A New Child's Play - Plastic Playground Equipment

Decades back we used to play on playground equipment built of wood or iron. But today the hygienic issues have made manufacturers build this equipment out of plastic. Compared to wood and other metal equipment, plastic playground equipment is durable and requires low maintenance. But you should choose such equipment keeping some factors in mind to ensure safety of your child.
Parents are no longer worried about the fact that their children choose outdoor playground equipment to enjoy their recreational activity. A few decades back this playground equipment was usually built with either metal or wood. Metal gets easily heated up in the sun to cause burns and the wooden equipment, on the other hand, get splinters all over in due course. Today, issues relating to health and hygiene have triggered a great transformation in the way the playground equipment is constructed. Different manufactures have come up with their plastic equipment devoid of the disadvantages of the wooden and metal equipment.

Plastic used in producing playground equipment is rotationally molded, ultraviolet light stabilized polyethylene plastic. A category known as Recycled Structural Plastic (RSP) is now widely used by manufactures to build this equipment. This plastic playground equipment are quite durable and are available in a wide range of colors which makes them look lucrative to the children. The main advantage of this plastic equipment is that they have a smooth surface unlike the rough surfaces of the wooden equipment. Moreover unlike iron or other metal, plastic takes time to get heated up, causing fewer burns.
Plastic has added advantage to wood and other materials which makes them safer for children. To mention a few of these advantages:
* Plastic unlike any other material resists moisture, insects, and bacteria.
* Plastic can be molded into a smooth surface containing negative splinters.
* Plastic doesn't corrodes like other metals, hence requires no preservatives, sealants or paint.
* Plastic can be molded into any shape and size to give the equipments an attractive look.
* Plastic equipment is easy to maintain unlike wood or metals.
There are several factors which should be taken care of in ensuring the safety of the plastic playground equipment. The elements that should be properly checked are:
* Rounded Corner - You should make sure that the play equipment you are about to purchase has smooth and rounded corners. Sharp corners can cause cuts or bruises onto the skin of your kids. Sometimes the cloth of your little ones can get stuck to these sharp corners resulting in some fatal accident or injury.
* Unsafe openings - Some play equipment have a dangerous opening of about 3 to 9 inches, which make them accident prone for kids as their head or any other body part may get stuck in those openings. You should choose the playground equipment keeping in view this issue.
* Joints - Exposed joints between moving parts can cause injuries to the tiny fingers of your kids as they easily get stuck between the joints. So you should choose equipment with less exposed joints.
* Hooks - 'S' shaped hooks are mainly found in swings. While purchasing the equipment you should make sure that the hooks are properly bent and out of the reach of the children. Hooks are far more dangerous as they can lead to entrapment and strangulation.
* Nuts & Bolts - While installing the play equipment you should make sure that the nuts and bolts used for connecting the different parts don't remain bulged out to cause accidents.
* Structural strength - Besides being hardy, plastics don't have an age limit and weight limit. But some manufactures in order to provide maximum features at lower price, supply weak plastic equipment with limited weight carrying capacity. So you should inspect the equipment before purchasing it.
From the above discussion it is quite clear that choosing plastic playground equipment is not an easy task as it involves the question of your child's safety. You should choose wisely as purchasing a cheap playground equipment may cost your child his life. There are several manufactures who are providing plastic playground equipment with a five-year, or more, guarantee against deterioration or breakage.

This article is written by an expert who is currently associated with AAAStateOfPlay, an esteemed organization for indoor and outdoor commercial playground equipment. They are also into the sale of different types of playground safety surfaces to the customers at reasonable rates.

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Top Ten Outside Toys for Kids Under Twelve

If you are a parent then you are likely to know that summertime can be a difficult time. Parents of children under the age of twelve are constantly dealing with children who are bored. There are only so many activities a child can do inside. That is why it is important for children to play outside during the summer.

