It’s no secret that all kids love a see saw. Let’s make our own for the backyard that is sturdy and hefty enough for big kids. I’m sharing how to build this DIY see saw for big kids down below.
A DIY tutorial to build a big kids see saw. Make your own backyard see saw for big kids using my modifications of Ana White’s free plans.
My kids are definitely out of the younger stage and have officially moved onto big kids. To make to most of our backyard space I wanted to add Ana White’s see saw but make it a bit bigger for my older kids. With a few minor modifications to Ana’s plan I built a heftier version that holds big kids and adults too.
The biggest modification is the height of the center support post. Ana’s plans call for 24″ but I made mine 30″ which allows for longer legs. Also the cross support pieces for the seats are made from 2×6’s. In Ana’s plan she used 2×4’s. Then the seat portion is a 2×8. Very easy modifications that add height and strength which allows for older, heavier kids (and adults) to play safely.
It’s great to see my kids trying to figure out how to balance the weight while getting on and off. A little challenge during play is always good.
The see saw gets used every day and we’ve never had an injury. It’s still going strong after 5 winters in the snow without a single blip.
Below I will share my build process and modifications to Ana’s plan. Be sure to read through entirely before beginning your project.
How to build a big kids see saw:
- First off we will follow Ana’s plans here for wood cuts and construction steps.
- I used all 2×6 material except the seat which is a 2×8 scrap.
To finish I opted to seal with 3 coats Minwax Helmsman exterior grade clear satin poly. It has greyed out after 5 years but it’s still looking good and no splinters.
For the center bolt I used a 3/4″ spade bit to make the holes.
As with any toy please use at your own risk and be cautious. Please share your see saws with me and be sure to follow on social media for current project updates and sneak peeks:
What a fun idea! I think I may need these for my boys one day. Maybe I'll put it on the to do list now, and it will be ready by the time they are big enough to use it. 🙂