Hellobee

The weather is finally warm enough to detox my kiddos from TV and play outside. Spring through Fall we are outside all day. While we mostly play in nature, we have a few outdoor toys that have been passed along to us over the years. We break these out when all the cousins or neighbors come over, and we want the little ones to be included in the games. I also added our favorite outdoor riding toys too.

Outdoor Riding Toys:

Tricycle with the Push Handle –  Our little guy is closing in on two and half, the same age BeBe was when she decided she didn’t want to ride in the stroller. This tricycle was a perfect transition out of the stroller for my kiddos. It offers some independence to my kiddos, but control for me. When we get half-way home from the Famer’s Market and their little legs are too tired to pedal, I can still push them home instead of wrangling a kid in one arm, and carrying a tricycle in the other. The pedals require a little extra effort to push, which I like because then they can’t go fast and get away from me.

Scooters – For my two-year old, we borrowed the three- wheeled scooter for a toddler play date at the local skate center, and he was able to balance on it and go pretty far. For preschool age, the two-wheeled Razor Scooters work well and are fun for your kiddo when they have better balance.

Balance Bike – This is supposed to be an indoor toy, but the kiddos loved riding this down a small hill near us so it’s been converted to an outdoor toy. Surprisingly, it’s lasted well, even after we forgot and left it out in the rain overnight. Oops!

Sports:

T-Ball Set – When you have a big age range of kids in the extended family or neighborhood, it’s hard to include the youngest in games. The T-Ball levels the playing field (no pun intended). We play real softball with the big kids, and then they kindly humor the youngest, by letting them hit off the tee. The younger kiddos may still run to the wrong base, but it keeps the game going.

Mini Soccer Nets – This another fun toy to pull out of the garage when all the kiddos come over.  We can play a quick game of soccer, and the nets are small enough that we can easily fold them up and put them back in the garage. Our family is very into sports, so it’s nice to have these on hand when the whole group is here.

Nature and Art:

Outdoor Table and Chairs – BeBe went through her French artist phase, where she only wanted to paint outside. It was seriously adorable, but grass and dirt sticking to her painting did not go over well. We found this at Goodwill, and she used in the backyard for an entire summer.

Nature Kit  – I joke that living in the Midwest is like living in the rainforest; everything grows here. BeBe loves finding butterflies, dragonflies, snails, and all other type of bugs. Thankfully, she’s kind and releases them. She also likes to pick wildflowers, or some of the vegetables from our garden to study in her “lab.” Her lab is the platform on her play set. Our little guy is old enough to climb up there with her and they have fun studying the bugs and plants together. What I love about this kit, is that it includes the bug catcher with scissor handles. It’s a great way for our little guy to practice with scissors, without worrying about the sharp edges. (I’m always on the hunt for a good therapy tool)!