It’s wonderful watching your child’s face light up on Christmas morning as they unwrap their gifts. And if Santa is bringing them a Rainbow Play System, you can expect that Christmas joy to last for years to come. But with the winter sun setting so early, darkness can really cut into your family’s play time. The holidays provide the perfect solution, letting you kill two birds with one stone — Christmas lights!

Adding Christmas lights to your Rainbow Play System adds extra holiday sparkle to your yard and to your gift. And the extra light will allow the kiddos to play outside without the wintry gloom putting a damper on their playtime.

Before wrapping your playset with Christmas lights, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind.

  1. Make sure your lights and extension cords are marked for outdoor use.
  2. Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be connected to outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters or GFCI protection.
  3. Don’t use damaged lights. Closely inspect all bulbs and cords for wear and tear  before stringing lights on your swing set.
  4. Don’t put lights where they can touch metal. Metal conducts electricity, so steer clear of metal bars and chains. Even with Rainbow’s vinyl-coated chains and rungs, it’s important to avoid potential shocks.
  5. Keep cords clear of standing water.
  6. Fasten lights securely without damaging the cords or your system. You don’t want to leave your child’s play system riddled with nail holes or worse, with dangerous nails sticking out from the beams. Extra long cable ties are a safe and fast way to secure lights to Rainbow redwood and cedar beams without permanently altering your play set.
  7. Keep bulbs clear of foot traffic, climbing areas or movable parts. You don’t want tiny hands and feet to accidentally crush a light bulb or become tangled in light cords, so avoid attaching lights on rails or boards that function as supports, steps or landings. And don’t let light cords get too close to swings, ropes or chains because they can become tangled in your play set options and become a danger to your child.

For a safe and fun experience, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your child while he or she is playing on their new Rainbow Playset. Or better yet, get out there and play with them! Rainbows are built for safety and are strong enough that mom and dad can both join in on the family fun.