LilSugar

Wee Ones Are Gonna Get Wet: Summer Sprinklers

LilSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0700

When it's hot, hot, hot, children like to get wet! Rather than packing up and heading to the beach or pool, cool off in your own quarters by investing in a fun-hose attachment. The inexpensive sprinklers help kiddos of all ages keep from breaking a sweat on lazy afternoons. With animal-, garden-, and reptile-themed squirters available, your backyard may soon be the neighborhood water park. Check out these fun and budget friendly options!

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Non Voyage: Pitch a Tent For a Backyard Adventure

LilSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:45:09 -0700

If your kids are climbing walls begging for an outdoor adventure, but time and a budget are keeping you close to home this Summer - invest in a tent or tot-sized teepee that can be used for many nights out under the stars in the backyard. Kick the adventures off with a scavenger hunt through the yard or a "hike" around the neighborhood. Barbecue up some dinner goodies - chili and franks - and nosh on smores before hitting the hay. Then, wake your wee ones with a grilled breakfast when the sun comes up. Since these practical accommodations cost next to nothing, allow your children to invite their friends over to join in on the fun. Consider purchasing a star map for the kiddos to chart constellations and have a storytelling competition.

Shake, Rattle and Roll! Set Your Wee One Up With Safe Wheels

LilSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:30 -0700

Strap some wheels on your offspring and let them roll wild! In-line skating, skateboarding and the like will encourage kids to get more physical activity while building muscle and coordination skills. While wheeled sports can provide hours of fun, when not done cautiously, they can easily lead to injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year 100,000 consumers receive hospital treatment due to injuries related to in-line skates. They offer the following tips for safe skating:

Wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and gloves.
Learn to stop safely.
Skate on smooth, paved surfaces without any traffic. Avoid skating on streets, driveways, or surfaces with water, sand, gravel, or dirt.
Do not skate at night -- others can’t see you and you can’t see obstacles or other skaters.
Get instruction. Learn to stop safely by using the brake pads at the heel of most in-line skates. With one foot somewhat in front of the other, raise the toes of the front foot and push down on the heel brake.

Get some hot gear and get wheeling!

Source

iBert Safe-T-Seat Lets You Peddle Your Pint-Sized Pal

LilSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:00:37 -0700

You know Spring is in the air when you start to see your neighbors digging their bikes out of storage, and I don't just mean the kids. If you're looking to pass your love of biking on to your tot, consider taking him along and giving him a bird's eye view on your next outing. Unlike bike trailers, front-mounted bike seats offer your lil one the ability to interact with you during the outing and help provide a better center of gravity for you, the peddler.

The iBert Safe-T-Seat ($95) is designed for children over one-year-old and up to 38 pounds. It is easy to install and ensures that your biker-in-training is not the recipient of kicked up rocks and dirt from the wheels of your ride. It meets all of the necessary safety requirements and just may put your lil Lance Armstrong on the path to victory.

Simple or Swank: The Obama Girls' New Swing Set

LilSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:36 -0800

Swing sets have come a long way from the old tire hanging from a tree branch. Yesterday, Malia and Sasha Obama came home from school to see just how far they have come. While not necessarily the most extravagant swing set, their parents surprised them with a deluxe addition that would leave most tots jumping for joy!
Simple: The Rainbow All-American Double Decker ($1,700) is made expressly for Costco and includes two forts, three swings, a picnic table, sandbox, rock wall, ship's wheel, telescope, and climbing rope. Made of all-American timber, the set is sure to last for many years of outdoor play.

Swank: While you might not be able to buy an exact replica of the Obama girls' new play structure (it is etched with the names of all 44 presidents and has a plaque stating, "Malia and Sasha's castle handcrafted with pride in the heartland of America . . . God bless America"), the Rainbow Castle Package 4 ($3,500) is made from cedar and North American Redwood and comes with a tire swing, four swings, monkey bars, trapeze rings, a slide, fort, climbing wall, rope ladder, picnic table, and climbing ropes.

Which one do you prefer?

Photo courtesy of AP

Toy Box: Bring a Water Rush Into Your Backyard

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Though the weather may not be cooperating to the fullest extent, the calendar reading March has my mind drifting to Spring toys and outdoor fun. At the Toy Fair last month, I was lucky enough to preview a few of Step2's new outdoor products, and I was quite taken with the Water Rush Quarry ($100). A new take on the classic sand and water table, this sand box comes with an adjustable cover that slides up and over to create the ultimate race track for water, rocks, or matchbox cars. The set includes a crane, two bridges, a tunnel, a dam, a ramp, a bucket, a shovel, and two vehicles, which all enhance the experience.

I can already see my lil ones racing pebbles down the river to see which hit the sand first. Best of all, the whole set closes up at night, so there are no surprises hidden in the sand box the next morning.

Let It Snow: Sledding Through the Season

LilSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:48 -0800

Let it snow! And, share the best natural wonder that Winter offers with your wee ones. This week we're celebrating the powder and slush with a series of posts on the best Winter toys, products and treats for your lil snow angels.

Let's start with one of the most beloved accessories - the sled. Whether you go for the old-fashioned wooden ones, or more recent favorites like inflatable snow tubes or these Pull On SnowShorts ($35), which ensure that your ride never flies out from under you, there are sleds to suit ever member of your family's needs. Check out our favorites!

Toy Box: At Home in the Trees

babysugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:00:50 -0700

As a child, one of my favorite poems was Shel Silverstein's "Tree House." I dreamed of having a tree house I could escape to when I needed a minute alone. Now that I am about to move, I couldn't help but go ga-ga over this Tree Top Inn designed by Barbara Butler. The multi-tree, multi-level house has a 17-foot swinging bridge, an eight-foot straight bridge, a club house with a tin roof, a balcony, several decks, and a winding staircase. The San Francisco-based Butler creates a variety of backyard play structures for kids and adults, often using colorful redwood and including a secret escape hatch in each model.

To see why my dream may be put on hold, read more.

It's easy to see why celebrities like Bobby McFerrin, Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates, Robert Redford, and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have commissioned Butler to make custom play areas. The designs are unique and fun for the whole family, if not the entire neighborhood. But with prices ranging from $25,000 to $156,000 (like for the Tree Top Inn), it may be a while before I'm asking her to build one.

Toy Box: Summer Picks

babysugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:11 -0700

Since summer is approaching, our minds shift to outdoor activities for our kids. Last week the Today show invited on an editor from Toy Portfolio who highlighted six new toys that should get your couch potato outside and moving. Check out her picks!Source

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Toy Box: The Swing Set of Dreams

babysugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:45 -0700

I was flipping through a magazine recently and flipped out when I saw this fabulous swing set.

Made by CedarWorks, a 27-year-old company based in Rockport, Maine, the set is made from 100 percent northern white cedar, which is known to be splinter-free. To see its only drawback, read more.

The swank set is part of the company’s Serendipity Series and includes gazebo-like play stations, multiple slides, a variety of swings, a sky bridge, a steering wheel, a spyglass, a rope ladder, and whimsically cut-out walls and roofs.

The only downside is the price - a whopping $21,850! It's nice to fantasize. Maybe I'll buy it if I win the lottery.

If money were no object, would you invest in this lux item for your lil ones?