Jungle gyms can provide hours of fun and entertainment for your children, offering a variety of activities to enjoy. But after a few uses, the activities can start to feel the same and a little boring, making it challenging to get your children to use it.
Thankfully, many jungle gyms are customisable, allowing you to swap out or add activities that will keep your children engaged and playing outdoors. Today, we have our favourite accessories to add to customise your jungle gym and ensure hours of fun for your little ones!

Add a Basketball Hoop
Adding a basketball hoop to your jungle gym is one of the easiest ways to customise it and blend sports with fun. You can purchase basketball hoops that clip onto your jungle gym, making them super easy to attach. Look for hoops where you can change the direction of the hoop, too, so you can ensure a ball will not hit any child while they play in the jungle gym. Many hoops come with basketballs and the necessary tools to install them, too.
Switch Out Traditional Swings
If your jungle gym has traditional swings, you can swap them for different types of swings to provide more space for your children to relax and play, while keeping the jungle gym new and engaging. Many swings detach easily from jungle gyms, allowing you to chop and change the type of swing as often as you like. Some of our favourite alternatives include:
- A hanging cubby – provides a private space that rocks gently in the breeze, providing sun protection and a quiet space for your children to relax
- A monkey swing – which offers a bar for your child to swing from their arms or hook their legs around for upside-down swinging. They are a good way to encourage exercise on the jungle gym, too
- A bed swing – provides a large space for your child to lie down and nap, read, or relax outdoors. They need more space than other swings, so check the dimensions before adding one
Add a Boxing Bag
Similar to a basketball hoop, a boxing bag will provide plenty of entertainment while adding a physical element to the jungle gym. Most boxing bags can be suspended from a jungle gym frame, providing space for children to practice their punches. If your child is interested in boxing, it is an excellent addition. Choose a bag that comes with gloves included, and look for options that are easy to remove and store during wet weather.
Install a Water Mister
Water misters are perfect for summer, helping your children to cool off while they play outdoors. You can use them for trampolines, swing sets, and jungle gyms, making them a versatile accessory to invest in. Set the mister up under the jungle gym, and it will provide a fine mist around the area, cooling your children without the force of a hose.
Many water metres let you control the flow, so no one will get too wet while they are playing. You will need to supervise your children when using the water mister to ensure that the jungle gym does not get too wet or slippery for them to use.
Add a Climbing Ladder
Providing you have the space, a climbing ladder is an excellent addition to your jungle gym. Rope climbing ladders will help your children to improve their upper arm strength as they reach higher parts of the jungle gym. When looking for climbing ladders, opt for those that securely attach to the jungle gym and feature non-slip steps to prevent accidents.
Climbing ladders are available in a range of heights, allowing you to find one your child can use and enjoy, regardless of their size. Many list their weight and age ranges, too, making it even easier for you to find the perfect option.
Install a Shade Cover
To ensure your children can still play during the summer, add a shade cover. These will block the sun and prevent the equipment from overheating, so it won’t be too hot to touch or play with. It is an excellent addition if you have a metal jungle gym, which typically can become very hot to the touch in summer.
Adding a shade cover means you don’t need to worry about them playing outdoors for too long, too, although you will still want to apply sun cream and keep them hydrated. Look for shade covers that feature UVA and UVB protection for peace of mind.
Customise Your Jungle Gym Today
Adding any new accessories or play pieces is sure to get your children excited about the jungle gym again. Many are compatible with a huge range of accessories, but you can also find new jungle gyms with modular designs at Vuly.
These are even easier to customise and adjust as your children’s interests and needs change, with easy assembly and a huge range of accessories to choose from. Head to Vuly to see their jungle gym for kids options today.
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.



