Diy ~~build a Play Area for Your Child
the Play Place is Now Freshly Painted and has a Name: Heston's Hangout
A Most Favorite Place to Play:
Up the slide is as much fun as down the slide!!!
He can get on his swing all by himself now!
Another day of climbing, sliding, and swinging
A play area for your child will be a gift that can grow with your child and will be an activity center for many years.
If you are handy with a hammer and a saw, you will be able to construct this with little or no assistance.
My son-in-law who is in my estimation an amazing carpenter has been erecting this play area for my grandson. It is my birthday gift to him and is being constructed in my yard.
Phew....that's fast!!!
Portable
One really nice feature about this play area is that it can be moved.
Yes, it is possible to move it from one location to another. Taking off the extension where he swing hangs will allow it to be moved.
Of course it is not recommended that it be moved often but if a move is made this child's wonderful play place can come along.
The best laid plans
Often we find that when a project is begun, unexpected factors intervene that cause completion of it to be delayed. Such has been the case with this play area. A number of things have happened that caused work on this fun area for my grandson to stop for a time. But that has not kept him from playing on it.
The most recent stoppage has been that I moved. O, yes. Let's get the play area well under way and then decide to move---doesn't that sound like a good idea??
Before I decided to move, consideration of the play area did occur. After conferring with my son-in-law and daughter, the decision was made to go ahead with the move. My son-in-law assured me it could be moved and I had no doubt that he would find a way.
After I had completely moved into this new-to-me home, a day was chosen to move the play area.
Pressure treated wood
Table saw at the Ready
Slide Awaiting its Place on the Play Place
Son-in-law Preparing to Assemble
Structure Beginning to Form
This Saw was Essential
Measuring and cutting Precisely is Crucial
It is Taking Shape
More Pieces are Coming Together
Together the Project Continues to Evolve
Teamwork!!
"Is This the Missing Piece?"
The Floor to the Play House Area is Coming Together
Now the Play House Area is Beginning to Really Take Shape
It is Now Becoming a Very Inviting Place
My grandson HAD to try it out today...what fun.
"My swing, Nini."
Is making DIY projects for your family something you feel comfortable doing?
Moving day for the play area
After having been moved in to the new-to-me house for two weeks, it was time for the play area to be moved. The really good news is that it only had to be moved from one yard to the next as I was moving next door.
My son-in-law detached the arm that held the two swings. Then the remainder of the structure was loaded onto my fabulous little wagon that my sister bought for me. If you do not have one, and, you need to haul things around your yard, this is an awesome one to have.
The fence that was adjoining the two yards is a chain link fence in part, so it was detached from the privacy fence so that the play area could be hauled through. Unfortunately I was busy with details inside of the house and playing with my baby grandson and never got pictures taken of this part of the project.
Now, in my new yard, stands the play area all put back together again. The remainder of the work on it will continue as time permits. Since I have moved there have been so many other projects that have occurred that more creating on the play area will come as we can squeeze it in to our schedule.
A Few Years Later: Little Man Enjoys it Even More, I Believe
What is needed
- Materials
- 1 box of 5 inch screws
- 1 box of 3 inch screws
- 2--6 inch lag bolts
- The following woods are all pressure treated...
- 45--1x4x10
- 45--2x4x10
- 3--4x4x8
- 2--2x6x12
- 1 sheet of plywood for chalkboard
- slide, steering wheel, telescope, swings
- Tools:
- drill
- miter saw
- sander
- chalkboard paint
Organized and Ready
My trusty little blue hawk wagon
A work in progress
Much of the play area is now complete. A few finishing touches will appear as we have time to add them. But for now, it is finished.
It is already a source of great enjoyment for my grandson. He races up the stairs, looks at something interesting through the telescope, and races down the slide only to do it all over again.
This will be a fun place for him for many years.
The photos of the most recent work are shown below.
Finishing touches are just completed on the roof
Working together
Slow and Steady Gets the Job Done
Securing Extra Support
This Work in Progress is Nearing Completion
Checking and Re-Checking
This is a Wrap!!
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2013 Patricia Scott
Comments
How wonderful! I think any child would be thrilled with having their own hang-out like this!
Hi Patricia,
What a fantastic play area for your grandson to have right in your own yard. Looks like he has lots of space to run around and I am sure he will have loads of fun with that fort as he gets older and has friends joining him. Looks sturdy and well built! Blessings to you and your entire family! Up votes and sharing.
pstraubie48, I am not a handy person at all, but I had to see the amazing play area for kids that your son-in-law built. This is something my boys would definitely love. Too bad my hubby and I aren't that handy. I guess we'll have to settle for the Toys R Us version. LOL.
Nice playset and I'm glad you could move it. When my daughter was much younger we lived about 6 hours away. We had assembled her playset in our backyard and I remember how sad she was when we could not move it to our new home. I was bummed too because we had put a lot of work into it.
Haha oh yeah, it's going to be far from inexpensive with the costs of wood.... but it'll not rival the price of a prebuilt set I would think. In any case, parents are MUCH MUCH more likely to build something sturdy and safe for their kids versus a company. So no matter what it's probably the best route :) The chalk board idea was awesome!!!! I like that!!!
A well explained Hub on DIY Build A Play Area for Your Child This Summer, step by step process is quite clear and to the point
Not only is it a great way to keep the kids active AND fine tune craftsmanship, but it's also a cheaper way of getting a playset. And it's 100% customizable unlike prebuilt ones. I'd love to build one one day WITH a rock wall!!!! And a ball pit!
Patricia, What great instructions and it really didn't look all they difficult to build a great place for children to play. I loved all the pictures amd I think this is a great summer project. Blessings.
Nice easy-to-understand instructions, Patricia, for building a clever play-area project. And your wonderful photos illustrate each step along the way for those who may be project-building-challenged. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share your knowledge.
Your grandson is adorable.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this hub. Your enthusiasm is infectious. When I read the part about you using a wagon to haul your things around on, I, being the total right brained person that I am made a note to myself to have my daughter buy me a little red wagon like my brothers used to have when we were growing up. In fact I saw a Flyer wagon a hardware store window just last week. I told myself that I would haul my weeds and cut bushes in it. What fun! When I saw your picture of a Hawk wagon, I was disappointed but also happy to have learned something new. Your instructions were simple to read I believe I can build a play area in my back yard for my doggies. You and your grandson will long treasure these special moments and things you share together.
You both are so blessed! Voted up and shared.
That is really awesome. I love the yellow chain. You guys are doing great work!
Sounds to me as though you have a very handy son-in-law. You also have a very large backyard.
Nice DIY pictures, PS, and I have no doubt many hours of fun will be had on the newly-constructed play area.
blessings and a hug winging your way
bill
Hi Dearest PS,
What a great detailed hub here full of fabulous photos too!
I remember when my son was three and we built him one almost identical to this one here in your hub. We thought, well, he will only play on it for a short time, but do you know that he played on it until he was just too grown to play on it. : )
Now, we are thinking we need one at our house for our grands, but we do have a lovely little park close to the house with everything already there. So, we will think about it more.
God bless you sweet friend.
Sending Angels your way with a lot of hugs and love, Faith Reaper
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