Playing outside in the summertime is fun, but many children can easily become bored without a few outdoor summer toys. If you are the parent of a child who is younger than twelve, you have a number of options when it comes to buying outdoor toys. Below is a list and small summary of ten of the most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve.
 (1) Sand and Water Activity Tables
 Sand and water activity tables are tables that allow children to play in the sand or in the water almost at the same time. Most tables are divided into two sections. A large number of companies make sand and water activity tables; therefore, you can purchase a wide variety of different table designs. Most sand and water tables are designed for children aged three and up.
Average Price: $45 - $75
(2) Outdoor Water Sprinklers
For years now, outdoor water sprinklers have been how many children without pool access have stayed cool during the summertime. Outdoor water sprinklers come in all different styles. Traditional sprinkler systems can be purchased; however, large beach balls, plastic animals, and other popular cartoon characters can be used as a sprinkler system. All outdoor water sprinklers require water hookup through a garden hose.
Average Price: $5 - $30
(3) Water Guns
Similar to the above mentioned water sprinklers, water guns are a fun way for children without a pool to stay cool. Water guns come in all different shapes, sizes, and styles. You can purchase a water gun that fits into the palm or your hand or you can get one that is so big it is about waist tall. Large water guns tend to have more force when it comes to dispensing the water. This means that most large water guns are not safe for children under the age of five.
Average Price: $10 - $20
(4) Slip and Slide Water Toys
Slip and slides are known as small water slides. They have been a popular outdoor summer toy for children under the age of twelve for years now. Slip and slides work best on a hill, but with running water a child can have fun even on a flat surface. Many slip and slides are sold with a sprinkler system or a miniature wading pool for extra fun.
Average Price: $10 - $25
(5) Inflatable Water Slides
Until recently, the above mentioned slip and slide water toys were the only water slides designed for home use without a pool. Now large water slides are being sold online and in department stores across the country. These slides are inflatable and they can go as high as ten feet in the air. They come with a miniature pool at the bottom. Due to their large size, most water slides are designed for children over the age of four or five.
Average Price: $200 - $300
(6) Sandboxes
Currently, sandboxes sit in millions of backyards all across the country. When filled with sand, sandboxes offer hours of fun for the whole family. Sandboxes can come in a traditional box size or they can come as large plastic animals. Large plastic turtles and crabs are most popular with children under the age of five.
Average Price: $45 - $100
(7) Teeter Totters
Many parents and children mistakenly believe that teeter totters are only meant for the park. The truth is that there are a large number of teeter totters that are designed for backyards of all sizes. Large teeter totters can often be hooked into the ground; therefore, making it safe for older children or adults to use. Smaller teeter totters that are transportable and designed for children under the age of 10 can also be purchased.
Average Price: $40 - $80
(8) Grill and Grill Accessories
Toy grills are becoming one of the most popular outdoors toys to hit the market. A large number of companies make these grills; therefore, there is a large selection of different styles at most retail stores. The grills can come in all different sizes with talking pieces, plastic food, and other grill accessories. These toy grills allow children to feel like a grownup while they cook right alongside their parents.
Average Price: $20 - $60
(9) Children's Wheelbarrow and Garden Accessories
A children's wheelbarrow can be used for a number of fun outdoor activities. Children can use a wheelbarrow to move their toys or help their parents in the garden. Most wheelbarrows can be purchased with additional garden accessories for extra fun. Children's wheelbarrows come in all different shapes and sizes; therefore, children of all ages can have fun with this great outdoor toy.
(10) Bubbles
Bubbles have always been considered fun outside toys, but the creation of additional bubble toys have made them even more fun. In addition to traditional bubbles, there are now bubble-making machines. These machines can often produce hundred of bubbles in just a few minutes. There are also machines that can be used to create huge bubbles. In addition to bubble-making machines, there are also other bubble accessories that can create unique bubble shapes and much more.
Average Price: $5 - $20
All of the toys mentioned above are the top ten most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve. The good news is that almost all of these toys are reasonably priced and great for backyards of just about any size. Why let your child suffer through a boring summer when a large number of fun outdoor toys are all within your reach?

Cathy Franklin is an author and the owner of Toys Store Online [http://www.toys-store-online.com/]. She features the hot new toys, video games [http://www.toys-store-online.com/video-games.htm], dolls, and playsets for kids.

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Great Little Tikes Plastic Toys

Little Tikes' has been producing durable plastic toys more than three decades now. During this time the company had sell millions of toys. This is for sure a great amount. During years, the company has understood that innovation and commitment is the main key to reach the top of the market. They have spent quite a lot of time to research children playing habits. Because of this, they know how kids play and they make toys exactly considering the data gathered during massive research process.
Little Tikes' uses durable and weather proof plastic to ensure that toys made by them will resist all games and activities children can come up with for years. It is not rare at all when Little Tikes' plastic toys will be used for playing among 2 or more generations in a family. Toys made by Little Tikes' are usually bright colored and everybody likes bright colors. The color is added to the plastic during molding process so the color will be the part of the plastic material itself. Because of this, the color never rubs off from the toys made by Little Tikes' Company.
The product range of Little Tikes' toys is quite wide. It includes Outdoor Toys, Kids Furniture, Inflatable Bouncers, Learning Toys, Ride On Toys, Pretend Play Toys, Sports, Toy Trucks, Toy Packages, Baby Born Dolls, Climbing Walls and many more. Everyone will found something useful for their kids from Little Tikes product range.
Many of the toys made by Little Tikes' are meant mainly for outdoor activities. These days' reports from doctors are telling us that kids spend less time outdoors than they should for being completely healthy. When you kids have a toy from Little Tikes, you could be sure that they will get enough exercises playing outside the back yard.

Carl has a site called Little Tikes Car Information [http://little-tikes-car.blogspot.com/]. There you will find information for example about Little Tikes car models, Little Tikes Company and much more.

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Outdoor Playground Equipment - 5 Safety Tips to a Better Play Experience

When looking for outdoor playground equipment for your children to enjoy, whether you are looking to purchase or just looking for local parks and play areas to use, one of the most important considerations is safety. Although there are many playground related accidents and injuries every year, the good news is that a few simple rules and checks will greatly reduce the chances of your kids running into hazards while outdoors.

