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Nowadays, [...]]]> I remember when I was little, my parents never had a problem with us going outside. This was pre – all-day television days and the first thing we wanted to do as soon as we finished breakfast was to get our outdoor toys ready and play the whole day (or at least until lunchtime!).

Nowadays, it’s a completely different picture. Life in the outdoors now competes with technology, away from the fresh air and the sun.

This is the reason why many parents now make a very conscious effort to get their kids out. With more and more studies showing the benefits of outside play for kids, many parents have to conjure different ways and means to get the kids outside like the luxurious outside playhouses that I mentioned in another article.

If you’re looking for some ideas for outdoor play, here are some outdoor toys for kids that should make a nice addition to your backyard.

Wooden Swing Sets

Many outdoor swing sets for residential use now come in all shapes, sizes and make. I prefer the wooden swing sets as they look less garish and most of these wooden structures easily blend well in any backyard. Many of these swing sets also include added features that kids would love to play in. I am biased towards the monkey bars and the rockwall. But there are also others that include slides, towers, and sandboxes among others.

Climber

Kids love climbers. They’re a bit heart stopping to some parents (and you obviously need to have safe precautionary measures set up), but kids could spend lots of time on it. One of the popular ones are the dome climbers.

They encourage children to play and it is a means for them to do some exercise as well.

Kettler Trimmstation Swing Set

This looks extremely simple but you’ll be surprised just how much kids get excited with this one. They could spend hours on this. It offers a lot of possibilities for kids play while improving their coordination and muscle strength. They’re more suitable for older kids so you may have to buy something else if you’ve got little ones as well.

EZ Fort Building Kit

Kids love their own spaces. Be it outside playhouses, their own nook in the house or a little tent in the garden. Give them the EZ Fort Building kit and they’ll be more than happy to play with it. They can make any kind of structure with it so they’ll feel like they’ve made their own little house – which always makes them happy.

Ride On Toys

Ride on toys like Power wheels Dune racer I reviewed on another post are so popular among kids that there’s a ride on toy for any age. I have to say that this is one of my son’s favorite toy. Starting from the age of two until 4, he had this one red tractor that he would always go back to play with. It’s been many different things to him – a tractor, grandpa’s car, or one of the Octonauts Gups. So I vote for ride on toys in the backyard.

The ride on toy you buy depends on the age of your child. I suggest buying something that is of interest to whatever age he/she is so that the toy will be of use for a long time. I have to say though that Power wheels Barbie Jammin jeep was a big hit in my sister’s house when she bought it for her daughter. I think it’s very age-specific, but my! What a piece of machine.

Scooters

Scooters have now become very popular from toddlers to fathers. Every child should have one. Really gets them moving around town.

Bicyles

It’s a rite of passage to every child in the world. The first bike a child gets is always a momentous one. Take the time to take him out every day on the bike so he’ll develop a love for it.

For other ideas on outdoor toys, why not check out these kids outside toys for the garden and have a look at out kids bounce houses for sale section.

Any ideas for outside toys for kids? What toy gets your children outside anytime? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

In comes the makers of luxury playhouses and out go the children in the [...]]]> There was a time when a den made of sticks was enough to keep us kids busy outside the whole day. Nowadays, the world outside has to compete with ipads and kinects that getting them outside can be quite a problem.

In comes the makers of luxury playhouses and out go the children in the backyard supposedly happily leaving their electronic gadgets inside the house. Luxurious Backyard playhouses for kids have definitely become a statement in many affluent neighborhoods.

I’ve just recently done a search on childrens playhouses and there are some pretty cool ones out there. Granted these houses cost an arm and a leg, but that doesn’t change the fact that if I were a little girl right now and my parents could afford these luxuries, I would go crazy for them.

So anyway, here are 10 playhouses for kids that I love.

This is the Daniel Woodland Scallywog Sloop Tree Playhouse. This first on the list because I can just imagine my little boy playing on this one no end. This isn’t just his very own den, this just lends itself to a lot of adventure. The pirate”house” is going to fuel any child’s creativity plus the incorporation of slides and other playground accessories are a nice touch that mixes with the theme suprisingly well.

This can be yours for the very cheap price of $29,999!!!

