You know what I dislike more than anything else in the garden?

Isolated garden play areas where some sort of crummy swing set thing is thoughtlessly plopped down to simultaneously compartmentalize kids away – but then, also, not away.  The worst offenders are those horrible are the cheap, garish plastic play sets.  

Swingsets that have more durable and natural materials are better.  And better still are those that have made some effort in design.  But they all have one common (negative) feature, they relegate kids to one area of the yard and are completely repetitive in their offerings.  

They beg the question – why not go to a local playground?  The setup will be more extensive and interesting than most families could ever afford or have the space for in their own backyards.  Plus, kids can socialize with other kids.  And in an ideal world – these sorts of amenities would be walkable places that are designed to help build community for young families. 

Why most Backyard play areas don’t work well

As a mom, I get the practicality that your own backyard park can have, especially if the play structures are located in plain sight from, say, a kitchen window, but personally, I prefer to integrate the play opportunities with the rest of the garden as much as possible.  I also think they should be designed for longevity – meaning that they aren’t useless in a couple of years when the kids outgrow them.  Swings and many other features can be functional and beautiful for people at many ages and can turn your outdoor space into something that has timeless appeal.  

Here is why backyard swing sets and ‘play areas’ miss the mark — (at least from a kid perspective — I assume I don’t need to mention that ‘jungle gyms’ are a general platstic blight on the landscape)

1. Kids can get bored quickly and move on.  If there is only one play area…then there is no place to move onto.
2. The play area tends to encourage only one type of play – that is playground play…where kids are excitedly swarming all over the structure like ants.  It is all energy and excitement – and it is good, but there are other things too.  Play structures can encourage kids to interact with their surroundings, and they should — it is possible to provide better options than just a pile of plastic to climb on.
3. There is no opportunity to move around the outdoors; they just stay in that spot. Sure, there is exercise in climbing, but giving them destinations and ways to move to them is much more interesting, not just for kids but for adults too.

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Better Backyard Play Area Ideas 

What is ‘better’ when it comes to an outdoor play area?  (Of course, this is dependent on how much space you have) Here are some examples.

1. Create multiple areas with simpler, more natural, and less obtrusive garden-based features. don’t relegate the kids to just one corner of the landscape.  
2. Allow for kid engineering – At my house, we have a tree platform with a slide.  My little people and their cohorts have taken it upon themselves to accessorize the platform with their own creations – pull-up buckets (created from plant pots) and variations on rope swings made from found wood and rope scavenged from the garage. While I want to add to this tree house, I am discovering that it is becoming its own thing without me having to spend too much money or imaginative effort. The kids are leading, and we are following, and it is really nice.
3. Double-purpose Garden Features (for adults and kids) – On the side of the house, we have a gravel patio that doubles as a sandbox. The looseness of the surface works for all of us. 
4. Provide areas for play at different tempos.  Around the back, we have a hammock strung between two oak trees.  I can see it from my desk.  My kids love this thing.  Roughly four children can be in it at a time, and you would be surprised by how many hours are spent in this thing with stuffed animals, books, pets, swinging,  etc.   It is totally separate from the tree house, and this play is much more contemplative and collaborative (because they are all swinging together). It is not uncommon for me to find my 3-year-old gently swinging and daydreaming by himself here.
5. Outbuildings and pathways give routes to adventures and imaginative play. My garden shed frequently doubles as a playhouse and garden paths are inviting journeys to other things. I know I already said it – but do not relegate your kids to a kid area – build backyard fun into the whole garden – then everyone can benefit and the likelihood that the play space will get outgrown will lessen.
6. Let nature inspire you. I should not forget to mention the ‘play tree’, which is a bunch of giant rhododendrons.  They have been denuded from about 4′ down by deer – exposing fun branches to climb in.  Let kids lead and see what interests them. Then work to make it easier, safer, more exciting, and more accessible.

More Things Kids Love & Garden Play Area Ideas You Can Make Into A Stylish Garden Feature: 

1. Water Table → Reflecting Pool + Wildlife Stopover

A shallow, stone-edged water table can double as a reflecting pool or wildlife basin. Include smooth boulders or stepping stones for kids to splash and perch on, and plant around it with moisture-loving natives or ornamental grasses. Add a copper spigot or hand pump for old-world charm and interactive flow.

2. Mud Kitchen → Rustic Outdoor Kitchen Garden

Tuck a mud kitchen into a shaded nook under a tree or arbor, framed with espaliered fruit trees or a raised bed herb garden. Use natural wood, salvaged sinks, and terra cotta pots to give it a potager-meets-play look. Let the kids dig while you prune.

