Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set

The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is designed for toddlers. Many parents have found that after the age of five, many children outgrew the set. For example, the sliding board is only about 2 ½ to 3 feet tall. Also, the entire set is made of the traditional Little Tikes plastic that although it is durable can only hold so much weight, and a child over the age of five may be too heavy for the set.

Because the set is so light, the chances of it tipping or bending under the weight of a heavier child is likely.

The set comes with two swings that are designed for lighter weighted children. An older child beyond their toddler years may not even fit into the swings let alone be able to swing in them as they will be too heavy and may cause the set to buckle.

Attached to the slide and the swings is a clubhouse that can be accessed on two sides by various climbing methods. One side of the clubhouse is a rope ladder and the other side is a normal ladder that doubles as a climbing wall. Each method of climbing into the clubhouse stands about three feet high.

Once in the clubhouse there is a wheel that children can play with and full access to the slide.

Plenty of safety measures must be taken into consideration when allowing your child or children to play in the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set. The entire set is open, therefore, there are no walls or railings to prevent your child from falling out of the clubhouse. Although it is only about three feet off of the ground, the possibility of your child getting injured is high. It is recommended that a parent or adult is always present whenever children are playing in the set.

It is also worth noting that the set is made of a lightweight plastic and any kind of roughhousing or rough play in the set can cause it to come off balance, which is why it is recommended for younger children. Always ensure your children are not playing to hard that the set may move.

The swings are toddler swings that are meant for younger children, and some parents have found that even though the set is for young children, the swing seats are designed for children who are much older. This is a bit of a conundrum for some parents as older children are too heavy for the swings, yet the swing seats are a bigger size. Some parents have solved the problem by buying toddler seats for the set at an additional charge so their children were a bit more safe in the swings.

The sliding board does come with a small railing for younger children to hold on to, and the railing also prevents younger children from rolling off of the slide as they come down.

It is always recommended that the swing set is placed in an area with plenty of room so that there are no obstructions or hazards for when children are playing. It should also be noted that the swing set is for outdoor use only and should never be assembled or used indoors.

The assembly of the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set has been considered the biggest complaint by parents. The swing set takes a very long time to assemble and it is not a one person job. Some parents have experienced assembly times as long as four hours while other parents have been able to assemble the set in about two hours.

There are several parts to the swing set, and according to parents, the instruction manual does not provide a lot of clarity. The instruction manual is basically pictures so a lot of guessing as to the parts is required. Although it should be noted that many of the parts are unique and are not easily confused, it just takes a lot of quick recognition of the parts to make the assembly easier.

You will also need a lot of tools to assemble the swing set. The instructions suggest that you use a screwdriver and a hammer; however, a lot of parents found they needed to utilize a variety of other tools as well in order to successfully assemble the set to where it would be completely safe. The biggest suggestion was a power drill because it shortens the time needed to set up the entire swing set. The set is assembled on a nut and bolt system. Some parents were not able to fully tighten the screws and bolts without the extra tools. Others have had to create their own holes in the set and purchase additional screws and bolts that better fit the set during assembly. Every instance is different, so if you buy the set, keep in mind that the assembly will take more than one person to complete, and none of the tools are included with the set, so you will have to provide your own tools when putting the set together.

The most important part of the assembly process is anchoring the set into the ground. Once again, the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is made for outdoor use only, so you will have to make sure it is assembled in a clear, flat area and an area where the set can be anchored securely. The plastic of the set is so lightweight that in a high wind storm the entire set could tip over. By having the set properly anchored into the ground, not only will the set survive inclement weather, but it will also survive children playing in the set. The instructions state that the set is best used with up to four children only. Any number over four may cause a safety hazard.

When you open the box of the set when it is delivered check to make sure the anchors are present in the box because they are the most important part of the assembly process. The anchors screw into the set and into the ground providing stability and strength.

The biggest gain from having your toddler play in the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is that physical activity they will engage in while playing. The set allows your little one to climb and run in the outdoors. In a time when so many children are entertained by electronics that keep them in the house all day, the swing set will get your child to get out of the house without leaving the backyard. This is great for them to not only get exercise, but it also gives parents the ability watch their child without leaving home or being far away. The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set adds ease to playtime.

The wheel that is present in the clubhouse gives your child the ability to work on their gripping skills and their motor skills as well. They can grip onto the wheel and turn it, which also allows them to use their imagination as they pretend they are driving a car or sailing a ship.

The rope ladder helps children learn balance and enables them to connect to the synchronicity of their bodies to be able to work their way up the ladder. On the opposite side, the climbing wall is also another great way for kids to work on their physical fitness as they climb.

The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is also a great way to spend quality time with your children. Kids cannot get in and out of the swing set on their own, so a parent needs to be present to place the child in the swing and push them. During this time, parents and children get to spend time together talking and laughing and playing, which helps your child with their social skills and play skills. Parents are also at the bottom of the slide to catch their children, which also adds to building a trusting relationship with your child.

When multiple children are playing with the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set, kids get to build their social skills and play skills with children their own age. Kids will begin to learn how to share, how to play fair, and how to use their imagination in tandem with other imaginations to create games and build confidence as they play. Again, the set is made for only four children at one time, so a small group play session may be exactly what certain children need if they are shy or prefer to only play with a few kids at a time.

The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is an expensive buy. Many parents have felt that for what they pay for the set, the set should be easier to construct and be more sturdy, however, it is a swing set and swing sets are not that inexpensive. For the price that you pay for the set, it seems right on target for what you are going to get and for how long you will use the set. Again, the set is a better purchase for parents who have a large amount of space in their yard as the space gives their child more room to play and run and use the set. For the price that you pay, you could have this set for a number of years depending on how many children you have because once your child reaches five, you will need to graduate to a bigger more expensive swing set if you want to keep a swing set in your yard. The price is right on target and may not be in the budget for some parents.

The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is a great way for kids to get out of the house and play and interact with other children. The set is made for toddlers and gives them all the play tools necessary during a time when they are discovering the world around them. Kids get to use their imagination and build motor skills and muscle as they climb, swing, slide, run, and play around the swing set. Parents and grandparents get the chance to play with their child creating deeper bonds and providing quality time to teach children how to interact and play with confidence. Although the set is expensive and requires a large backyard or outdoor play area, the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is a great buy for that parent who has the patience to assemble a large product and the need to keep their child active and social as they grow from toddlers into young children.