The Playhouse Company makes some of the coolest structures. Based in the UK, they have castle playhouses, English cottages and more. They have some reasonably cheap outside playhouses which are just as good. Of the many houses in their catalog, this raised octagonal playhouse caught my eye.

Doesn’t this one just catch your eye? I’m not so sure how it would look like in a city garden, but I think it looks pretty cool. This is made by the Guild Of master Wishmaker and is available at Rainbow Play UK

Made by a company in Barcelona, this is without a doubt the most unique spin to childrens playhouses.. Many of the playhouses for sale right now tend to bend more towards the more traditional, maybe funky houses. But this company is the only one I know that gives playhouses a modern twist. I’d like to make this my office.. Look at all those lights coming in!

The company Kids Crooked Houses became known all throughout the USA when they made not one but 4 playhouses for Kate and Jon gosselin’s show. Now, they seem to be all over Hollywoodland and their business has grown much bigger than ever. They do have some pretty playful playhouses and the one below is my favorite.. Who can’t love a green house in the backyard

As you probably expect, these houses come at a price. Prices range from $3000 up to $75,000.

If you’re looking for cheap playhouses though for us mere mortals, don’t you worry, I’ll write another article soon on more affordable and cheap playhouses that our children will no doubt have just as much fun in.

Sometimes though we plan our picnics a [...]]]> As I mentioned in my picnic checklist for kids, many of our family picnics don’t need a lot of planning. We simply grab whatever food we can find in the kitchen, grab a few toys (balls, bocce, frisbee) and we just go, go, go…

Sometimes though we plan our picnics a week beforehand and during this time, I make sure we have some special picnic finger foods with us.

I’m saying finger food because as much as possible, I don’t really want to take a lot of things during a picnic and picnic food is usually the best way to do this. I put each food in ziplock bag and so I don’t have to carry any heavy containers.

Here are some of our favorite picnic finger food for kids and adults

Nuts

you can’t go wrong with nuts. Everybody in our family loves them. Obviously don’t take one if someone’s allergic to it. I usually mix several different kinds of nuts with some raisins and dried fruit.

Dried Fruit

If you’re not mixing it with the nuts, then take some dried fruit as well – apricots, raisins, prunes are great

Fruit

Apples as always are easy to eat. So are bananas, orange, and pear. If you’ve got a knife and chopping board, watermelon is great. Leave the watermelon in the fridge overnight and take it out just before you go. Put it straight to your cooler.. Yummy, cold watermelon picnic. Fruit kebabs are also a good idea. If you’re going with little kids, use straws instead of skewers.

Easy to Eat vegetables

Right now, the only vegetables our youngest eat are carrots and cucumbers, so we stuff him with those every chance we get.

Cereal Bars

No preparation needed at all. My kinda picnic

Cheese

Cut them into long strips at home and eat as is. Or you can buy fresh French bread along the way and eat your cheese with it.

Pizza

Pre-made are fine but one you made yourself is even better. Make it as healthy as possible by topping with vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and mushrooms. And don’t add to much cheese.

Sandwiches

This needs some preparation but always good to have. My husband, for one, will not survive a picnic without a sandwich. Make it British-style with cream cheese and sliced cucumber or live a little with a beef sandwich.

Muffins

Here’s one that needs to be prepared beforehand. What I usually do is make a huge batch with the kids the day before. It gets them involved with the preparation process and they look forward to the picnic even more. We love this Bran Flax muffins.

Eggs

You probably didn’t expect this. But my children love eggs. They’re very easy to prepare too, eh? I just boil some eggs and voila. They eat it with salt sometimes.

Olives, pickles

Fried Chicken Wings

Yum.. yum.. yumm.. Whenever we’re going for a picnic that will also be our lunch, we’re bound to have some fried chicken wings with us. If you want to keep it warm an insulated bag for keeping food warm are very handy

Wraps

You can make them beforehand. What I do is grill some vegetables (like eggplants, carrots, zuchinni and onion) at put them in a container. When I have time, I also make beef tacos and put that in another container. Then I shred some cheese.

At the picnic, each person can make his/her own wrap with the vegetables, tacos, and cheese as filling. Always goes down well, this one. Just a shame it takes a lot of preparation. Don’t forget to bring spoons for this – you’ll need it for the tacos

Hummus

Buy premade ones or make one yourself. Eat with pita bread or dip vegetables in i

Sandpit – Every garden needs to have a sandpit. Children can play for hours in one as many parents can attest. There are now many very elaborate sandpits that you can buy for kids from two-person sandpits to sandpits which also come with a [...]]]> Here are some fun activities for kids outside your house.

