droolicious : outdoor toys

Step2 Skyward Summit a Little Rock Climber's Dream

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

If you don't have a natural rock formation handy for the job, the Step2 Skyward Summit makes a great place to plant your flag. The 80" high playscape features four different climbing surfaces that (save for the 80-pound-capacity platform) accommodate up to 320 pounds' worth of kid or grownup, and the cargo net and plastic grips provide ample leverage for scaling the summit.

$399.63 from Amazon.

The Coolest Wheels on the Playground

elizabeth leach — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Introducing the Sport ‘n Sounds Truck Ride-On by Fisher-Price. This is one cool pair of wheels! With many buttons to push your little guy or gal will have tons of fun scooting around the house, sidewalk or playground.

There's a a realistic control panel with many buttons and sounds, a key that turns with sounds and two radio stations for fab tunes. Under the seat storage, extra wide wheels for stability and cool decorative stickers make this a super, fun first truck for any kid. Truck is available in blue or pink and purple. Blue truck has fire stickers on the sides and the pink and purple truck has surfer girl, flower stickers. Both will be the coolest wheels on the playground!

Find the Sport ‘n Sounds Truck Ride-On in blue and the Sport 'n Sounds Truck in pink for the sale price of $29.99 each.

Pay a Visit to Spring Hollow!

SunnyChanel — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:30:00 GMT

The toy purveyor Sprig Toys creates eco friendly, sturdy playthings to inspire and spark creative play with dirt, water and anything else the kid’s are drawn to. The brand new Sprig Hallow line features the cartoonish characters Bee & Butterfly, Dragonfly and Dunebug in their own sets with vehicles, tools and accessories for the maximum use with water, sand and pert near any other outdoor element. Every piece is water resistant, environmentally friendly and are made from a “SprigwoodTM – a child-safe, bio-composite material made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic.”

Dunebug’s Sand Truck has a built in bucket, shovel and rake. Dragonfly’s HeliScoopter features a divided scoop perfect for those big hauls. And last but not least Bee and Butterfly’s Farm includes Honey Bee’s Garden Home, a funnel, a chute, a truck plus flower seeds to get a little garden started. The recommended for age three and up and up and up. I think I had as much fun playing with Sprig Hallow as my own preschooler. You can pick up the Dunebug for $14.99 here, Bee & Butterfly Home for $29.99 here and/or Dragonfly's HeliScoopter for $14.99 here.

Modern Turtle Watering Can

elizabeth leach — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Say "Spielstabil" five times fast! This watering can by Spielstabil is designed to look like a modern interpretation of a turtle. I love the bright colors and fun shape. Your child will love playing with this watering can at the beach, on the porch, in the yard and in the bath. Available in green, orange and blue.

Measures 6" long, 4" wide and 4.3" high. Find the Spielstabil Turtle Watering Can at Oompa for $7.99 each.

Two Gardening Sets from Target

elizabeth leach — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:30:00 GMT

This chic, little gardening set is only $11.95. Four gardening tools are included and the bag would make a cute purse if your little girl doesn't have a green thumb. Suitable for ages eight and up. Check out another gardening set for a younger child after the jump.

Find the above Kids Garden Tools Bag at Target.

The below David Kirk Kids Toppy Triceratops Gardening Set is adorable for a toddler. Set includes two tools, gardening gloves, bag and watering can. Find this gardening set also at Target for $23.95. This set comes in yellow, green and blue.

Looking for the Perfect Sandbox?

elizabeth leach — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Nothing makes my toddler happier than sitting in her sandbox. This sandbox, from One Step Ahead, is a great size (4' x 6'), ideal for her and a couple friends. Made of red cedar, it looks great in our backyard. There's even a little place for me to sit and watch.

The clip-on, mesh cover, sold separately, lets in air and rain water. I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first, but then I was told you shouldn't put the cover on your sandbox if the sand is still wet. Since our sand is always wet, from all the water my daughter dumps in it, I'm glad I can put the cover on. The sandbox is bottomless to help with drainage which also keeps the sand fresh. And when your child grows out of the sandbox you can turn it into a vegetable garden!

The Cedar Sandbox is sold exclusively at One Step Ahead for $199.95. The cover is $79.95. Happy sand playing!

