Parents clear retailers of swings, outdoor equipment to keep kids active

Families are clearing these backyard favourites from the shelves of Bunnings and other retailers, with one particular item in high demand as Melbourne hunkers down for six weeks of stage four restrictions.

Rafferty and Jazmin Forbes enjoy their new swing set. Picture: Tony Gough

Swings and other outdoor play equipment have been cleared from the shelves of Bunnings and other retailers across Melbourne as families hunker down for six weeks of hard lockdown.

With playgrounds and schools shut, and exercise limited, parents are seeking options closer to home to keep their kids active.

Bunnings’ outdoor play range had been in high demand across Melbourne, spokeswoman Ally Tye said.

Parents are clearing the shelves of outdoor play equipment as kids can't go to playgrounds or schools.

Even play houses have sold out.

“The most popular outdoor play products have been slides, cubby houses and sandpits,’’ Ms Tye said.

“Swing sets have also been in demand, with more stock due to land in late August.’’

Online and in-store shoppers have discovered several popular items out of stock.

Selby mum Cassie Forbes picked up an eight-station swing set, one of the last, from Kmart on Sunday afternoon for her little boy, Rafferty, age 4.

“He’s been missing trips to the playground so we thought we’d get this one while it was still available.’’

“There was discussion on Facebook about how we were heading into lockdown so I guess there was a bit of panic buying from some.’’

Melbourne children have been unable to have fun at playgrounds since Stage 3 restrictions returned last month and schools did not re-open for third term for younger students.

Now the latest, Stage 4 limits, which limits exercise to one hour a day, mean fewer opportunities for parents to take their kids out to let off steam, so families are heading to the backyard more and more.

Some stores say stocks won’t be back to rnomaly until late August. Picture: Tony Gough

Temple & Webster swing sets have been sold out too.

Last weekend, parents headed to Bunnings for backyard items when it became clear tougher measures were looming to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Popular outdoor-play items were also sold out on the Kmart and Temple & Webster online stores.

Although there was some good news for parents – Kmart was promoting its Spiro Spin Cyclone as “just landed” in store.

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