With summer here I'm trying to think of all the fun things I can do with the kids. It can be a challenge to keep an almost 7-year old and a 20 month old busy.
One of my favorite outdoor toys for getting kids active is the Geospace Jump Rocket. When one of my son's friends brought their Jump Rocket to the park he was swamped with other kids wanting a turn. It’s great to find a toy like this that really catches and keeps the attention of boys his age. And you can bet that I have bought a number of these as gifts.
My 20-month old only needs a hammer to keep him occupied and have fun! He loves banging on everything! The problem is he still puts everything in his mouth. This means the Plan Toys Hammer Peg Board, with its four holes and colourful pegs that can be pounded from either side, totally fits the bill. I really like to recommend Plan Toys because they are made from recycled rubber-wood trees no longer producing latex, other recycled materials and soy-based ink. My little guy can safely chew on the pegs and hammer until the cows come home with no worries.
We will also get creative and exercise our imaginations with an arts and craft day this summer. Clementine Art has a fabulous assortment of products for this, all made with non-toxic ingredients. Their play dough, paint and markers appeal to my older son while my little guy likes to go crazy with the crayons, which are shaped so his chubby little hands can easily hold these, and made of soy, in the event he decides to eat these.
Summer should be full of fun. I miss being a kid! Why didn't we have all these cool toys when I was a young? For instance, there was no 'Kiss Naturals ‘Make You Own Lip Balm Kit’ when I was growing up. You can make up to 10 jars of lip balm, all from wonderfully natural ingredients. And you can feel really good buying this product too. It's made in Canada and $1 from every kit sold is donated to a local charity or non-profit organization. How good is that, eh?
Melissa MaGee works at Tag Along Toys in Kanata, a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS).
She considers herself lucky because she gets to see all the new products as they arrive and try out each new item. The real bonus is hearing the great customer feedback.
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