Monkey bars for kids
Crossing the monkey bars is a milestone kids remember. Here's how indoor and backyard monkey bars compare, when kids are ready, how high to set them, how to teach the skill and how to keep play safe.
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The short answer
For indoor monkey bars, choose an indoor gym with bars built in, like the Magnolia, Chestnut or Sweetgum, or add a monkey bar attachment to a Walnut Swedish ladder for bars that take almost no floor space. For the backyard, a swing set with overhead monkey bars, like the Sycamore, gives kids climbing, swinging and sliding together. Most kids cross on their own between ages 4 and 6.
Benefits
Hanging builds strong hands and forearms.
Arms and shoulders carry the whole body from bar to bar.
Swinging the legs and timing each reach works the whole body.
Kids figure out rhythm, spacing and when to let go.
The first full crossing is a big, visible win.
Indoor bars keep kids moving when it’s too cold or wet outside.
Compare
| Option | Space | Best for | Avenlur picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted attachment | Almost no floor space | Families with a Walnut Swedish ladder | Walnut Monkey Bar Attachment |
| Indoor gym with monkey bars | Playroom floor space | Year-round climbing indoors | Magnolia, Sweetgum |
| Foldable gym with monkey bars | Folds away | Rooms that need clearing after play | Chestnut |
| Backyard swing set with monkey bars | Yard plus a 6 ft safety zone | Climbing, swinging and sliding outside | Sycamore Large, XL, Jumbo |
By age
Typical ranges. Always follow each product’s age range and supervise young climbers.
| Age | What they can do |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 years | Hang briefly from a low bar with an adult spotting |
| 3 to 4 years | Hang longer and reach for the next bar with help |
| 4 to 6 years | Cross a few bars, then the whole set, on their own |
| 6 years and up | Skip bars, go backward and add rings or a trapeze |
How to learn
Have your child hang from one bar and count to five, then build up.
Show them how to wrap thumbs around the bar for a secure grip.
Support their waist while they reach for the next bar.
A small leg swing helps carry them forward to each new bar.
Teach them to let go with bent knees and land on both feet.
Count bars crossed and cheer every new record.
Safety
Use a thick mat indoors, or 9 inches of mulch, rubber mulch or sand outdoors.
Anchor swing sets and mount wall attachments into studs following the manual.
Keep to one child on the bars and others clear of swinging legs.
Wipe away rain or sweat before climbing.
Avoid clothing with drawstrings or hoods on climbing equipment.
Spot young kids until they can cross and drop safely on their own.
Shop
Indoor gyms, wall attachments and backyard swing sets with monkey bars.
Shop all climbersAdds indoor monkey bars to your Walnut Swedish ladder, with two height settings (64" and 94"). Ages 3 and up with supervision.
Shop nowA freestanding indoor gym with monkey bars, a mini rock wall, ladders, a slide and swings.
Shop nowMonkey bars, gymnastic rings, a disc swing and a slide on a frame that folds away.
Shop nowMonkey bars, a rock wall, rope ladder, swing and slide. Large, XL and Jumbo sizes.
Shop nowBackyard monkey bars with a rock wall, slide, belt swing and saucer swing in a compact frame.
Shop nowMonkey bars, a trapeze bar, a double rock wall and three swings for big yards.
Shop nowFAQs
Most kids are ready to cross monkey bars around ages 4 to 6, once they can hang by their hands and swing. Younger kids can practice hanging and moving one bar at a time on low bars with an adult spotting them. Check the age range on each product: the Walnut monkey bar attachment is for ages 3 and up with supervision.
Yes. Indoor gyms like the Magnolia, Chestnut and Sweetgum have monkey bars built in, and the Walnut monkey bar attachment adds them to a wall-mounted Swedish ladder. Check your ceiling height and add a padded mat underneath.
Kids should be able to reach the bars from a step or platform and hang with their feet just off the ground. The Walnut attachment has two settings, 64" and 94", so you can start lower and raise it as your child grows.
Indoors, use a thick padded mat under and around the bars. Outdoors, use wood mulch, rubber mulch or sand at least 9 inches deep, extending at least 6 feet around the set.
Start with hanging: have your child hang from one bar for a few seconds and build up time. Then practice reaching to the next bar while you support their waist. Swinging the legs forward helps carry them to each new bar.
Yes. Hanging and swinging across the bars builds grip, arm, shoulder and core strength, plus coordination and confidence.
Many swing sets include them already. The Sycamore Large, XL and Jumbo all have overhead monkey bars, and the Jumbo adds a trapeze bar.
Freestanding indoor gyms need floor space but no installation into the wall. Wall-mounted monkey bars on a Swedish ladder take almost no floor space but must be secured into wall studs following the manual.
Keep reading
Wooden monkey bars and climbers tested to ASTM and CPSIA standards, covered by our five-year warranty and shipped free in the continental US.
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