Airzooka Hand Cannon Still a Blast

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Airzooka is one of those toys that's been around forever but seems particularly worth revisiting every time the temperature gets warmer and I get tired of picking up foam darts from the lawn. Nature provides the "ammo" for the handheld cannon, which shoots a blast of air with surprising accuracy. Your kids won't hurt each other with it, but your hair might not emerge unscathed.

Available in all the colors shown here -- get yours for $22 at Amazon.

Go Outside and Play with this Sand and Water Table!

elizabeth leach — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

If you live in the north east, then you're probably feeling like I do right now. It's a beautiful day and I can't wait to go outside and play with my daughter. This is my favorite sand and water table for so many reasons. I love the fun, bright colors and the adorable sand and water pouring mills. (Photo after the jump...)

Table comes with five toys: a rake, shovel, boat, crab sand mold and starfish sand mold. The cover has a recessed roadway so the table can be played with even on those not so nice and sunny days. The table folds up flat for storage.

Find this Sand and Water Table at One Step Ahead for $79.95.

Outdoor Toys Are In

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:00:00 GMT

While shopping for birthday gifts over the weekend I found that it’s official; the outdoor toys have arrived. I’m not going to make the same mistake this year as I did last year, which was to wait until it actually was summer to buy outdoor toys. Everything that I wanted was out of stock and unknown when it would return to the store. Right now you have your pick.

I’m loving Little Tikes’ new take on its classic Jump N Slide. The Jr. Sport N Slide Bouncer, $249.99, incorporates basketball, soccer and hockey into a perfect sized play gym. Definitely going to invest in this one. Seems like hours of energy burning fun.

7 Days of Outdoor Toys: Jump-o-Lene Inflatable Trampoline

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:33:00 GMT

Most people I meet can neatly be categorized into Winnie the Pooh personality types. Though we have a slow and complaining Eeyore or two, most of my family are Tiggers. Because we seek out toys that appeal to our bouncy, trouncy fun-fun-fun natures, the Jump-o-Lene inflatable trampoline is on our wishlist.

Technically, it’s for tiny Tiggers only: Up to two kids with a combined weight under 160 pounds can boing-oing-oing within the side-walled toy. The walls allow a quick transformation into a ball pit (sold separately), or whatever else you may want your kids to wade through. (A stuffed-animal pit, perhaps?)

While inflated, the trampoline has about a 7-foot diameter and is 28.5 inches tall, and if you have room, could be used inside. The whole shebang deflates completely for easier storage, and weighs about 22 pounds.

Available at Discover Technology for $41.95. Don’t forget a pump!

Gleam the Cube at 19 mph on Altered's Electric Skateboard

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:04:00 GMT

So, yeah, it's pretty much useless for grinding, flipping, sliding or any other modern street- or vert-related activity, but if you're looking for a gift for the grommet who has everything, this electric longboard from Altered will let you carve, slash and cruise at speeds up to 19 mph. It supports up to 240 pounds' worth of skater, which we're guessing is somewhat bigger than your child, and runs for up to 12 miles off a four-hour battery charge.

$500 from Altered. [Via Plunder Guide]

7 Days of Outdoor Fun: Gnome Bowling

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Sure, you could sneak through the neighborhood stealing lawn ornaments for your own backyard bowling tournament, but what sort of example would you be setting for the kids? With the gnome bowling set (around $54 U.S. from the U.K. site I Want One of Those), you get six 10-inch-tall garden gnomes, two different balls to knock 'em down, and the luxury of not having to explain to the family why Officer Jones needed to crash Mom and Dad's picnic.

Every Day’s a Beach with Green Toys Sand Play Set

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:04:00 GMT

With Memorial Day coming up, my thoughts drift to the beach. Stumbling across this Green Toys Sand Play Set only increase the urge to hit the sand. The four-piece set includes the essentials: a bucket, a rake, a shovel and a sand-castle mold. To make the sun a little more enjoyable, the entire set is made from recycled milk jugs, which is a safe plastic free of phthaltes, BPA and lead. Now all I need is the sunblock.

Available at Wild Dill for $20.

Copterdarts: Lawn Darts That Won't Take An Eye Out

Chris Ford — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:48:00 GMT

When I was a kid we had "Jarts" or "Lawn Darts." My dad has even told me of a time when he and his friends used to play a game called "knive-sies" where they would throw screwdrivers up in the air and try to get them to stick in the grass. Eventually, I suppose, someone had to go and get impaled by a lawn dart, thereby ruining it for the rest of us. Apparently someone has gone and invented a safe solution that also looks fun to play - Copterdarts.

