Hiding Christmas Present Construction from kids - How long to assemble a Swing Set?

[MummyNaomi]

We bought a small swing set for the kids for Christmas and we don't have anywhere to hide it fully assembled so are thinking of partially assembling it one night this week and then just attaching the side frames to the top frame on Christmas Eve after DS has gone to bed so we can put it in the back yard. (We can hide it partially assembled down the side of the house, but it wont fit fully assembled)

Reading through the instructions though it doesn't give any indication of time to assemble - Anyone assembled one similar? How long did it take?

It's this one

I have heaps of cooking prep to do Christmas Eve so want to minimise the time needed on the Swings

TIA

Naomi

[misty]

Took my hubby and my 'engineer' brother an entire day to put ours together (and a carton of crownies). Of course my brother had to make a couple of 'improvements' because it was wonky when assembled in accordance with the instructions, and he needed to ensure its structure was sound.

[Muppity]

Honestly, that one looks easy.

The swing and monkey bar will just be attached by bolts at the top (and probably per assembled otherwise) and the Aframes look pretty simple.

I'm not sure if starting to put it together would help. For instance, it lookalike the Aframes slides into the top and you bolt the cross bar on - so you can't really do it beforehand.

Maybe get it out and see how the instructions are and make sure all the bits are there and work out what you can per assemble.

I put a similar one together for a friend recently and it took about 2 hours.

Good luck!

[briggsy's girl]

E has a two station one that is essentially the same as that. Took us less than am hour to out together.
Te hardest part was sorting it out with e helping. That one may have more time taken due to the two kidlet seat though. Bit it wouldn't be much...

[Tinks]

Ours didn't take very long to assemble. Dh and BIL did it on Christmas Eve. I took the kids out after tea to get some ice cream, then for a play in the park. When it got dark we had a look for done Christmas lights then took them home, because it was dark they couldn't even see the swing set all set up in the yard.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

I would just assemble it fully and say its an early Christmas present. You will be stressed to the max trying to put it together Christmas Eve especially since you need to cook that night too. Plus these things are never straight forward there is always some kind of problem that pops up. Plus it will be dark and you'll be tired. And sometimes there is a certain way these things need to be constructed so you might not be able to partially construct it. You could get the instructions out and have a look.

[Onelittleprincess]

Give it to them in the box! Santa had a very busy year when I was 5 my brother was 2 and didn't have time to put it together. My brother had more fun driving cars on the box then caring what was in it

[TaRhLi.]

Doesn't look like it should take too long, I'd get it out of the box and look at the instructions as there might not be too many parts to fit together.

We are going to gradually piece together our trampoline over this week and then on Xmas eve DH is going to get it out of the shed and put it in a place in the garden so DD can't see it and then when she is in bed we will put all the bits together. You would have the same problem that we have - good or bad - that it doesn't get completely dark until after 9.30pm at night so can't sneek out after dinner and do the assembly. I'm just hoping we can use the good old 'bed early as santa won't come until your asleep trick', I would hope that would work for Master B as well .