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Cure Boredom With These 8 Best Indoor Play Gyms for Kids
Seasoned parents tell us that even rainy days can be fun when you have these energy-burning playsets and jungle gyms in your home.
What do a rainy day and winter break have in common? The ability to turn a parent's world upside down as they scrape at the bottom of the barrel to find something to catch their little one's attention. But it doesn't have to be like that. With an indoor play gym in your home, your kiddo will have a safe place to burn all of that excess energy. And, as a bonus, these playsets are good for their development, too. Research shows that children who have access to playgrounds are more active and have more advanced gross motor skills, both of which have been linked to better overall fitness, reduced risk for disease and improved mental health.
Sure, these types of toys require a bit more space than your average plaything, but you don't need a vast basement or the world's biggest living room. There are all kinds of indoor play gyms, both big and small. Some have swings and slides that mimic what you'd find at an outdoor playground; others are more compact and can even be folded for convenient storage. There are options for all ages, ranging from toddlers to big kids, too — some even versatile enough for adults to use them for their own fitness endeavors.
To help you find the best of the bunch, we scoured top retailers for the bestselling, top-rated indoor play and jungle gyms, plus asked real parents what their kids use and love.
This seven-in-one toddler climbing set, suitable for ages two through six, provides multiple ways for your little one to burn all of that excess energy: a mini rock-climbing wall, a Swedish slide, monkey bars, a rope ladder, a wooden ladder, a swing rope and a swing. There's no need to attach it to the wall — the sturdy set, which can hold up to 250 pounds at a time, is entirely self-standing.
A great option for younger toddlers, this plastic playset is a six-in-one activity center boasting an extra-long slide, a climber with full-length rails, a crawl-through tunnel and corridor, a basketball hoop, and two storage spaces for toys or stuffies. With a maximum load of 800 pounds, it's ideal for siblings and playdates. Choose from five different color palettes, each one made from a nontoxic, high-density polyethylene material that's durable enough to stand up to years of play.
Part indoor gym, part playhouse, this unique wooden playset offers the best of both worlds. Kids can soar down the slide, hang from the monkey bars, scurry up the climbing wall or use the power of their imagination to play house. (The cloth tent is included.)
If you don't have much space to lend to an indoor playground, try this door-mounted option. The professional-grade steel mount comes with three interchangeable attachments: a swing, a rope ladder and a set of rings. It's designed to fit most door frames, widths from 25 to 26 inches, and can hold up to 300 pounds. The brand notes that parents can also use it without the attachments as a pull-up bar.
This popular Montessori-style toy encourages older babies and young toddlers to push their physical skills —like balance and coordination — plus enhance their confidence. The three-piece set includes a triangle ladder, a slide/rock climbing wall and a climbing/rocking arch, all made of solid New Zealand pine. Use the pieces separately, or connect them all to create a whole little gym.
Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, this plastic climber can hold up to 220 pounds of kiddos at once. As they have fun climbing or hanging from the bars, your little ones will develop balance, coordination and strength. There are options for pretend play, too. Simply throw some blankets over the playset to transform it into their very own private hideaway or fort.
Perhaps the most versatile indoor play gym we've seen, the Avenlur wall gym offers a wide range of activities. Kids can swing on the trapeze, climb the rope ladder, scale the rock wall, hang from the pull-up bar or fly down the slide. It's better suited for older toddlers and kids, but you'll have it for years to come. The wall-mounted play set has an impressive 500-pound weight capacity, so even parents can use it for a full-body workout.
Another wall-mounted option with plenty of play potential, this indoor gym is constructed with a wall ladder, a pull-up bar, a rope ladder, a rope and gymnastic rings. Though there are plenty of options, we like the smaller footprint, especially if you don't have much space to lend to the cause. The carbon steel frame is easy to wipe clean (parents know how key that is!), and kids love the bright colors, too.
