Backyard Fun and Your Child: Swing Sets, Bounce & Jump Houses, and Sleeping Bags

After enduring an unusually cold winter, most families are anticipating spring. What better way to welcome spring than with new backyard toys for your child? An important thing to remember when choosing new toys for your child is that items do not have to be used for one traditional purpose.

Take a cue from your child and get creative. For example, swing sets do not just have to have swings. The right swing set could become a fort or provide goal posts for kickball, providing hours of entertainment. To choose the best toys for your child think S.I.V. (safety, interests, versatility):

Safety

No matter how much fun your child will have with a toy, safety and health are always a concern. When choosing that perfect toy do your research and choose the one with good safety features and also provides health-improving aspects. A couple great backyard toys to consider are swing sets and bounce & jump houses.

While cost is always an issue, it is not the only aspect to look at when choosing a toy. Not every toy on the market is worth your money. Sometimes a few more dollars is warranted to provide safety, health benefits, and fun. Remember, sometimes a little more money now may save a lot of money later.

Whether opting for wood, metal or plastic swing sets, they all offer drawbacks and benefits. If the wood is finished correctly it can be great, however if it is not sanded and varnished appropriately it may cause splinters, metal may rust and plastic may break. Weigh the costs, keep in mind your weather conditions and choose the swing set that is best for you and your child.

Be sure to anchor it down so that your child may swing high into the sky without the fear of injury; swing sets that rock when your child swings are not properly anchored. Swing sets offer terrific health benefits to children. The swings, monkey bars and teeter-totters may provide a great way for children to workout their arms and legs.

Interests

Does your child like the outdoors? If so, choosing a backyard toy is straightforward. You won't need to spend time trying to convince little Katie to go outside, thus the basics work great. Good choices might include Radio Flyer wagons or children's furniture.

Children's furniture such as a table and chairs provide your child a great place in the backyard to paint or play with Play-Doh. Beyond allowing your child to be out in the warm spring/summer sun it keeps the mess outdoors. After your child is done, simply spray the children's furniture down with the garden hose and let dry in the sun. Clean-up couldn't be simpler and you don't have to worry about your good furniture getting ruined.

However, if your child would rather be indoors, playing video games, or watching TV it may be a bit harder to get your child outdoors for some sun and exercise. Stick with toys that can only be used outdoors, such as a swing sets or you may want to go with something a bit more exciting like a bounce & jump house.

Versatility

How else can this toy be used? If the toy provides other options for use, you'll get more for your money and your child will have a harder time getting bored. The right swing set, for example, may provide hours of entertainment if it comes with extras such as a slide, monkey bars, and tic-tac-toe. Beyond the traditional use, an old sheet or unzipped sleeping bags draped over the slide can create an instant tent for your child.

Another versatile toy are bounce & jump houses. After your child spends all afternoon jumping around with friends, throw some sleeping bags and pillows inside and you have an instant tent for a sleep over. To add an additional thrill to the camp out, place some children's furniture outside the bounce & jump house to create the perfect location for eating s'mores. The children will love the gooey, chocolaty goodness and you'll enjoy the easy clean-up. Just spray with the garden hose and head to the house to enjoy a quite movie.

By thinking in terms of S.I.V. (safety, interests, and versatility) when choosing outdoor toys, you're more likely to invest in activities that enrich your children's lives for years to come!

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