The June school holidays arrive with two weeks of unstructured time and children who head for the back door the moment breakfast is finished. What is waiting for them out there decides whether the backyard gets used or ignored. Getting kids outdoor furniture right is less about buying a matching set than about giving them somewhere to land.
This guide covers the three pieces that do the most work in a family backyard: a hammock or nest swing, a couple of bean bags, and a small table of their own, plus how to lay them out and what to check before anyone climbs in. If you would rather browse than read, start with the kids furniture range.
What kids outdoor furniture actually has to survive
Adult outdoor furniture is designed around weather. Kids outdoor furniture has to handle the weather plus wet swimmers, sunscreen, dragging across pavers and being left exactly where it landed.
Three things do most of the work. Wipeable surfaces, because a damp cloth is the only cleaning routine anyone actually keeps up. Light weight, because a piece a child can move themselves gets moved rather than climbed on. And a finish that does not mind being left out overnight, because it will be.
Hammocks and nest swings: the piece they head for first
A swing seat is the most reliable purchase in this category. It gives kids motion, a bit of enclosure, and somewhere to read that is not the lounge room floor.
The Kids Hammock ($224) is a round nest swing built for one child, with an open window in the middle that is the entire appeal as far as they are concerned. It hangs from a single suspension point, so it suits a sturdy branch, a pergola beam or a frame indoors. The product page lists a 70 kg weight capacity. It also makes a point worth repeating: check that whatever you hang it from can take the load.
For older kids, the classic Hammock ($159) is a cotton hammock that strings between two trees or a pair of posts. Its listing does not state sizes, fittings or a weight limit, so treat those as unknowns and confirm them before you match it to a stand. The wider hanging egg chairs and swing chairs range covers the same idea on a freestanding frame, which suits a courtyard with nothing overhead.
Bean bags: the seat that moves with them
Bean bags earn their place because they have no fixed position. They get dragged into the shade at midday, onto the deck at four o'clock and inside when it rains.
The Chill Out Yellow + White Stripe Outdoor Beanbag ($163) is the single-seat size and the easiest one to say yes to. Waterproof fabric with a thick PVC backing keeps the weather away from the beans, and baby wipes clear small marks. It arrives flat packed with the beans bought separately.
Go up a size and the Hang Out Blue + White Stripe Outdoor Beanbag ($212) is a 120 cm wide double, which in practice means two kids, or one kid and a dog. It uses the same waterproof fabric and thick PVC backing and comes with a fill funnel. Store either of them under cover when they are not in use, because direct sunlight will fade the colour.
One safety note applies to every bean bag in the outdoor bean bags range: they are not flotation devices and they do not belong in the pool. For sizes, fills and which fabrics hold up, our outdoor bean bags buying guide works through it properly.
A table of their own, and where to put it
The next gap is somewhere to put things down. Craft, snacks, a jigsaw that lives outside for three days: none of it works on a bean bag.
The Odie Kids 3pc Table and Chair Set in blue ($499) is a table and two chairs made from recycled plastic, sized for small people and built to be weather-resistant. The surfaces are smooth and wipeable, so a cloth handles most spills. One honest detail from the listing: there is a slight dip in the centre of the table, a by-product of the moulding process.
Where you put it matters as much as what it is. A kids table within sight of the kitchen window gets used every day; one tucked down the side of the house gets used twice.
| Piece | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Kids nest swing | One child, motion and quiet reading time | Needs a sound fixing point and clearance on every side |
| Cotton hammock | Shady corners and older kids | Confirm fittings and load ratings before buying a stand |
| Single bean bag | Following the shade around all afternoon | Beans bought separately; colour fades in constant sun |
| Double bean bag | Two kids and poolside afternoons | Not a flotation device, so keep it out of the water |
| Kids table and chairs | Craft, snacks and homework outside | Needs a flat, level spot within your line of sight |
Building the play zone: sun, sight lines and safe distances
The winter holidays are an easy fortnight to set this up, but sun still counts. Across Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia the UV index stays high enough through winter to plan around. Put the swing and the bean bags where they pick up shade in the middle of the day.
Clearance is worth planning on paper first. A swing seat needs open space in every direction and nothing hard within swinging distance: no brick edging, no retaining wall corner, no BBQ parked nearby. Hang it over grass or a soft surface rather than pavers, and keep young children supervised while they are using it.
If the play zone sits near a pool, the pool barrier rules apply to your furniture as well. The Australian pool fencing standards, the AS1926 series, are enforced through state legislation. They include keeping climbable objects away from the barrier, and a bean bag or small table pushed against a fence can become a step. Requirements vary by state and by council, so check with your local council before you commit to a layout.
Anything that hangs is only as safe as the beam, branch or frame it is attached to and the hardware that came with it. Follow the instructions supplied, work to the load rating stated, and check the fixings at the start of each holiday period.
Kids outdoor furniture: frequently asked questions
What age is a kids nest swing suitable for?
Check the age guidance supplied with the product, because it varies between models. The Kids Hammock lists a 70 kg weight capacity, which is the figure to work to. Young children should be supervised while swinging, regardless of the age on the box.
Can outdoor bean bags be left outside in the rain?
They handle weather, but they last longer under cover. Both use waterproof fabric with a thick PVC backing to keep water away from the beans. Both listings still recommend bringing them in when not in use, because constant sun fades the colour.
Do outdoor bean bags come with the beans?
No, the beans are bought separately. Both bean bags arrive flat packed, and the Hang Out includes a fill funnel. Order the filling at the same time.
What is the safest surface under a swing or hammock?
A soft, level surface is safest: grass, bark or a purpose-made soft surface rather than pavers or concrete. Keep the area clear of hard edges such as garden borders, steps and other furniture, and make sure the fixing point and hardware match what the instructions specify.
Shop the range
A swing, two bean bags and a small table cover most of a school holidays, and none of it has to be bought at once. Starting from nothing, the Odie Kids 3pc Table and Chair Set - Blue is the piece families tend to add last and keep longest. We deliver Australia-wide with free delivery on orders over $100, most orders are dispatched in 3-10 business days, and returns run for 30 days with no restocking fee.