Sandpit – Every garden needs to have a sandpit. Children can play for hours in one as many parents can attest. There are now many very elaborate sandpits that you can buy for kids from two-person sandpits to sandpits which also come with a water “pit”. However, I find that kids are just as happy when all you have is a big basin with sand on it. You may have to find some special sand for sandpits for this though.

Gardening – Gardening is definitely up on the list of my wonderful childhood memories. I doubt I was gardening properly at all but playing with the soil, having my own garden spade and getting to do what my mother was doing made the whole gardening experience very special.. Pick the fruit of my “labor” was also a very worthwhile experience. Some plants that you can use for this purpose are carrots, dwarf strawberries, or cherry tomatoes.

Trampoline – I know that the safety of trampolines is still under debate among many people. I have yet to do an extensive research on the exact dangers of trampolines but from experience I know that it’s one thing that kids can play many hours in. It’s also a great energy “waster” which is always good especially for energetic kids. Make sure you are aware of all safety precautions when installing a trampoline in your backyard.

Just mucking about – This I personally think is what my children love to do best and is especially great when you’ve got a big lawn. We don’t have one but my in-laws do and the children, no matter what their age, have always love this. Basically, you don’t have to give them any toys. You just get them to explore the place which kids are extremely good at. You’ll eventually find them making their own dens, watching a bug, climbing up a tree, digging for worms or just lying down on the green grass to watch the clouds sail by. It’s always heartwarming to see my chidlren do this as it reminds me of my own childhood.

Climbing Frames And Playsets – If you have the space for it, climbing frames and playsets are great to have. When you have more than one child, these are even more useful toys in the backyard. My favorite are the climbing frames that actually get them to exercise like the Kettler Trimmstation Swing set. These frames and playsets can be quite pricey, so prepare to spend shell out a little bit of money for them. You can of course make them yourself and probably save some money in the process.

Swimming Pools – Pools are amazing for whatever age. Ever since my kids were little, we spent loads of time outside just playing about in a pool. An inflatable pool for kids will usually suffice, but if you have bigger kids (as well as adults who like pools!), then consider buying an above ground swimming pool. Remember to always consider the safety of your kids when you have a swimming pool, no matter how shallow the water is.

Water Fountain, Water Hoses, Sprinklers, Spray Bottles – I used to spend loads of time playing with a water hose in our backyard. The dog would be out there with me and he would go crazy as he tries to catch the water spewing out of the hose. This is however, not so, environmentally-conscious, so I suggest using a water fountain, sprinklers or even spray bottles.

Water Slides – If you have a pool, then a water slide is going to offer loads of fun for everybody. If you haven’t there are many inflatable waterslides that you can put on the lawn for the children to play in. These slides are loads of fun and a great summer toy.

Mud Play – This can be a bit dirty but oh so loads of fun. If your children are tired of sandpits, then make them their own mud pit in the garden and you’ll be surprised just how all that dirt can spike their imagination. Not for parents with the faint of heart.

Playhouse/Treehouse – There are many fancy playhouses that you can buy now. You can even customize them to fit your child’s interest. However, you don’t always have to spend so much money for this. If you’re handy, just a little house in the backyard will keep many children happy. Even a big box with cut out holes for windows and doors is good.

Fort/Den/Castle – Like a playhouse, forts, dens and castles appeals to kids because it gives them their very own space. Don’t be surprised to see “Keep Out” or “Parents Are Not Allowed” signs. Branches, twigs and sticks formed into a teepee is an excellent den idea or you can buy one of those kits like the EZ fort building kit.

Muddy Puddles – Thanks to Peppa Pig and her team of snorting pigs, my toddler is now a big fun of muddle-puddle jumping. Right after the rain (or even while it is raining), let the kids out in the garden in their boots (or barefoot, if you dare).

Hammocks/Garden chair – For a child who likes to stay outdoors, a hammock is ideal to have. If you can’t put one up, then give him/her own garden chair.

Birdfeeding – If you live near a place where there are lots of birds, then get your kids busy with a birdfeeder project. There are birdfeeders that you can buy now but I think that for kids, one that they made themselves is a lot more fun.

