5 Benefits to Adding Swingsets to Your Backyard

In modern America where technology puts a universe of possibilities at our fingertips, and sometimes multiple virtual universes, it's easy to over-complicate the means of keeping your child entertained. Every kid thinks they need all the latest gadgets and over-hyped video games, and with parents growing less stubborn, more distracted, and more complacent, they typically just get what they want. But I'd like to venture that the perfect addition to your child's life can be as simple and old school as the swingsets we loved when we were kids.

Here are 4 benefits to adding swingsets to your backyard for the ultimate in childhood entertainment.

1. Make Your Home The Place To Be

One thing I love about adding swingsets to your backyard is that suddenly your yard becomes the place to be. Most swingsets these days have all kinds of add-ons that turn them into a complete playground, so instead of running amuck all over town looking for something to do, the kids are in your backyard.

Now that usually means all their friends and the neighborhood kids are going to be in your backyard too, and that means more responsibility for you. But before you shun that as too much, realize that someone needs to be responsible, and with most parents not wanting to take that on these days, too many kids are running around causing trouble and getting into things they shouldn't be.

Would you rather have the stress of not knowing what is going on or the stress of stopping it when you see it?

2. Get Them Outside

Remember when you were a kid. What did you hear the most from your parents? For me, it was either, "Why don't you kids go play outside?" Or, when we were getting in wrestling matches and climbing up the walls, "Take it outside!"

But in our cities and suburbs where outside has taken on a whole new meaning, kids go from indoor environment to indoor environment—school to home to the mall—and get no fresh air. Swingsets in your backyard mean getting outside while staying out of the street and staying safe.

3. Get Them Active

When you think about it though, even though fresh air and sun is essential, what our parents really knew was that kids need to be active. All those video games, movies, sitting in the car, and even sitting at school is doing nothing for healthy physical growth—don't even get me started on diets.

Putting together a playground in your backyard, complete with swingsets, trampoline, some monkey bars, and maybe even a basketball hoop, provides a regular source of healthy physical activity for your children. We could likely use a little ourselves, so get out there with them from time to time.

4. Increase The Value of Your Home

Believe it or not, a high quality wooden playset may even increase the value of your home. Why is that? Well, for the same reasons you're considering buying one yourself. Families looking to buy a home will certainly take it into consideration when shopping around. They'll think—built-in entertainment, keep the kids active, keep them in the yard, and get them out of our hair...awesome.

And all other things being equal, wouldn't that raise the perceived value of your home compared to another? The answer is obvious to anyone who knows real estate, as is the simple fact that perceived value is the common denominator of selling price.