Climbing Frames As an Alternative to Games Consoles

I'm going to propose that rather than buying the latest games console for your little cherubs you should perhaps consider something that might actually get them active and out of the house - a climbing frame for example.
Okay, so I'm going to sound pretty old as soon as I write this, but I can't help feeling that children had a more balanced lifestyle when I was a boy. There you are, I sound old. Why do I feel this way? Well since you ask, it's because these days we seem to be creating children who would much rather stay indoors and play on the latest games console than even contemplate going outside. It doesn't seem to matter even if it's a wonderfully glorious spring or summer day - given the choice, members of the latest XBox generation will almost certainly choose to sit in a darkened room holding their plastic controller.
What are the alternatives? As a kid I remember spending hours upon hours outside making dens, tree-houses, things to jump over with my bike, and so the list goes on. However, if their imagination just isn't up to it you can stimulate them by buying something like a climbing frame or swing and slide set rather than the latest games console. Admittedly you will require a little more outdoor space for a climbing frame than for a Wii. As a result it may not be practical for all of us, but you don't need much space for the smaller of the range of modern climbing frames that you can get. Remember, it doesn't have to compete with the local park for size and variety in order to provide a very healthy playground for your children!
So, to conclude, next time you are pestered for the latest console or PC or even the latest game for a console you already own, why not consider putting the money toward a timeless outdoor toy such as a climbing frame. Your children can proudly play with it with their friends next time they come round. They will happily pretend it is anything from a rocket, through a castle to a ship. Many hours of good healthy fun can be had and they will expend a lot more energy than sitting in front of a computer monitor or TV screen literally twiddling their thumbs to rank up more 'gamer points'.
Right, mini-rant over. Perhaps things weren't all that much better when I was a boy, and maybe I'm just jealous that I had to be content with the occasional game on the BBC B-Micro with graphics that appeared to have been drawn by a toddler. Nonetheless, I'm sticking to my story and I'll be telling it to my children and my grandchildren assuming I get some one day.

Alan Glenn is a father of two very energetic boys, who like to play on his XBox. He is also owner of a site that features a range of climbing frames including the compact Little Tikes Jungle Climber.
Alan from http://www.littletikesclimbingframes.co.uk/

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Finding the Right Climbing Frame For Your Children

Climbing frames are a great activity to keep kids occupied in your home or garden. There are some great benefits and choosing the right one may seem like an easy task but there are a couple of things to consider when purchasing. One of the most important things to consider when buying a climbing frame for your child's is safety. Whilst it is highly recommended that parent supervise their children at all times, you will also want a frame that is built with safety in mind. This means looking for a climber that is both sturdy and well built with no sharp corners. You will also need to make sure you assemble it correctly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Ideally you would also look for a frame that is plastic and not metal or wooden as this will more likely prevent your kids form hurting themselves. Another consideration to account for is the size of the climbing frame. There are many different sizes available and price will vary according to this as well. Whether you choose a large or small frame will also depend on the size of your garden or room (if you decide you want an indoor climber).
There are many brand names available on the market including TP and Little Tikes. TP provide Climbing frames for older children and are often made from wood whereas Little Tikes climbers are more suitable for toddlers and younger children and are made from plastic.
When choosing a climber you will also want to see what there is for your child to do. Again, there are simple climbing frames and more challenging ones depending on your budget. As standard you will get a frame with a slide but you can also get ones with multiple levels, tunnels, hiding areas and playhouse stations.
Whichever climber frame you choose it will be a long lasting purchase especially if you have many children.

Little Tikes Climbing Frame Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roshan_Bholah

