Outdoor Toys Articles
- What are People Jumping Up and Down About?
- Electric Scooter Mania
- Outdoor Toys - Making the Most of the British Summer
- Garden Trampolines – A Guide to the Different Types
1. What are People Jumping Up and Down About?
One of the most popular outdoor toys for all age groups to enjoy are garden trampolines. These outdoor toys have been with us since the early 20th century when a young inventor decided to make a free standing version of the safety netting aerial gymnasts used. Today manufacturers produce a variety of different sized garden trampolines. Modern trampolines are often surrounded by netting held in place by padded pillars for safety. Trampolines are normally oval, octagonal or rectangular.
Cortez
Cortez manufactures trampolines up to 12 ft in diameter and in a range of shapes. They all include safety enclosures which have a zip and clip mechanism for securing the netting. It also includes a ladder and all of the equipment required to get started.
Duplay
Duplay is another leading brand of garden trampolines. They use tubular steel frames with no welds, which means no weak points and arched legs for maximum stability. This manufacturer also provides safety enclosures with padded steel support. They should also include a cover and toolkit.
Rebo
These trampolines are also constructed from galvanized steel frames with arched legs. Their safety enclosures attach to the frame without bolts and the netting attaches to the poles with specially designed fittings. They also include a ladder and toolkit.
Accessories
In some cases you may wish to purchase accessories for your garden trampoline. Aside from spares for specific trampolines you can also get covers in a range of sizes and colours, additional padding, ladders and anchor kits for securing your trampoline to the ground.
2. Electric Scooter Mania
One of the most popular toys of the 21st century has been the electric kids scooters. Since the invention of the original foot powered scooter in the 1920s, they have been sought after as a halfway house between the push bike and skateboard. The modern 'Razor' scooter was invented by a Taiwanese engineer who found walking around his large bicycle factory too time consuming. Since then the design has been developed to include electric or petrol motors and in some cases removable seats.
Storm Kids Scooter
The Storm is a competitively priced kids scooter with a 120 Watt electric motor capable of running at up to 8 KPH and 3.5 KPH in reverse. The pneumatic tyres make for a smooth ride, even when mounting curbs. The twist throttle is similar to the throttle on a motorbike and the motor can be turned on or off from a switch. It also includes a removable seat and side stand. Comprehensive instructions make it easy to assemble and the handlebar height is adjustable. They can support a rider weighing up to 70 KG and can run for up to 2 hours (depending on the weight of the rider and gradient of the surface they are ridden on).
Razor e100 Kids Scooter
This new addition to the range of Razor scooters is powered by two 12 Volt batteries and the motor drives the extra durable polyurethane rear wheel using a chain. It also has a twist throttle and is capable of achieving up to 16 KPH. The maximum recommended rider weight for this model is 60 KG. The weight of the actual scooter is just over 13 KG. When this scooter is fully charged it should run for around 40 minutes.
Scooter Care
Electric kids scooters need very little maintenance however, as with all electrical equipment it is best to store them in a dry place. As they tend to be used less in winter months it is recommended that electric scooters are charged and tested every month or so to keep the batteries at maximum capacity.
Charging
All electric scooters include a charger which will have the appropriate fitting for the country it was purchased in. Charge times vary depending on the battery size but generally 12 hours should fully charge a flat scooter battery.
Safety
Safety is a great concern for parents when their children use outdoor toys and scooters are no exception. To ensure that your child has as much fun as possible a helmet, knee and elbow pads should be worn at all times when using kids scooters.
3. Outdoor Toys - Making the Most of the British Summer
The British summer time provides a few months where enjoying the outdoors is made as easy as possible. This article examines the outdoor toys available today which make the outdoors preferable to playing computer games or watching television.
While it is possible to hire a bouncy castle for an event you can also purchase a number of different inflatable structures which provide endless fun for all ages. For younger children, smaller bouncy castles are available at a relatively low cost. One of the leading manufacturers of small bouncy castles is Duplay. These range from the smallest, being a 10 by 9 and a half ft train shaped bouncy castle to a series of 12ft, brightly coloured, traditional bouncy castle with a slide entrance.