Getting to know bugs, worms and insects – Insects and bugs often interest a lot of kids. When my boy was about 3 years old, insects were his thing and he could spend hours outside digging for worms, looking for ladybugs and looking into his creature peeper any time he has a reason to do so. The thing with these insects is that there’s always an experiment waiting to be made or a life lesson waiting to be told.

Jumping on piles of leaves – an activity that’s specially great when autumn comes. Before you get your leaf blower to work, get your kids to play in the piles of leaves first. Loads of fun.

Backyard camping – I love love camping in the backyard. It’s like real camping without all the hassles. Need to go to the toilet? Run to the house? Need some more food? The fridge is all ready (or mom is always there to cook you something). Elaborate 1-2 day backyard campings are always good but even a day camp or an overnight one (my son loves this) is also a good idea.

Do you have any other ideas for fun activities for kids outside? Please do share. Use the comments section below or send me a note.

However, there are days when a good [...]]]> With my kids, I have found that just leaving them out to play in the garden by themselves is enough to get them all busy. You provide them with the basic soil, mud, logs and creatures and you can be assured that they’ll find something to do.

However, there are days when a good ‘ole toy that your provide (especially for the little ones) is a good thing to have in handy. Here are some kids outside toys that are sure to offer loads of exciting activities too.

Waterslide – Children getting hot in the summer? Waterslides are excellent for cooling themselves down and for hours of fun too. Remember that many of these slides need a big space.

Butterfly Garden kit – My children and I had a lot of fun with this one (except for that time when the littlest one started shaking one of the ___ to wake it up!). It’s a very useful lesson on the life cycle of a butterfly and of course, it’s always amazing when you first see the chrysallis turn into a butterfly. Even my husband and I were charmed by the whole thing. If you’re not into butterflies, there are other kits of the same ilk such as ladybugs, stick insects, ants and praying mantis.

Frisbee – An old favorite but always fun. Every house should have one.

Boomerang – Got this as a present for the husband last year and the kids wanted it just as much as he did. You will need a big space for this. Get to the park or open field and play it there. Obviously good for older kids as it needs some skill to get the boomerang to go back to you.

Jump Rocket – This is a staple everytime we go outside in the garden or even out for a picnic. Great for preschoolers, also a great way for kids to learn about physics!

Ring Toss – This is a fun toy that kids of all ages and adults can play at the same time. We bought this when my first child was only 2.5 and that didn’t really interest him a lot yet! But now at 4, he would do anything to win this game.

Pogo Stick/walking stilts – For bigger kids, pogo sticks and walking stilts are so much fun. Learning how to get on it is always a challenge but once they’re on it, they can spend lots of time outside playing with one of these. You can even invite their friends over for a Pogo stick or stilts walking race!

Bocce Set – Here’s another outdoor toy for older kids. Bocce has become rather popular in many backyards in recent years. It’s very addicting and relaxing at the same time. I see many children of different ages playing with this.

Bubble Makers - From infants to toddlers, bubble makers are always a treat. Babies usually have fun just watching all the bubbles while toddlers run around trying to pop as many bubbles as they can.

Traditional outdoor sports – Whatever sport your child is interested in, there’s bound to be a toy that you can get to get him. I’m thinking of outside basketball hoops, soccer sets, volleball sets and even golf sets.

Ride on toys – Ride on toys will appeal to children of both sexes but I think that boys cling on to these toys so much more than girls do (and hey! Full grown adult men still do, don’t they?). I can’t think of any other toy that has interested my son as long as his ride on tractor has. We bought him a very simple ride on toy, but if you have the space for it, you can easily splash on these things. You can get the Power Wheels Barbie Jammin jeep or Peg Pereggo John Deere tractor!

Bouncy Castles and Other Inflatable Toys – This can be costly. Kids bounce houses for sale right now cost at least $250. But bouncy castles are quite handy to have in a big backyard. We’ve only rented one for a party and the children had so much fun the whole afternoon they didn’t want to do anything else. Great way to lose all that energy too.

Blongo Ball – Expect all the fun with a Blongo ball. This has just become very popular in the past couple of years and if you want some serious playing fun with the whole family, then buy the Blongo ball game set. This incorporates different lawn sports. Easy to learn but not so easy to win.