Why Children Love Little Tikes Toys

Little Tikes Toys

There is such a variety in toys these days that kids have come to expect a big variety to choose from and Little Tikes have stepped up to the task by providing a huge range of fun products for kids. This brand has a big range to suit children of all ages, genders and skill levels.
Littles Tikes Toys For All Ages Groups
This popular brand has a large range of products to suit all ages starting from babies. Their baby products are designed for safety and fun. Their range will help babies to develop their skills and senses while enjoying discovering new things. Their toddler products help toddlers to develop motor skills and also encourage exercise in young ones while letting them have fun while doing so. Preschool toys help children to develop skills in pretend play which helps them develop their imagination, interaction and communications skills.
Little Tikes Outdoor Products
The outdoor range of products are very popular and include play houses, playgrounds, slides, swings and more. They have kitchens, workshops, picnic sets, ride on cars, and many more toys which kids love using their imaginations while pretending to cook, work and drive their own cars. Their ride on toddlers range is extremely popular and include cars, wagons and bikes.
Other Little Tikes Toys
Their range also include inflatable products such as inflatable slides. These are very popular and give hours of enjoyment. There are also a number of sporting products like basketball hoops and soccer goals, so if your family enjoy a particular sport then these products can help to build skills in your child for that sport.
There is also a big range of educational products helping children to develop many different skills including imaginations, creativity, hand and eye coordination and motor skills.
Little Tikes gear can keep children entertained for hours and since they have such a large range there is something for everyone. Your child will have many hours of fun and enjoyment with their Little Tike toys.

As a mother of three I am passionate about toys that are both safe and educational. Visit our website to learn more about Little Tikes Toys.
Our website also discusses the different Ride On Toddlers Toys available.

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Little Tikes Toy Company

Little Tikes was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Hudson, Ohio. It has grown to be a worldwide producer and marketer of quality children's goods. Little Tikes is synonymous with durability. Their products stand up to the test of time and are handed down to the next generation. Little Tikes has remained a viable company because they never rest of their past achievements. They keep striving to offer children around the world the best and most innovative toys that they can design. Little Tikes has a 5-pronged approach to their success. The five areas to ensure that their products are the highest of quality: customer satisfaction, teamwork, innovation, marketing and continuous improvement.
Little Tikes also understands that sometimes the products of the past still resonate with all generations. The best example of this is the Cozy Coupe® Car. The red and yellow car celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009. Worldwide, there are been a total of six million units of this classic toy sold. It is a ride-on toy that has a removable floor that allows a child to move the cars themselves. The design is unparallel with a high seat back for comfort, cup holders in the back, an ignition that clicks and a gas cap that can be opened and closed.
While Little Tikes honors and continues tradition, it also has created outdoor toys that have become the standard and the leader in the industry. An example is the 8-in-1 Adjustable Playground. This piece of playground equipment is a combination of a playhouse and a climber. Among the features that kids love is the crawl-through tunnel, an extra-long slide and a smaller slide. This allows kids of varying ages to play on this equipment together. This is a definite advantage of families with more than one child.

Little Tikes Playhouse Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Mitchell_Ashton

Popular Children's Outdoor Toys

Summer is almost upon us and if you're like me you're trying to figure out what kind of new children's outdoor toys to buy this year. There are so many to choose from that it may be overwhelming to try and figure out what may be both entertaining and stimulating at the same time.
One of the best things that children's outdoor toys can do for our children is to provide some good old physical exercise. There's nothing worse than a child who would prefer to hang out in the house, in front of the TV, instead of getting out in the good old fresh air. Toys that encourage our kids to get out into the fresh air are a great way to motivate our kids to get out and exercise.
When we stimulate our kids to get up and move, we are actually stimulating the development of both their gross and fine motor skills. It's also a way to build self-confidence and independence. You'll also see an improvement in both balance and co-ordination. These are some of the most popular children's outdoor toys that you have to choose from:
Outdoor Playsets
Outdoor playsets come in a variety of styles. You can choose from swingsets, climbers, or playhouses. Each style will provide a little something different so you'll be able to choose the playset that is right for your child's personality and skill set.
Ride On Toys
Childrens ride on toys also make outdoor toys. These great rides are age appropriate for children as young as toddlers all the way up to teens. You can find styles that your children will love to push, pull, or pedal around. For those who are a little older, you can check out the battery operated models.
No matter what type of children's outdoor toys that you choose, you can be sure that your child will love you for it. They'll be off on a new adventure every day and you'll see them have the best summer fun that they've ever had!

Children's outdoor toys are a great way for your children to have fun in the sun while still being developmentally stimulated. Outdoor playsets like the Little Tikes Endless Adventures Town and ride on toys like the Radio Flyer Scooter are some of the most popular outdoor toys for kids of all ages.