The idea is the same as Jarts was. You've got a target that you put on the lawn and you try to get your dart closest. The copter darts have wings that make them spin around, slowing their descent. They are also guaranteed to always land standing up.

Copterdarts by OgoSport have an MSRP of $30.00.

Rosebud Sled Still a Classic

Mir — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:04:00 GMT

If you want a wooden baby sled, you can't go wrong with this Rosebud Sled ($129) from The Land of Nod. It's hand-crafted from ash and maple, has a comfy removable pad to keep baby cozy, and allows you to mutter "Rosebud!" in a mysterious voice while the younger generation stares at you blankly.

It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Kikafliks an Eye

Mir — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:03:00 GMT

The tagline for the Kikaflik is "It's so simple it's brilliant," and I'm still trying to decide if that's true. Simple? Yes; each Kikaflik set includes the board, which is essentially, well, a board, and three foam balls of various sizes. Actually, the board is like a little see-saw, and kids learn to stomp on the end to eject a ball into the air for catching, kicking, batting, etc. (My paranoid-mom mind's eye sees many other -- breakable -- objects taking flight, but maybe your children are better behaved than mine.)

It'd be ideal for an athletically-inclined only child, and the site boasts great success when used with children of various special needs, too. Order from their website; each set is $29.99.

Kettler Digger for Little Excavators

Mir — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:02:00 GMT

If you have one of those toddlers who makes a beeline for the digger at the park, imagine the delirious joy you could induce with one of these Kettler wheeled diggers ($79.99 at Amazon). Not only does it have dual-lever claw maneuvering just like the sandbox favorite, but it's on wheels, so they can wreak havoc almost anywhere. It'd be equally fun in the snow or just ripping out your flowers. You're welcome.

Golf? Croquet? Either Way, Haba Caterpillars Mean Fun

Mir — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:04:00 GMT

This Haba set is listed as "caterpillar golf," but it looks more like croquet to me. Whatever you call it, it's signature Haba construction, by which I mean it's all-wood and all-adorable. Start saving up, though -- the set will cost you about $46 at Amazon.

Sidewalk Chalk Goes Vroom: Line Chaserz Chalk Tracker

Mir — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Let your little one chart the course, in chalk! Line Chaserz optical technology hits the pavement with the Chalk Tracker; mark the way with chalk lines (in any configuration you like), and the truck will obediently follow along. Sure, the season for outdoor toys is drawing to a close, but that's the best time to buy -- right now the Chalk Tracker is marked down to $21.95 at Leaps and Bounds.

Spit Up: Bike Made from Kindling

Karen — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:01:00 GMT

So according to the website, this Canadian company sends Canadian Maple to France so people can put it together and send it back to North America so kids can learn to ride a bike that isn't a bike?

Whatever. All that shipping for a Bugabike that isn't a bike must be why it costs $245-$265, like this one we featured earlier.

Also, for the kind of money they're asking, they might want to hire a spellchecker for their website or Learn(e) To Spell. Just sayin'.

Would You Like Fries With That?

Karen — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:01:00 GMT

Kids love to do what we do, no question. Well, tis the season for grilling, and why not do it together?

This wooden BBQ set, complete with fake food and tongs, would prove to be hours of fun for your little Iron Chef. The towel rack doubles as a handle so kids can grill outside, alongside Mom or Dad.

Psycho Baby has this fun set for only $136.00.

Dino Claw Stilt Stompers Unleash the Monsters Within

Mir — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:02:00 GMT

My kids have had those big plastic dinosaur feet that you strap on to make impressions in the snow for ages. Unfortunately, once the snow melts, that's the end of the fun. Until now! iPlay's Dino Claw Stilts combine the perennial summertime favorite -- tin can (or in this case, plastic) stilts -- with the joy of leaving your mark in the sandbox.

Tiny Tokyos beware!

Gorgeous Handpainted Swing for Discerning Tushies

Mir — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:06:00 GMT

Have a gander at this beautiful hand-painted swing from Polkadot Patch Boutique. Like it? Think it's pretty?

I'll admit it: I think it's pretty stunning. But I'm not paying $100 for a pine disc my kid is going to sit on. I'm just crazy that way.