: Sycamore Outdoor Swing Set and Jungle Gym

If you want one set that covers swinging, climbing and sliding, start with the Sycamore. Every size includes a rock climbing wall, monkey bars, a belt swing and a saucer swing, and the Jumbo adds a double climbing wall, wave slide and trapeze bar for bigger yards and bigger kids.

Why Choose Avenlur Outdoor Play Equipment?

Real wood: sturdy wooden frames that look at home in a backyard and stay cooler than metal.

Room to grow: baby swing seats, slide attachments and extra swings change a set as children do.

Every kind of play: swing sets, toddler playsets, playhouses, mud kitchens and water tables.

Backed by us: five-year warranty on playsets and free shipping in the continental US.

How to Choose Outdoor Play Equipment

How much yard space do you have?

Measure the frame's footprint, then add about six feet of clear space on every side, with more in front of and behind swings and at the bottom of slides. Our backyard playground guide lists the play area each set needs.

What will go underneath?

Under swings and climbers, use wood mulch, wood chips, rubber mulch or sand at least 9 inches deep. Grass and packed dirt don't absorb falls well.

How old are your kids?

Toddler playsets suit ages 1 to 4. A larger set with monkey bars, more swings and add-ons lasts through the school years. See our outdoor playsets for toddlers guide for the youngest.

Do you need it indoors too?

In a cold climate, indoor and outdoor sets like the Chestnut, Magnolia, Juniper and Palm can move inside for winter. For every type of backyard equipment in one place, read our outdoor play equipment guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best outdoor play equipment for a toddler?

Low, stable pieces with more than one activity: a small swing set with a baby seat, a compact climber with a short slide, or a water table. Each product page lists its suggested age range.

How much yard space does a swing set need?

The frame's footprint plus at least six feet of clear space on every side, and more in front of and behind the swings. Exact dimensions are listed on each product page.

Can a baby use an outdoor swing set?

Yes, with a baby swing seat. We make seats sized to fit our Forest, Sycamore and Craftsman swing sets.

Can outdoor playsets be used indoors?

Some can. The Chestnut, Magnolia, Juniper and Palm indoor and outdoor sets are designed for both, so they can come inside for winter. Larger swing sets and jungle gyms are outdoor only.

What should go under a swing set?

Wood mulch, wood chips, rubber mulch or sand at least 9 inches deep, extending at least six feet beyond the set on every side.

Does outdoor play equipment need to be anchored?

Yes. Swing sets, climbers and anything with swings or monkey bars should be anchored or installed on level ground exactly as the manual describes.

Is wooden outdoor play equipment better than plastic or metal?

Wood is sturdy, stays cooler in the sun than metal and looks at home in a backyard. Plastic is lighter but can fade and crack, and metal can get hot. Check the hardware and finish each season.

Is shipping free?

Yes. Shipping is free on all orders within the continental US, and every playset is backed by our five-year warranty.