Play Library » summer-toys

Wet and Wild Outdoor Summer Fun

Linette Gerlach — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:43:35 +0000

It’s not quite summer yet, but it’s going to be 80` here today and tomorrow, so I sure am thinking about those warm summer days ahead. Those days when you need a little water in the mix to cool yourself off. So I went on a mission to find some fun water entertainment ideas.

I didn’t have to look far, SwimWays® has several backyard and water toys that will help keep your kids cool this summer.

The Splunk a Dunk game lets your kids use the backyard hose to make a fun toss game. Kids take turns tossing bean bags at a target, but watch out! If they hit the target everyone gets wet.

Another toy that looks fun for the pool is Water Girlz™ Fairy Tails™, cute little fairies with wings that flutter. Each Fairy Tails doll comes with her very own seahorse friend and seashell comb. Each figure can be posed in many positions and is perfect to stretch little imaginations during pool time.

Get a neighborhood basketball game going in the pool, or just throw a few practice shots from your poolside recliner with SwimWays® Spring Jam Basketball.

Ok all these water and pool toys have me ready for a little summer fun in the sun (and pool).

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WHAM-O’s 60th Anniversary

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:47:44 +0000

2008 marks the 60th anniversary of WHAM-O, the creator of many of the toys and games parents remember from their own childhoods such as the Slip ‘N Slide, Hula Hoop, Frisbee, SuperBall and more.

To help celebrate its 60th anniversary, WHAM-O has five 60th Anniversary Edition Toys out – a Hula Hoop, Slip ‘N Slide Mega Shark, SuperBall, Hacky Sack Striker and Frisbee Pro Classic. Each 60th Anniversary Edition Toy is a great example of toys that can get your kids away from video games and outside for some fun in the sun!

I’ll be reviewing each of these toys as well as the classic WHAM-O Slip ‘N Slide throughout the week. Stay tuned!

You can also subscribe to Play Library, so you don’t miss any upcoming toy reviews.

Image: WHAM-O.com

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Wigglin’ Water Squirter Hose Sprinkler – Does It Work?

Susan Gunelius — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:16:22 +0000

Well, I fell victim to the cool picture on the package of the Wigglin’ Water Squirter Hose sprinkler when I saw it on the shelf at Wal-Mart today. At just $16.95, I thought I’d give it a try for my triplets’ 4th birthday this summer.

Here’s my theory – my kids always bump into eachother using a traditional sprinkler, perhaps this one will allow them to spread out more and reduce sibling fights. I know, wishful thinking. I’m sure they’ll all group together in the same spot anyway.

I have to confess. I have a secondary motive for buying the Wigglin’ Water Squirter Hose sprinkler. Since it spreads out over 12 feet with 15 sprinkler heads, I’m hoping I can water my backyard at the same time the kids are playing.

I’ll have to wait and see how my plan works. The triplets’ birthday isn’t for another month and a half. Has anyone else purchased the Wigglin’ Water Squirter Hose sprinkler yet? What do you (and your kids) think of it?

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Pool Toys – Great Summer Fun!

Susan Gunelius — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:21:19 +0000

One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was playing games in the pool. My brother, sisters and I and our friends would spend hours and hours in our pool making up elaborate games and races, but we’d also spend a lot of time simply throwing rings or coins in the pool then finding them. When I saw the Swimways Spring Hoops Pirate Treasure Set, I immediately remembered those games I played as a kid and thought this toy rolled them all up into one.

The Swimways Spring Hoops Pirate Treasure Set comes with three hoops that submerge underwater as well as dive coins and is recommended for children ages 6 and up. I can think of so many fun games kids could play with this set. You could time your kids as they take turns swimming through the hoops. You could hide the dive coins around the pool and have the kids swim through the hoops to find them. You could buy two Swimways Spring Hoops Pirate Treasure Set and have two kids race eachother at the same time through the hoops.

This is a simple toy (hence the reasonable $19.99 price), but kids could have so much fun with it. The pirate theme adds to the many ways kids could use this toy once they put their imaginations to work.

Have you tried the Swimways Spring Hoops Pirate Treasure Set? I’m curious to know if the hoops stay underwater and upright as well as they do in the picture. If you’ve tried this toy, leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Image: Toysrus.com

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Step 2 Naturally Playful Sandbox – The Sand Stays Dry!

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:08:58 +0000

I took a long time trying to pick out the right sandbox for my 3-year old triplets. I didn’t want wood because we live in Florida and bugs are always a concern (especially termites).

It had to be big enough for three kids, but not too big because my yard isn’t huge. It had to have a top that secured in place because we get hurricanes here which are very windy. It also rains for a short time most days during the summer, so the top had to stay on tightly or the sand would never dry and would be unusable.

With those criteria in mind, I finally settled on the Step 2 Naturally Playful Sandbox after reading many reviews that said the top stayed on and the sand stayed dry.