Swing Set – You can always go to the park for a swing set or a play set, I know but having them right in your own garden is a great help for entertaining the kids. The swings are good for the really little ones. For older kids, I prefer climbing frames or monkey bars, wherein I’m sure that they are doing some physical exercise while playing as well. Have a look at these dome climber for kids.

Fort Building Kit – Any kid, whatever the age loves having his or her own little space in the garden. These fort building kits make it so much easier to build forts or den. The older kids can even make one themselves.

Can you think of any other kids outside toys for the garden? Please use the comment section below to tell us about it.

Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to have some activities ready in case the kids get [...]]]> As I’ve mentioned in another article, I love to make backyard camping activities with kids as easy and stress-free as possible. I don’t plan it too much and I certainly don’t fret about the food either unlike actual camping.

Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to have some activities ready in case the kids get bored. Here’s are some the I like. Do add to the list in the comments section below if you can think of anything.

Backyard Camping Activities During The Day

We usually have only night time camping at home. But on the rare time that we do also do backyard camping in the day, then the activities tend to involve active sports, running around and games.

• Tea Party : this is good for preschoolers especially at that time when they want to play make believe. Get food and drinks ready and have a tea party.

• Outdoor Toys : Whatever outdoor toys you have in the house, take them out now. They’re going to be very useful. Some of our favorite toys include Bocce and badminton
• Frisbee
• Kick balls. Play soccer
• Parlor games: Some of the ones we like are egg and spoon race, sack relay, water balloon toss or egg toss.
• Mud tic-tac-toe

In our household, backyard camping always lends itself to a games which get the children wet. I would prefer it to be dry, but the kids either end-up spraying water at each other or squirting water guns. If you have this kind of family, then have some dry clothes ready. If you can’t be bothered with that, the bedroom is always just a few steps away.

Nighttime Backyard Camping Activities With Kids

As I have said, many of our backyard camping take place at night which we all love. It’s always special for the kids to sleep with us in the tent and of course, to get to sleep later than usual.

Here are some of the games we like to play.

• Stargazing – a favorite. Our little one is just getting interested in space and he loves this a lot. I don’t know much about astronomy but just trying to count the stars or waiting for a shooting star is just as fun. Lots of talking encouraged.
• Scary story telling: Very little ones will not be so thrilled about this. So if you have one who gets easily scared then best not to do this. Older kids will beg you for these scary stories though. Make the stories even scarier by making it up and setting your story in the backyard – kid you not, even you will be scared.
• Flashlight games – Tag flashlight is easy.
• Shadow puppets
• Talent Show – You can do this in the day as well, but I find it’s more fun at night. Get the kids to dress up for the event using only the things that are available in the backyard. Loads of fun
• Monster games – Preschoolers love this.. Since you’re outside and it’s dark, monster games are a given. Everyone can be the scared goats under a blanket. Get one of the kids to be scary monster. First person the monster eats/touches gets to be the next monster. This was expectedly fun for the kids but I could not believe how much fun I had as well.

Backyard Camping Activities That Can Be Done Both Day Or Night

And here are some more backyard camping activities that can be done either at day or night

• Bug hunting – Trickier at night but the backyard has a completely different feel
• Sing songs – We love singing at home and we love that we get to do a lot of singing when camping in the backyard. We have a book of all the lyrics of the songs we all love (we printed them off the internet). So much fun. We could sing the night away anytime but our neighbors won’t be too happy about it. Also, if someone plays a musical instrument in the family, take that instrument out for the singing session
• Listen to the radio or get a speaker for your ipod and listen to your favorite music. – The way to go if your family prefers listening rather than singing
• Dance, dance and dance some more.
• Card games – a deck of cards is a must-have in any backyard camp.
• Pass the Parcel – This needs preparation beforehand so some of you will not want to do this. But it’s fun and if you put some lovely trinkets in it as well, it becomes even more exciting for the children
• Hide and seek – fun in the day. Even more fun at night.
• Treasure hunting – This is the only game that I make sure I prepare beforehand. We love treasure hunting in the family, and this is one thing that the kids always look forward to. It’s even more exciting at night.
• I spy
• Charades
• Make Time Capsules – and bury it in the backyard if you want.

Do you have any other ideas for fun backyard camping activities with kids? Please comment below.