Best 10 Toddler Jungle Gyms for Indoor and Outdoor Play

Toddler jungle gyms that are great for indoor and outdoor play

By Madiha A.
 Best 10 Toddler Jungle Gyms for Indoor and Outdoor Play

Best Toddler Jungle Gyms for Indoor Play

Children, especially the toddlers are the most difficult to keep up with. Ever increasing energy and activity of toddlers demands a space that encourages play and learning. Toddlers are fun if they are not bored and cranky. The child is growing physically with visible progress in his fine and gross motor skills, vision, hearing, speech and social skills. They love to play by themselves and in groups. They are spontaneous and wouldn’t accept rules and regulations. Their attention span is very short and they need constant shuffling in the toys and activities.

The biggest question for parents having toddlers is “how to keep the child busy?”. Whether you turn to online resources to find the answer or friends and family, you will get several ideas that are tried and tested or worked well for other kids. One thing that can keep a toddler busy is a jungle gym. 

The first jungle gym was not built for fun. The purpose was to create a structure that offers three-dimensional learning of mathematical concepts. Over the time it evolved and became a source of both play and learning. Indoor jungle gyms are great for keeping kids of all ages busy while the weather is too cold, hot or rainy outside. Jungle gyms offer climbing, crawling and jumping, in short everything a toddler loves to do.

See below some fun indoor jungle gyms for your kids.

1.    Panda Playground Indoor Jungle Gym

EZPlay Panda Playground (Age 1-5) - Home Indoor Jungle Gym For Sale

When buying play gym for children always make sure that it is safe for young kids. Panda playground indoor jungle gym is best for children ranging between 1-5 years of age. It is easy to assemble and can be folded and moved very conveniently. It has 6-in-1 play features including a rope ladder, wooden ladders, swing, slide, and gymnastic rings. Its size makes it perfect for all kinds and sizes of residential spaces.

2.     Playz 5pc Kids Playhouse Jungle Gym

Amazon.com: Playz 5pc Kids Playhouse Jungle Gym w/ Pop Up Tents, Tunnels, and Basketball Pit for Boys, Girls, Babies, and Toddlers with Zipper Storage Case for Indoor & Outdoor Use: Toys & Games

A combination of tents and tunnels offers activities beyond imagination. A child-friendly design consisting of soft thick fabric, mesh walls and padded structure offers the safest experience for the children. Great for keeping kids busy with birthday parties and family reunions.

3. Funny baby MINI - Kid's Indoor Playground Climber Set

Amazon.com: Funny baby MINI - Kid's Indoor Playground Climber Set with Accessories: Sports & Outdoors

Designed to match the physical activities of 9 months old to 7 years old child, this indoor climber set is made up of a metallic frame with foldable gymnastic mat. The set comprises of swing, gymnastic rings, 6 step rope ladder and slide. 

4.    ECR4Kids GUS Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel - Indoor/Outdoor Fun Kids Play Structure:

Amazon.com: ECR4Kids GUS Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar Tunnel - Indoor/Outdoor Fun Kids Play Structure at Home, Daycare, or Preschool - 7 Feet Long, Primary Colors: Industrial & Scientific

Anything that offers play and imagination is perfect for toddlers. The set offers crawling, climbing and fun interaction in the tunnel. Vibrant colored movable body parts of GUS can be arranged in several ways for non-stop fun. 

5.    Kids Jungle Gymnastics Expandable Junior Training Monkey Bars:

Amazon.com: Kids Jungle Gymnastics Expandable Junior Training Monkey Bars Climbing Tower Child play Training Gym Blue: Toys & Games

Folding jungle gym offers active playtime for toddlers. It is very easy to assemble and perfect for endless fun. Swing, ladder and climbing rope can be attached if required.

Best Toddler Jungle Gyms for Outdoor Play

When the weather is pleasant, nothing is better than a day spent out in the garden or back yard with your toddler. Playing out in the sun promotes good health as the body gets essential vitamins for the growth of healthy bones. Excessive exposure to the sun can be dangerous, so be very careful. Outdoor play improves gross motor skills, cognitive and emotional skills and enhances group interaction.

Outdoor jungle gyms are great for improving cognitive activities. The child learns complex concepts like spatial awareness, problem-solving and regulation of emotions. Mentioned below are some great outdoor jungle gyms for your toddlers. These jungle gyms come in a variety of sizes and you can select the one that best suits you. 

1. Lil' Monkey Everest Climb N Slide:

Amazon.com: Lil' Monkey Everest Climb N Slide: Toys & Games

Keeping kids active and safe at the same time may seem difficult but it isn’t with Lil’ Monkey Everest Climb N Slide. Foldable frame structure takes a few minutes to assemble and fold and can be stored even under a bed. This play gym offers plenty of climbing, hanging and sliding for your little tot. It will help improve your child’s strength and motor skills.  

2. Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Jungle Gym

Amazon.com: Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone: Sports & Outdoors

One thing that toddlers love is climbing. Geometric dome climber is perfect for strong muscle development and coordination. Real rock climbing hand grips offer safety while climbing the dome. Best for individual and group play.

