The official arrival of spring on March 20 means many local families will be thinking about the purchase of a playset for their backyard and dreaming of warmer days to come. Dave Byrum, owner of Kids Gotta Play, notes that there’s no time like the present to size up your yard and explore your options.
“Our business really picks up in March,” he says. “It’s just logical. As soon as the snow melts, parents and kids want to get out in the yard.”
From a price standpoint, Byrum notes that winter and early spring are the best times to buy with playsets sometimes being discounted up to 40 to 45 percent. Discounts on installation are also available.
While price promotions and a break in the weather make March a popular month to shop for playsets, Byrum says purchasing and even installing playsets can and does happen all year round.
“We often install when snow is still on the ground,” he says. “Those who buy early in the year have their choice of installation dates. Though some families purchase in January, they may opt for spring installation. They are then first in line for selecting an installation date.”
To get started understanding their options and identifying the best playset fit, Byrum recommends families take a visit to the Kids Gotta Play showroom in New Hudson where kids can “test play” on more than seven different assembled playsets ranging in size and design. The three-and-a-half inch thick rubber showroom floor ensures soft footing for little feet.
“We built this 12,000-square-foot showroom, so parents can bring their kids in to play and witness their little ones’ eyes pop out of their heads,” Byrum laughs. “While their children play, parents should take note of what their kids are attracted to because every child is different.”
Bringing yard measurements and photos can help Kids Gotta Play sales staff identify any limiting factors in a family’s yard. Similarly, Byrum advises families to check that their neighborhood association does not have any limitations that wouldn’t permit them to install a playset or would limit such things as a playset’s height.
Byrum notes that many families with a baby or young toddler come seeking small playsets or swingsets for their young children.
“One of our salespeople likes to ask these families if this is the first or last playset they plan to buy,” he says. “A lot of families will buy a playset for their young children, and by the time the kids are 4or 5 years old, they aren’t interested in playing with it anymore. We see kids playing on playsets until they are 12 years old when it’s big enough. The level of their play will be different as they get older, but they’ll still use it if only to hang out in it.”
The Rainbow Play Systems for which Kids Gotta Play is the sole Michigan distributor allow for interchangeable swings, trapezes and other accessories that are age appropriate for growing children. These can include such things as a bucket swing for a baby, a toddler swing for a 2- or 3-year-old, and a standard child swing for older kids. The Rainbow playsets are made of either western red cedar or redwood – two high quality woods that are weather and insect resilient.
One common concern families express in their search for a playset is whether their yard can accommodate one. With more than 20 years of experience customizing and installing playsets throughout southeast Michigan, Kids Gotta Play can work with almost any scenario to find a playset solution that will work for all families.
“We can work with slopes in a yard or ground that otherwise isn’t level,” Byrum notes. “It may mean a longer ladder, slide or legs on the play structure itself. The longest slide we’ve ever installed was on a smaller playset to accommodate a hill.”
Kids Gotta Play will conduct a free onsite yard evaluation if photos and in-person or phone conversations still leave questions about a family’s options. It also offers six- and 12-month financing with zero down.
“It’s a real simple process,” Byrum explains. “We can submit online and see if you qualify for financing while you’re standing there. Most families pay by credit card putting down an initial deposit and paying the balance the day before or the day of installation.”