• Adult supervision is the one of the top methods of accident prevention. Ensure that the playground that you install or use is fully viewable from where adults will be located.
• Adult presence can also encourage positive and responsible play behaviour in children. It is important that children understand the importance of responsible play, especially when there are other children using the same equipment. No pushing or shoving, taking turns on playground slides, using equipment appropriately, and being aware of danger (e.g. equipment can get hot in the summer, slippery in the rain), are all good things to teach children to help enhance their playtime activity.
• If you are purchasing outdoor playground equipment, ensure that it is purchased from a reputable supplier. Comprehensive and appropriate installation instructions should be provided and if necessary, they should be able to point you in the direction of installation professionals where required (such as for commercial playground equipment, or large playground swings). Generally speaking, the larger the piece of equipment, the greater the higher likelihood that a professional may need to assist, but safety needs to be considered for all sized play-pieces.
• Ensure that the playground design is safe. The layout should have all activities appropriately spaced, the environment should be safe (consider slopes, trees, traffic, underfoot terrain etc. that can all become hazards), and the equipment itself should be designed with safety in mind. In terms of purchasing outdoor or commercial playground equipment, you can cover some of these bases by purchasing from reputable and well-known companies who have high safety standards and good reputations for service and support, then you need to follow their advice on installation procedures.
• Regular inspection and maintenance is essential to keep your equipment safe. A quick check of all the equipment for stability, foreign objects, and other hazards before letting your children play can avoid many injuries and health risks. This applies to backyard play areas, school playgrounds, public parks, or any other piece of outdoor playground equipment that your child may use.

By following these 5 simple rules you can not only reduce the risks associated with outdoor playground equipment, but in doing so, you increase the fun and enjoyment that children will gain from the play. After all, that is the reason that we encourage our kids to use such equipment in the first place - to explore, gain confidence, develop, and be happy.

E. Car is a 'researcher and recommender' for the website Playgrounds4Kids.com which aims to take some of the worry out of purchasing children's playgrounds.
Whether it is for a commercial site, a back-yard, or a playroom, Eric sifts through the multitude of options on the market and provides links directly to the suppliers. Products and suppliers are chosen based on quality, service, safety, and value for money.
Follow the link here to see what Eric would recommendation for you...
playgrounds4kids.com [http://www.playgrounds4kids.com/]

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Children's Outdoor Party Ideas - Fun Garden Games

Garden games such as twister giant chess and many others provide a fun source of entertainment for your children, you can choose games for a small number of children or others with a far greater number of participants depending on your requirements.
No parent if given the choice would want to hold a child's party indoors when they are a bomb proof garden outside where your child's friends can run riot.
Purchasing some outdoor garden games will not only keep the children entertained during a birthday party but will also last you for years to follow. Good quality well manufactured garden games purchased from a reputable provider can last you an incredibly long time.
You will find that there is a wide range of outdoor games on the market which vary greatly in price, this allows there to be something to suit every parent s pocket. Many of the traditional board games played inside have been transformed into far larger versions of their former selves for outdoor use. These larger versions seem to capture everyone's imagination regardless of age. The garden game you buy does not need to be restricted to only your child's use if you plan and think wisely you can buy a garden game that adults will also enjoy so that it can be used during outdoor adult parties as well.
Outdoor garden games available:
Starting with some of the most expensive;
Giant Chess The age old game in giant format! This is a fantastic family game which is more suited to older children and adults. This is one of the most expensive outdoor games I have found, however there are different sizes available and if you are happy to compromise slightly on size you will benefit pricewise.
Draughts
This product is very similar to giant chess and is suitable for all that can play or have a yearning to learn. If you have small children it may be a better choice than chess as the rules are less complicated. This product again can vary in size and also price to suit all budgets.
Connect Four (or words similar to this affect:) )
This product will suit all ages and is suitable for two players at a time. This may not necessarily be best suited for a children's party unless a tournament is arranged as the number of players participating at one time is restricted.  The game is made either of wood or plastic (depending on supplier) and stands roughly at 1.2 metres tall x 1.2 metres wide. This game requires skill and strategy to become the first player to connect four plastic playing counters into a row to win!
Giant Tumbling Towers Multi player game which causes tension to heighten as the tower does. Who will be the first to make the tower tumble? This product is currently available in beautifully crafted wooden blocks and is suitable for all ages. Please note that a step ladder may be required to add blocks at some stage during this game. Small children also need to be supervised for when the tower does tumble!
Giant Dominoes Fun for all ages either to play with or to create patterns or to play numerous games with.
Giant Pick Up Sticks
Suitable for only those with the steadiest of hands. This multiplayer game is suitable for all ages and comes in either wooden or plastic format.

Vicki Copp is a writer for Jacks Garden Store, she offers advice and tips on children's outdoor play equipment including play frames, outdoor trampolines, sandpits and other outdoor garden games. Visit Jacks garden toys advice blog for more information.

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