I would do a patio or deck 1st. On ours we have a sand box, sand table and a water table that is basically an underbed storage container on a stand with some funnels etc. DD is 6 and still plays with all this.

yep, do thick playground fiber (like bark and wood chips, but no splinters) and then put playscape over that. If you get a dome climber, they go together really easily with a socket wrench.

Look online for how high your structure is that kids could fall from to find out how thick the playground fiber should be.

Consider giving up on grass for now and just mulching over a large section of the yard that gets muddy. Then put your play equipment on top of that.

My cat that goes outside would love your litter...I mean sand...box.

Anonymous wrote:SANDBOX!! And make it BIG. Not one of those tiny green turtle things! i'd build one because they'll use this for years. Get pails, shovels, some trucks to use in it (dump trucks et al) and let them go to it. When it rains and it's muddy, they'll have water to mix in, making it even more fun.

balls are so much fun.

I don't think I'd do a swingset but perhaps a climbing dome? This one is strong enough to not tip over so you don't need to bolt it down - we have it on our preschool playground and it's sturdy as heck. see this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Geometric-Climber-Center-Primary/dp/B002XULJDW/ref=asc_df_B002XULJDW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142094993&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2434724941062386228&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007536&hvtargid=pla-275337854301&psc=1

or this one is bigger (taller, so it will last until they are taller BUT it means you have to have more diameter to fit it in)
https://www.wayfair.com/Lifetime--Climber-90136-101301-L910-K~LXT1084.html?refid=GX103455982963-LXT1084&device=c&ptid=282589289756&network=g&targetid=pla-282589289756&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=4372600&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Ji348_p4QIVQgOGCh2CSQogEAQYBCABEgJs6vD_BwE

Unfortunately a big sandbox usually turns into a cat's litter box. Some people are totally obnoxious and let their cat roam out of their own yard.

A $25 sandbox was the best investment I ever made as a parent. My child spent half his life in that sandbox between ages 2 and 8. It moved with us, survived long cold winters and hot, wet summers. We replaced the sand every year, and otherwise used that sandbox to death. It was awesome!

We bought a playset from Costco (the smallest they sell) when our youngest was 1 and it was the best investment ever. 7 years later and it still gets regular use from our kids and other kids on street coming over to play. Ours has a climbing wall and slide but it’s the swing-type items (including the two seater that they’ve used as a “rocket”) that get the most use.
We never did the sand box because they seemed to get so gross when we’d see them at other people’s houses plus didn’t want them tracking in sand all the time.

SANDBOX!! And make it BIG. Not one of those tiny green turtle things! i'd build one because they'll use this for years. Get pails, shovels, some trucks to use in it (dump trucks et al) and let them go to it. When it rains and it's muddy, they'll have water to mix in, making it even more fun.

balls are so much fun.

I don't think I'd do a swingset but perhaps a climbing dome? This one is strong enough to not tip over so you don't need to bolt it down - we have it on our preschool playground and it's sturdy as heck. see this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Geometric-Climber-Center-Primary/dp/B002XULJDW/ref=asc_df_B002XULJDW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142094993&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2434724941062386228&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007536&hvtargid=pla-275337854301&psc=1

or this one is bigger (taller, so it will last until they are taller BUT it means you have to have more diameter to fit it in)
https://www.wayfair.com/Lifetime--Climber-90136-101301-L910-K~LXT1084.html?refid=GX103455982963-LXT1084&device=c&ptid=282589289756&network=g&targetid=pla-282589289756&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=4372600&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Ji348_p4QIVQgOGCh2CSQogEAQYBCABEgJs6vD_BwE

i would consider a drainage system

One of the best investment toys we got DS1 was a little two seat jeep that he drives around the yard. He's 4 and his younger brother is 2, and they now drive around together. That and a sand box.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2 year old, and a place to dig (sand box, mud kitchen, whatever) has been really big this year. Also the swing--but that still needs parent involvement to use at 2. My 2 year old also really likes to walk on anything that is balance beam like (log, stone edging), so I would suggest an on the ground balance beam (could be as simple as a 6x6 piece of wood from lowes that you lay on the ground somewhere). Playground balls are also a hit this year for both kicking and throwing/bouncing (we have these: https://smile.amazon.com/Crocodile-Creek-Solar-System-Playground/dp/B00HX3YOAY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=crocodile+creek+ball&qid=1556124558&s=gateway&sr=8-1), I'd make sure you have 1 per kid.

Forgot to add, water table. But you'll want one that covers up, or plan to fill and dump every time it is used to prevent grossness and mosquito breeding.

I like ninja-gym style back yards. Also, sandbox, kids garden, mini rock wall and rope ladder. Honestly, just google German playgrounds. That's what ours is based off of.

I have a 2 year old, and a place to dig (sand box, mud kitchen, whatever) has been really big this year. Also the swing--but that still needs parent involvement to use at 2. My 2 year old also really likes to walk on anything that is balance beam like (log, stone edging), so I would suggest an on the ground balance beam (could be as simple as a 6x6 piece of wood from lowes that you lay on the ground somewhere). Playground balls are also a hit this year for both kicking and throwing/bouncing (we have these: https://smile.amazon.com/Crocodile-Creek-Solar-System-Playground/dp/B00HX3YOAY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=crocodile+creek+ball&qid=1556124558&s=gateway&sr=8-1), I'd make sure you have 1 per kid.

We’re in a close in Md suburb and have a small to medium backyard with nothing in it except a plastic playhouse we acquired for free and some other ugly plastic ride on toys. The grass is spotty and when it rains we get big puddles but can’t afford to get it regraded right now. We have a 4.5 yer old and two year old twins. Luckily we live about a 10 minute walk from a so so playground, which we hit multiple times a day. But I’d like to make our backyard more usable and fun so that the kids can go out there while one of us is making dinner and when we have friends over for play dates (our house is small). Any suggestions on what to put on this blank slate? Small swing set? Cooler playhouse? Mud kitchen? I’d like any effort we expend to last a few years, so it would be better to come up with something that will grow with them. We also don’t have a patio or any place nice for the adults to hang out.