3.    Rochester by Playground Equipment:

Rochester - PlaygroundEquipment.com

This dynamic play structure has 3 elevated and 1 ground level components. Its compact design makes it perfect for the backyard. Peapod climber, straight slide, gear panel for mental stimulation and Bongos make this outdoor set perfect for toddlers. 

4. Step2 Skyward Summit – Gray:

Amazon.com: Step2 Skyward Summit - Gray: Toys & Games

Keeping kids of different age groups engaged in one activity is impossible. Step2 Skyward Summit is designed for kids up to 8 years old. Consisting of 2 climbing nets, 1 floor net and 9 grips, this play structure offers variety of challenges to kids of all ages. The structure looks like real rock climbing wall and will be a great addition to home and school settings.    
 

5.    Slidewhizzer Dome Climber Slide:

Amazon.com: Geometric Dome Climber Slide Hexagon - Multiple Kids Jungle Gym Climbing Structure, Activity Center, Outdoor & Indoor Playground, Monkey Bars Climbing Tower - Age 3 - 10 Play Sets - 55 inches Mat: Toys & Games

Slidewhizzer combines two activities that every toddler loves; climbing and sliding. This play gym will not only keep your little one occupied for quite a while but will also develop his muscles, improve his balancing and coordination.  

DIY Toddler Jungle Gyms

If you are good with tools and can follow instructions, setting up a jungle gym for your toddler all by yourself is easy and fun. The best thing is, it wouldn’t cost much and you can easily upgrade it as your child grows. 
With jungle gyms, children learn skills that are considered way ahead of their age. With simple stuff, tools and items of daily use, you can build jungle gyms that will keep your kids occupied for quite a while. PVC pipes, cardboard boxes, car tires, ropes, wooden planks, screws and bolts are all you need for a perfect DIY jungle gym. 

I am sharing some very simple jungle gyms that you can set up without much assistance and let the fun begin for your toddler.

1.    Car Tire Climber:

A very simple and fun climber using very few elements for nonstop fun. 

Stuff Required:

  • Few car tires in different sizes
  • Netting (can be easily made with rope)

How to DIY:
  • You will have to dig a few pits at equal intervals.
  • Insert ¼ of the tire in the pit and dab the surface smooth. Throw the netting over the tires. Secure the netting at different places in the ground.

That is it!

2.    Pallet Jungle Gym DIY:

Although pallets look useless, they can be very handy in DIY projects. They don’t cost much and are sturdy. 

Stuff Required:

  • Few pallets of different sizes
  • A slide
  • A sturdy rope
  • Bolts and screws

Put the pallets one on the other, you can place them at angles for climbing up and in form of steps to offer different activities. Secure them with screws and bolts. Adjust height according to the age of your child. Secure the slide at one side. Attach rope at a height suitable for your child (tie big knots at equal intervals for climbing up).  

Be creative!!

Foam Climbing Blocks for Toddler Jungle Gyms

Jungle gyms are mostly made out of wood or metallic structures and the active components are fixed. Fixed parts do not promote imaginative play. Imagination play enhances creativity and problem-solving. Imagination helps improve social, language, emotional and physical development. It also fosters thinking skills in young children. Movable parts of play gyms put imagination at work. Making use of movable blocks to climb and reach for things on the upper shelves can be very fascinating for toddlers. Foam blocks are easy to steer and very safe for young kids. Foam blocks come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors and can be incorporated with indoor and outdoor jungle gyms for easy climbing and safe landing. 

See below foam climbing blocks for toddler jungle gyms

Constructive Playthings 5 Piece Lightweight Vinyl Soft Play Forms For Toddlers:

Amazon.com: Constructive Playthings 5 Piece Lightweight Vinyl Soft Play Forms For Toddlers: Toys & Games

Consisting of 5 different shaped and colored foam blocks, this set is designed for safe crawling and climbing. Lightweight play forms consist of two blocks, a ramp, a cylinder and large half cylinder that can be arranged and rearranged for endless fun. If incorporated with indoor or outdoor jungle gym it can offer unlimited possibilities of fun and development of essential skills. 

ECR4Kids Softzone Foam Big Building Blocks:

Amazon.com: ECR4Kids Softzone Foam Big Building Blocks, Soft Play for Kids (7-Piece Set), Big Blocks, Contemporary: Industrial & Scientific

Spatial reasoning and problem-solving are core development areas. These complex skills, if introduced earlier in life, can have a dynamic effect on the overall development of the children. Big building blocks by ECR4Kids can be stacked, knocked down, gathered and crawled on. Playing with these soft movable blocks will not only improve fine and gross motor skills but will also enhance sensory skills. 

Whichever kind of jungle gym you are intending to set up for your toddler, just make sure that it is age appropriate and safe for the child. Every child develops at his own set pace but providing opportunities to learn and play through play structures and jungle gyms can help teach complex skills without much effort. 

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