A popular variation of the bouncy castle is the inflatable water slide. These range from 10ft to 18ft and beyond and provide an excellent way to have fun outdoors and cool off during the summer months.
Another option is the ever popular climbing frame. There are a huge variety of designs to choose from which are constructed either from wood, metal or a combination of both. These would commonly include a ladder, slide, monkey bars, playhouse and swings. These are suitable for any level garden area with adequate space and are practically maintenance free.
Younger children may also enjoy a playhouse. The scope of use for these outdoor toys is slightly greater than other outdoor toys as they can be used all year round. There are many different designs and they are constructed from either plastic or wood. A popular plastic playhouse is the Smoby Wendy house. This is one of the smallest and lowest costing playhouses available and features specially rounded corners and edges to make playing as safe as possible. At the opposite end of the scale is the 10 by 10ft Swiss cottage style playhouse. This features two levels, a large veranda, overhanging roof and picket fence.
Amongst the more recent additions to the outdoor toys are electric ride on cars and kids scooters. There are numerous designs to choose from and provide year round entertainment. Ride on cars are some of the safest outdoor toys available and give your child the feeling of freedom that comes with owning your own vehicle. Many of the electric scooters on the market today include a seat which can be detached and they are capable of achieving up to 16mph.
Amongst the plethora of sporting equipment available you may be interested to know about Slacklines. These are essentially tightropes which are slightly wider to allow children and beginners to experience tight rope walking in the comfort of their own garden. They are simply fixed to two points less than 10 metres apart. These may be trees or a secure fixture on a building.
Adults and older children can cool off during the summer with an inflatable spa/Jacuzzi. While these items fall under the category of outdoor toys, supervision is crucial if younger children are using them. The largest of the inflatable spas can accommodate up to 6 adults and includes side table for resting your refreshments.
4. Garden Trampolines – A Guide to the Different Types
There are many different types of garden trampoline, from mini trampolines which help you tone your leg muscles to large trampolines with springs and side netting to avoid unnecessary accidents. The majority of families choose a trampoline which is around the 8 to 12ft size bracket as they fit into average sized gardens easily and are not too expensive when you consider how much fun and exercise they actually encourage children to take part in.
Children’s Trampolines
There are a number of trampolines which have been designed with younger children in mind and these are basically miniature trampolines or trampettes which have a small railing along one side which enables small children of ages 3 to 8 years to hold on as they jump. It is recommended that young children are supervised whilst using these types of jumper.
Fitness Training Trampette Trampolines
Training Trampettes are basically small trampolines which are ideal for repetitive vertical jumping as they have a very small surface area. They are suitable for all children over 8 years to adults but are primarily designed for fitness training and toning leg muscle. There are even some nowadays which have bungee style straps attached to their legs which pull the user down as they jump in the air which maximises the affect it has on their fitness.
8ft, 10ft & 12ft Garden Trampolines
The majority of trampolines which you see in peoples back gardens are those which are between 8 & 12ft in size as these models are the best size for average garden widths. These types of garden jumper usually come with a safety net as standard but some do not. They range in style and colour and some are themed around children’s adventure films.
Trampoline Accessories
There are a vast range of associated trampoline accessories available on the market such as covers, ground anchor kits and ladders to enable easy access for all ages. Covers are a must particularly for British weather as they help to protect the trampoline frame.
Further Ride-on Car & Kids Electric Scooters Articles
Kids Electric Car Toys – A Buyers Guide
Are you considering buying a kids electric car for your son or daughter? If so read on as you may find the following buyers guide useful when making the decision. We covers important aspects such as the car's features, what designs are available to choose from as well as what kind of surfaces these types of ride-on toys are most suited for and we'll touch on children's electric car general maintenance issues. read full article
Kids Electric Scooters – Buying Tips
If you are thinking about getting your kids electric scooters then why not read through our brief buying tips article for an insight into things you should think about when buying these types of outdoor toys. You should consider your child's safety first obviosuly, but you also want them to learn and enjoy playtime so outdoor electric kids scooters are an ideal gift. read full article
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