Wooden Swing Set + Infused Water = Easy Outdoor Entertaining

Simple outdoor entertaining with families of young kids requires just a few ingredients… something to play on, something to sip on and comfortable places for adults to sit on while they watch their kids enjoy a beautiful summer day. Nothing fancy – just a few pretty things to build a happy family legacy.

I visited Walmart headquarters in Betonville, Arkansas in May. Not far from the main office is Walmart’s historic, craftsman style house – it is gorgeous! The Jackson House is kept as a venue for hosting manufactures or vendors, allowing them plenty of space to set up their newest line of furniture, home decor, kitchenware or… outdoor entertaining essentials!

So when Walmart asked me to share how I do outdoor entertainment, I reminded them that most young families don’t have (or need!) huge, manicured outdoor spaces with elaborate entertainment spaces dotting the backyard. They totally agreed! So, folks, this is how I entertain outdoors – simple, refreshing and focused on the kids….

Outdoor Entertaining: Simple Infused Water Recipe

Infused water is all the rave right now, and I’m totally on the bandwagon! Infused water recipes can be simple – like this one filled with chilled water, lemon slices and mint – or more complex with simple syrup or carbonated mixes.

I bought this 3 liter mason beverage dispenser from Walmart awhile ago. Every other day I fill it up with various citrus and herbs I have on hand (limes, oranges or lemon mixed with basil, mint or lavender) and leave it in the fridge. At 3 liters, its the perfect size to fit in the fridge for everyday use, but can easily be moved outside for quick refills on a hot, summer day.

Drinking infused water recipes has health benefits too, in addition to helping me make sure my kids drink plenty of water. Add fresh lemons and vibrant mint to your water during your next outdoor playdate to add an extra special touch to your regular outdoor entertaining.

For safe outdoor entertaining with kids, I always use acrylic glasses and plates. I have various kinds and love that the kids can use them outside without my fear of broken glass everywhere. The Better Home and Gardens selection of outdoor dinnerware is gorgeous, but these timeless, stemless acrylic glasses are affordable and add the safety measure parents are looking for

We have several of these laminated bamboo serving tray by Better Homes and Gardens around the house, too. It was super affordable (at less than $20) and feels sturdy when transporting all the stuff you need for a cool drink outside.

Backyard Discovery: Adventure Play Sets Atlantis Wooden Swing Set

We have owned the Adventure Play Sets Atlantis Wooden Swing Set from Backyard Discovery for 6 months now, and my babies have played on it every single day since. We ordered the wooden swing set from Walmart.com and had it shipped site-to-store within just a few days. They’re 4 and 2 years old, making this wooden swing set a great size for them. But not only do they love it, our friends do to! Scheduling play dates at home has been easy since getting this legacy-building backyard addition.

Our backyard isn’t huge and, while it fits within the recommended safety parameters, we don’t have a bunch of yard leftover. So it had to be great! The kids love the high perched treehouse and have lunch out there regularly. I love that it shades them from the harsh mid-day sin, but still allows them to be outside. The treehouse fits three kids comfortably, but more can be up there with supervision.

The Atlantis Wooden Swing Set also comes with an 8 foot slide, a rock wall and standard ladder. Hanging off a cedar wooden beam, the wooden swing set comes with two standard swings and a two-person glider. This is what sold us (well, Alina actually!) on this particular model and it has proven to be one of our most favorite features.

A couple notes: assembly of this thing is NO JOKE. It took D and a friend a couple days to complete. Don’t use a hammer (per instructions) and be kind to the wood. The value on this set is great, but it isn’t the best quality of cedar. Definitely slather it with a clear weather-proofing coat. And DEFINITELY anchor the set securely into the ground and make sure the set is level to begin with. Even the force of my two young kids was enough to tilt it before we had it anchored.

After two years in this house, we finally feel comfortable entertaining in our outdoor space. It’s lush with potted plants (like this three tiered potted plant in a BHG planter), has a great outdoor rug to cover the icky concrete patio (check out my all natural concrete cleaner) and is comfortably designed for memory making and legacy building.

How do you entertaining outdoors for families with young kids?