3. Paddling Pool → Seasonal Water Garden

Design a paddling space with a retractable or disguised element—like a hidden plunge pool or shallow sunken basin surrounded by lush, tropical-style planting. In cooler months, the space becomes a dry gravel garden or patio area.

4. Climbing Wall → Sculptural Garden Feature

Incorporate a climbing wall into a gabion wall, vertical timber screen, or modern arbor. Paint it in muted tones or green it up with climbers on adjacent panels. It becomes an art piece and challenge course in one – something that rock climbing kids and adults will both love. 

5. Water Wall → Sensory Focal Point

A water wall made from corten steel or slate can serve as a garden’s acoustic centerpiece. Kids love the tactile flow, while adults get the zen. Situate near seating or plantings to soften sound and integrate it into the landscape.

6. Trampoline → Sunken Garden Feature

Trampolines can be sunk into the ground and bordered with ornamental grasses or pollinator plantings. Add low hedging or wooden decking around it for safety and a polished, integrated look.

7. Sand Pit → Mediterranean or Japanese Inspired Sandbox Courtyard

Create a defined sand area framed by stone or brick edging, with built-in benches and shade from a pergola or fig tree. Think Tuscan courtyard or Japanese meditation garden, not plastic sandbox. Natural boulders can double as seating or climbing spots.

8. Fairy Garden → Artistic Miniature Garden

Place a fairy garden within a mossy rock garden, hollow stump, or shady fern dell. Use natural materials, handmade features, and involve kids in design. It becomes both a whimsical art project and a teaching tool.

9. Chalk Area → Outdoor Studio Wall

Install a smooth plaster or slate board along a fence or shed wall, or create a paved patio corner with dark stone that doubles as a drawing canvas. Frame it with flowering vines or espalier for visual elegance.

10. Balance Beams → Natural Play Trail

Use reclaimed wood, tree stumps, or sculptural steel beams set low to the ground. Wind them through a native planting area to create a woodland trail vibe—perfect for both footwork and imagination.

11. DIY Obstacle Course → Garden Path Adventure

Turn a winding garden path into a low-key obstacle course with stepping stones, stumps, tunnels (like woven willow arches), and logs to jump or crawl over. Looks like a magical trail, functions like a movement lab.

12. Dirt Bike Course → Woodland Pump Track

If space allows, carve a simple dirt trail into a wooded or edge-zone area. Soften berms with ornamental grasses or low native plantings. Keep the palette earthy and natural so the whole area blends into its surroundings.

13. Play house → Garden Pavilion

Design a playhouse with architectural intent—echo the style of your home or garden shed. Use cedar shingles, salvaged windows, or a green roof. Place it in a border or grove to make it feel like a “found” destination.

14. Treehouse → Canopy Retreat

Build a treehouse that feels like an extension of the garden—take advantage of mature trees, use natural wood, integrate planters or trellises, and place it where it offers a view. Even better: hang it partially in a tree and partially on stilts for safety and flexibility. Cargo nets strung between trees can create a suspended seating area that small children and the entire family will find appealing. 

15. Den Building Area → Loose Parts + Willow Grove

Create a wild corner of the garden for den-making with sticks, leaves, logs, and fabric. Add a willow dome or lattice as a structure kids can build onto. Keep the palette natural and organic so it feels like a woodland classroom.

Resources for Play Area Ideas:

So I guess what I am saying is that when you see all this, you aren’t immediately struck by the presence of a playground in the middle of our garden but rather by an interest to see what awaits around the next corner. I think that is infinitely more interesting to kids and adults.

While at the Blasen Architects website, I saw these two beautiful examples of what I am talking about.
The swings above are so simply beautiful. I would happily sit there to chat with my husband as eagerly as my kids would.  This slide is so pretty; I had to take a second look to realize what I was even looking at. A slide on a hill that blends beautifully with the landscape. Nice.

The best book that I have ever seen about this different sort of approach to a child’s garden and better play area ideas is A Child’s Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children (Archetype Press Books)by Molly Dannenmaier. I mentioned it here before, but it really is worth a read if you are looking to create outdoor spaces that children can interact with.

More Inspiration for creating better gardens for families and kids: 

• Swings, MUGAs and Girls = Women (duh)
• A Playground in The Trees
• Create a Modern Play Shed
• How to Master Scale and Proportion in Landscape Design for a better garden
• Backyard Adventures – How to Design An Outdoor Classroom in your Garden