Super-sized swing sets
You know society's obsession with all things large is out of hand when back yard swing sets are visible from space. That's what one Pennsylvania father found out when he viewed a satellite photo of his property and saw his son's $6,300 "Double Sunny" swing set on the ground, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer article.
Ever since I went on a quest last month to find a reasonably priced swing set for my Hendrick I've been wanting to write about this topic. I admit I got a little caught up in the thinking that every family needs a swing set in its back yard, but I wasn't willing to go into hock for it.
My brother helped put things into perspective by reminding me of the importance of having Hendrick go to the local park and interact with other kids. Peter, a true minimalist, gasped at the thought that I would indulge his godson with something so materialistic as a personal playground.
So we compromised.
After combing newspaper want ads, Craigslist and e-Bay for a used set, my friend Dana mentioned that she wanted to get rid of her basic wooden model. I jumped at the chance to get hers - for free. (It actually cost about $200 because we had to rent a truck and drive to Morris County to get it.)
I find it mind boggling that parents are spending thousands of dollars for a "play system." You can see them in the back yards of almost every McMansion that goes up around here, and even peeking out from behind many modest homes. The colorful canopies on these status symbols are quite visible as one drives down the street.
We all want our kids to have the best of everything, but let's not forget to put our family's financial stability first. Kids, left to their own devices, can create their own fun. And if they need a little more stimulation, you can always take them to the most elaborate play system in town - your local playground.
Your tax dollars helped pay for that, so why not get your money's worth?
Here's the link:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/No_longer_mere_playthings.html
Ever since I went on a quest last month to find a reasonably priced swing set for my Hendrick I've been wanting to write about this topic. I admit I got a little caught up in the thinking that every family needs a swing set in its back yard, but I wasn't willing to go into hock for it.
My brother helped put things into perspective by reminding me of the importance of having Hendrick go to the local park and interact with other kids. Peter, a true minimalist, gasped at the thought that I would indulge his godson with something so materialistic as a personal playground.
So we compromised.
After combing newspaper want ads, Craigslist and e-Bay for a used set, my friend Dana mentioned that she wanted to get rid of her basic wooden model. I jumped at the chance to get hers - for free. (It actually cost about $200 because we had to rent a truck and drive to Morris County to get it.)
I find it mind boggling that parents are spending thousands of dollars for a "play system." You can see them in the back yards of almost every McMansion that goes up around here, and even peeking out from behind many modest homes. The colorful canopies on these status symbols are quite visible as one drives down the street.
We all want our kids to have the best of everything, but let's not forget to put our family's financial stability first. Kids, left to their own devices, can create their own fun. And if they need a little more stimulation, you can always take them to the most elaborate play system in town - your local playground.
Your tax dollars helped pay for that, so why not get your money's worth?
Here's the link:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/No_longer_mere_playthings.html
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