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5 Educational Benefits of Little Tikes Outdoor Toys

Kids need to be active. Playing outside is the best way for them to develop muscles and large motor skills like balance. There are additional health benefits like increased cardiovascular fitness and lung capacity. Without access to the outside, most kids find some creative way to burn energy, whether it's bouncing on the bed, somersaults on the sofa, or literally climbing the walls. Most parents prefer to have their kids spend some time out of the house.

The outside world offers endless possibilities from climbing trees to kicking rocks. Parents can encourage outdoor play by providing kids with the right toys. A large variety of outdoor play toys are available from brands like Toobeez, Step2 and Little Tikes. Little Tikes offers a wide range of products designed to cover a wide range of activities, including gross motor play, pretend play, and social play. Kids love to swing, climb, and slide. There are castles and houses, sand tables, and picnic tables. Other outdoor toys include balls, mats, and kites.

Apart from promoting healthy physical activity, outdoor toys have educational benefits as well:

1. Babies and young children explore the world through their senses. Cognitive growth occurs as they see, smell, hear, and touch objects. Feeling the breeze, rain, and sun is a direct learning experience, just like crunching autumn leaves and smelling blossoms. Natural curiosity leads children to become budding scientists. Rain dripping on a slide, pouring sand in a sand box, and crawling through a tunnel are all learning experiences. Kids discover gravity, motion, water properties, volume, numeracy, and much more. These early experiences give children an innate understanding of some principles later introduced in math and science.

2. Developing physical skills requires practice and freedom of movement. As these skills improve, a child builds a sense of self and increased confidence. Trying new things and healthy self-esteem follow along. Little Tikes climbers combine different challenges from sliding to climbing. Swinging back and forth leads to knowing how to "pump the swing" and use feet to stop or start. Repetitively sliding allows kids to learn how to control their speed and balance. Climbing builds muscle strength and balance. Balls develop hand-eye (or hand-foot) coordination. Other outdoor toys support further motor skills.

3. Free time outside allows kids to create their own games. A little imagination turns outdoor toys into space rockets or fortresses, while balls easily become a complicated sports challenge. Add in a few props or a timer to further the possibilities.

4. Playing in a group involves many different skill sets. Communicating with other kids requires an expanded vocabulary, listening, clear speech, as well as sharing and taking turns. These social skills are associated with improved academic outcomes once children reach school age.

5. Some outdoor toys can be built differently each time. Like other construction toys, items like Little Tikes Waffle Blocks and Toobeez encourage an understanding of spatial relations, architectural principles, balance, and much more. Taking construction toys outside allows children to make larger structures and expands the creative possibilities. Even knocking down large construction projects shows kids some basic engineering concepts.

Author Bio:

Joe Kanooga is a father of two kids, a successful business owner and the author of numerous articles about Little Tikes and other toys and hobby items. Click here to download our free outdoor toys guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Kanooga

Little Tikes Play Climbers

Little tikes variety climber

With us all realising the many benefits of outdoor play rather than indoor activities the little tikes range has seen a massive surge in popularity. The fact that they offer so many options for outdoor play activities has seen sales of their products increase quite dramatically.

Choosing the best model for our children can be difficult. The play climbers are by far the most popular range though. These play centres combine many activities in one area. They often come with a slide, a climbing wall and a swing. Many of them have extras such as telescopes and tunnels to give a great play experience to young children.

The most popular model is the castle climber and we can see why. As well as a great slide and swing we also get a telescope and a wheel. Children love being able to mix up their play times and this is what is so great about the range. We can let our children have hours of fun without concern for their safety.

The whole range is extremely safety orientated and all models are extremely robust. This, and the endless variety is what makes them all so popular. Combination play centres give our children the stimuli they need to develop well and to experience many different activities safely and in the home environment.

If you are looking for a great way to keep your children amused and playing safely at home then you have found the answer. Little tikes play climbers are the perfect solution to keeping your children safe and playing happily.

For little tikes slide climbers please see the little tikes climber and slide site. There you can cheaply buy the little tikes castle climber and many other climbers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Tee