Investing in a backyard swing set? Play it safe

Remember the simple swings you had in your backyard when you were a child? Those modest metal sets have been replaced by play structures made of lumber with such accessories as rock-climbing walls, spiral slides and skybox play decks.

For parents, having a child's play set viewable from the kitchen window is convenient but costly. Today's play structures start at $1,000 for a basic model and can reach $10,000, depending on add-ons.

Each year, approximately 50,000 children are injured on home playground equipment, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. To ensure your child's safety — as well as the safety of neighborhood children who are sure to come by and play — the commission offers the following recommendations:

Choose a good site. The location should be level and at least 6 feet from any other structure such as a house or fence. The area should be clear of obstacles such as overhead wires, tree stumps, roots, branches and underground sprinklers.

Pick the right structure. Be sure that the equipment is age-appropriate. Younger children, for example, shouldn't have access to structures they could fall from; you can add more challenging accessories later.

Install protective surfacing. Materials include wood chips or mulch, shredded rubber mulch, engineered fiber, sand and pea gravel. Lay the shock-absorbing protective surface 9 inches deep and 6 feet in all directions beyond the equipment to reduce injuries.

Eliminate hanging ropes. Never attach loose ropes or cords to the play structure, and secure any climbing ropes at both ends.

Maintenance. Be sure that nuts and bolts are tightened, moving parts are well-oiled and exposed bolts have caps. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for maintaining and keeping the structure safe.

Most important: Supervise children to ensure they are using the equipment safely.