We’ve been using this sandbox for a few months now and I’m happy to report that the top does stay on and the sand does stay dry! It’s also big enough for all three kids. It required no assembly and it holds a lot of sand. And one more thing, it’s only $59.99! My rating on the Step 2 Naturally Playful Sandbox – two thumbs up!

Images: Toysrus.com

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Win Green Toys for Summer Play

Susan Gunelius — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:24:43 +0000

b5media’s Tree Hugging Family blog is hosting a cool contest where you can win green toys for your children to use this summer. Prizes include:

Tea set
Indoor gardening kit
Sand play set
Cookware and dining set

The toys come from Green Toys, and you can get all the details (and enter) on Tree Hugging Family.

Good luck!

Image source: Greentoys.com

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Free Shipping on Little Tikes Slam n Slide Pool, Slide and Climber

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:00:08 +0000

Summer is almost here (actually, it’s already here in Florida), and it’s time to start thinking about outdoor toys, pools and more. I received an email this week from Little Tikes with what I think is probably the coolest all-in-one inflatable water slide, pool and climber. Check out the Little Tikes Slam n Slide for $299.99 with free shipping until May 7th.

I think that’s a great price for everything the Slam n Slide offers. Check out the details from the Little Tikes website:

Measuring 9 x 12 x 14.5 feet, this slide features a wet, wonderful and wild 142″ long ride.
Starts with a spray hood on the top of the 82″ high slide
Includes water basketball net and a 13″ pool at the bottom
Easy to set up since its 13″ blower inflates and deflates the slide in minutes and maintains continuous airflow
Built of puncture resistant material with durable mesh netting
Includes stakes, heavy-duty blower with GFCI, repair kit and storage bag
Ages 5 years and up
Recommended maximum combined weight limit: 350 lbs.

If I had a big enough (and flat enough) backyard, this is the slide I’d buy. I love that it offers three different toys in one – a big slide, a climbing area, and a little pool. There is so much room for multiple children with various activities. I can picture myself sliding down with the kids then resting in the pool while they continue to play. What fun!

Do you have an inflatable pool, slide or climber that you really like? Which one is it and why?

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Beach Blast Ball for Outdoor Water Fun

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:27:57 +0000

Check out the Beach Blast Ball that I found on the BabyCenter store today for children ages 3 and up. This toy costs $12.95 and is just 18″ in diameter. Once attached to a garden hose, the ball bounces and squirts water in all different directions. In fact, kids won’t know where it’s going to bounce or spray next making it different from a typical backyard sprinkler.

What do you think of this new version of a sprinkler? I have to wonder if it really works as well as it appears to in the picture.

Image source: BabyCenter.com

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Let’s Talk Kiddie Pools

Susan Gunelius — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:32:29 +0000

Spring is here and that means summer is on its way! Of course, I live in Florida, so it’s always summer, but I remember the anticipation for summer once April hit from my years growing up in New Jersey. In fact, before my husband and I moved to Florida, we bought a kiddie pool for the triplets to enjoy during their first summer. I spent awhile online trying to decide what would be the best kiddie pool for three babies who would turn 1-year old midway through the summer. Hard pool, inflatable pool, big, small – there were so many choices. Finally, I decided that I simply didn’t know what the best choice would be, so I went to Toys ‘R Us and bought the cheapest one on the shelf.That pool is now on its third year of use with us. The triplets use it year-round not just as a pool, but also as a hiding spot and more. It gets dragged all around our lanai and has only gotten one hole in it, which was easily patched with a Home Depot patch kit. What’s the name of this amazing pool you ask? It’s the Intex Crystal Blue Pool (it’s the one in the picture above). I have the one with three inflatable tiers (I think there is a two-tier version, too). It’s 58″w x 13″h, and the triplets can still all fit in it (although it’s more crowded than it was when they were 1-year old and my husband and I would sit in it with them, too). The best part is the price. At just $7.99, you can’t go wrong with this kiddie pool. I do strongly suggest a pump, or you might pass out trying to blow it up. We bought the Intex Quick Action Hand Pump (see the picture) for about $14.99, but any double air pump (meaning air comes out as you push down and pull up) should work well (and fast). We can pump our pool up in just a minute or two with our pump. Do you have a kiddie pool that you and your kids really love (or loved)? Any that you would not recommend? Leave a comment and share your experience.

Product image source: Toysrus.com

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The Blast Pad Looks Like a Blast!

Julie Bonner — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:34:17 +0000

I have 2 boys who would absolutely love this toy! It’s called the Blast Pad. Now, it doesn’t blast a child up in the air, which my boys would prefer, but instead you jump on it to blast a missile up in the sky.

“The Blast Pad™ Advanced missile launch system is a revolutionary new missile launcher with telescoping technology that expands to almost 3 feet. Flex Launch tube can’t kink to restrict airflow.”

The Blast Pad cost $22.99 and you can purchase it at Unique Toy Shop. I think I may add this toy to our summer fun wish list.

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