Due in part to the nostalgia of childhood that treehouses evoke, they have become a popular vacation-rental option for families. Whether you had a simple assemblage of boards and screws or something more elaborate as a child, you probably have fond memories of fun times with friends or siblings atop the trees.

Today, there are myriad options for tree house accessories that can elevate that experience. These range from advanced features, like climbing walls or zip lines, to more conventional ones, like swings and slides.

Below are five of the best tree house accessories to consider. Keep reading to find out the advantages of each and which ones might be best for encouraging recreation and a love of the outdoors in your backyard.

1. Slides

Children have been sliding down inclines since the dawn of time. As a piece of playground equipment, they have been around for at least 120 years. Slides are simple in design but are enticing and exciting for almost every kid.

There are many advantages to a treehouse slide. The most obvious is fun and enjoyment. They foster outdoor play and provide hours of entertainment.

Another benefit of tree house slides is that they can save a lot of space. Unlike traditional stairs or ladders, spiral slides can offer an alternative means of exiting the tree house. You can also install them in very compact spaces.

Finally, slides can also add safety to a tree house. Most kids have no problems going up, but unsure footing while descending a ladder can lead to falls. Slides provide a controlled, secure way for children to get back to the ground.

2. Climbing Walls and Mezzanine Nets

There are many benefits to adding a climbing wall to your tree house. It is a great source of exercise that offers a fun alternative to climbing stairs or ladders.

Climbing uses various muscle groups throughout the body. It promotes strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance.

There also is an analytical component to climbing. Children must employ problem-solving skills to determine how best to position their hands and feet to ascend.

Climbing frames also can build confidence in kids. You can use colour-coded pegs to create different levels of difficulty. This can create distinct challenges for children of all ages.

Climbing walls can be therapeutic. They can help relieve stress and pent-up energy. They also can provide stimulation through tactile experiences.

Mezzanine nets are platforms made out of woven rope that have similar advantages to climbing walls. They can enhance gross motor skills and sensory stimulation. Mezzanine nets provide additional play space where children can climb, crawl, play, or hang out.

They also are easy to adapt to any treehouse design and can be made to any shape or size.

3. Monkey Bars

Monkey bars have been a staple of playground equipment for at least 100 years. There are many different types, but most tree house versions include horizontal bars secured between or protruding from wooden beams.

Monkey bars create a natural opportunity for children to hang, swing, and play. The first ones were actually designed with the evolutionary history of human beings swinging from trees in mind.

Like many other items on this list, the design and construction of monkey bars can create distinct challenges for kids. You can put them at different heights to accommodate younger or older children. You can stagger heights or angles to produce diverse challenges.

Monkey bars encourage imaginative play and are great for promoting upper-body strength. They engage muscles in the arms, shoulders, back, and core.

Monkey bars also can help build endurance in kids. They can help encourage the development of gross motor skills and a sense of achievement.

Monkey bars are easy to install in tree houses. They can be free-standing or incorporated with existing structures. Treetop Co often designs monkey bars which are an integral part of the structure, set into the floor joists or other parts of the structure.

4. Ziplines

Ziplines arguably provide the biggest thrill of any accessory on this list. This can translate to an increased sense of adventure for children as they glide through the air.

Ziplines are perfect for imaginative play and socialisation. You can also install them for almost any age and requisite safety level. In general, you can design the zipline at varying speeds and trajectories.

It may be easier than you think to set up treehouse ziplines. Since they only need a slight incline, you can utilise the height of the treehouse or a naturally sloping landscape to produce the requisite effect.

For most basic setups, they can be as simple as a seat and a lanyard for kids to hop onto. A professional installer can advise you on the ideal design to optimise fun while ensuring safety for your children.

5. Swings

Swings are last on this treehouse accessories list, not because that is how they rank but because they are often overlooked. This traditional play accessory is one of the most popular on playgrounds across the world, and for some very good reasons.

Swings are fun and easy to use. You do not have to teach children how they work--they learn to self-propel on their own. In this way, swings promote independence and self-confidence.

Swings are also great for physical exercise. They work various muscle groups, including arms, legs, and core. This promotes strength, coordination, and balance, as well as cardiovascular health.

Swings also provide sensory stimulation. The rhythmic motion of the swing can have a calming affection on children, and enhance their spatial awareness.

Finally, swings are easy to install. You only need a secure anchor point and enough space for children to swing freely.

Get More Ideas for Treehouse Accessories

Now that you know the top five tree house accessories available, you can determine the right ones for you and your family. An experienced builder can further advise you on the best options based on your unique tree house layout and personal preferences.

At Treetop Co, our goal is to build beautiful tree houses, cabins, and playgrounds fully built in wood which push the boundaries of arboreal construction. Our founder spent three years living and working with eco-architects and treehouse builders in South India, and brings that experience to the UK. Reach out to us today for a free consultation about building a tree house or adding accessories to an existing one.

What Are the Top 5 Accessories for Treehouses?