Outdoor Toddler Toys And Activities

Cicak Junior's Favorite Outdoor Toys &Activities

I would like to share with you to Cicak Junior's favourite outdoor toddler toys and activities.

We use the garden a lot during the summer months so we have invested in quite a few outdoor toys for our two year old toddler. But don't worry if you only have an indoor space, or you are worried that these toys will not get played with during the colder months  as they are mostly suitable to be played with indoors or in a garage or conservatory too.

If you are looking for ideas for water play, ball games, arts and crafts and bouncing toys I have it all covered.

I hope that you enjoy reading about Cicak Junior's favorite summer toddler activities and toys as much as he enjoys playing with them.

                                               Wet and Wonderful Water Play - Part 1

If you are only going to invest in one outdoor activity for your toddler then I would recommend that you choose water play. You can buy either a water table or a paddling pool – or let them use their old baby bath or a large bowl or bucket.

Water play has many educational advantages for young children:

• It encourages the development of their eye to hand coordination. Being able to scoop water out of one container and pour it into another container needs a huge amount of skill, and it is an essential skill for pre school age children to make.

• Water play encourages young children to learn about mathematical and scientific ideas. They learn that it maybe takes 5 scoops of water to fill a small bucket, that as they fill one container the other is becoming empty and that some objects float in water whilst others sink. 

Cicak Junior received this Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Waterpark as a gift almost one year ago and I can honestly say that it was an instant hit and has been used every day.

The table is divided into two - one half has a drain hole and is designed for water while the other side is designed for sand and has a removable lid.

The table comes with two figures that are a similar size to Little People, two round plastic floats for them to sit in, a double ended scoop/rake and a cup.

In the center of the water table is a tower with two chutes and a water balance. If you place one of the figures inside the top of the tower and pull the lever they speed down one of the chutes and splash into the water - cue for lots of toddler laughing.

There are also diving board on two corners of the table, and if you place a figure on one of them you can flick the board to make the figure dive into the water - again a cue for much giggling.

The water balance and the sand spinner allow toddlers to explore how water and sand can make things move, and Cicak Junior spends hours tipping water onto these and driving his diggers through the sand.

Before I bought this my friends told me all we needed was a basic water table, and Senor Cicak was advocating for a large bowel of water rather than a table, but I can honestly say that this table was money well spent, and of all the toddler toys and activities that we have and do, this one is by far the most popular.

Cicak Junior loves playing with his Little People and the water table has become an extension of that imaginative play.

Top Tip - if you want to use this indoors either place a plastic sheet underneath it to protect the floor, or just allow the sand and not the water.

                                             Wet and Wonderful Water Play - Part 2

Whether you invest in a water table or padding pool or let your youngster use containers you already have to hand their are other things that will help them to get the most out of their water play experience:

• Collect a variety of different size containers that they can fill with water. These can be children’s buckets, clean empty containers from the kitchen – for example empty yoghurt pots and plastic jugs.

• Give them a variety of scooping utensils – for example spoons and scoops of different sizes, maybe beach spades. A sand sieve is good too, as they watch the water drain through the holes and a sponge can provide endless fun as it is soaked and squeezed repeatedly.

• Let them play with toys that won’t get damaged when wet, for example plastic vehicles, Little People, balls. Children love to see how different objects react to water, how some things float others sink and others absorb water. 

A few months back we bought a similar paddling pool to this blue pool, as Cicak Junior had outgrown his baby pool. With three inflatable rings this pool inflates to a size that is large enough to comfortably accommodate three or four toddlers.

We only fill our pool to a depth of about 15 cm's maximum - often less than that. This is partly because we are being kind to the environment (and our water bill) but also because we empty it out after each use and to be honest - 6 inches of water in a pool this size is more than enough to allow water play.

Top Tip - if you want to use this pool indoors, or fancy a change from water play - fill it with plastic balls and let your little ones enjoy!

                                                        A Rainbow of Possibilities, Part 1

You might not think of painting as being as outdoor activity, but if you have ever tried to paint with a toddler you will know I am right. And if you haven’t had the joys of toddler painting, trust me when I tell you that one toddler can manage to get paint in places that you would have never thought possible.!

We bought our easel last summer as an end of summer present to keep Cicak Junior occupied when his beloved Daddy returned to work after his long summer vacation.

It’s permanent home is outside on our covered verandah, where he is allowed to use his chalks (which we banned from the house after he “decorated” my lounge suite!!

When we want to paint I move it out onto the lawn, strip Cicak Junior down to just his nappy, put on some old clothes and let the fun commence.

The joys of painting outdoors are that you can turn your garden into a temporary art gallery – I peg his paintings to dry on our washing line.

This Crayola Magnetic Double Easle is double sided, with one side having a chalk board and the other a magnetic white board. Each side has a clip at the top to hold sheets of papers for painting or drawing and compartments to hold your little one's art supplies.

The easel comes supplied with a  board eraser and a set of 77 magnetic numbers and letters.

The easel is sold as being suitable for age 3 plus, but average height toddler has been using it since he was 18 months old with no problems.

With the easel able to be used for chalks, dry markers, painting, drawing and magnetic letters it is excellent value for money.

Top tip - if you are worried about the mess when using this indoors limit it to chalks and magnetic letters.

                                                    Rainbow of Possibilities, Part 2

As well as improving eye to hand coordination, painting and drawing allows a child to explore their creative side.

Creative activities such as like painting are important in helping brain development, and in particular the right side of the brain.

It is the right side of the brain that is responsible for creativity and emotions, with the left side responsible for analytical and logical actions.

Painting uses both sides of the brain simultaneously and the benefits of this are believed to help children to achieve their full potential and to improve their self esteem.

Painting and drawing are also an excellent form of stress relief, and in the ever stressful world that we are bringing our children up in it is important that they are allowed time to kick back and do something that’s fun.

Bouncy - Bouncy!

It is important for young children to develop their gross motor skills, and one way to do this is to encourage them to bounce.

By the age of two most toddlers should be able to:

• Jump down from the bottom step
• Jump to a distance of approximately 6 to 8 inches (15 – 20 cm’s)
• Bounce on a trampoline while holding someone’s hands

My two year old is more tan capable of doing all these, and I’m sure that the fact that he walked at 9 months helped, but even if your toddler is not so advanced there are exercises you can do to help.

I would not advocate buying a trampoline, even a small one, for a two year old, unless you are prepared to provide constant supervision. An alternative would be this bouncing horse. By bouncing up and down on it your toddler will strengthen their leg muscles whilst having oodles of fun.

Cicak Junior loves to jump, run and generally bounce around.

We bought him this inflatable Red Horse Hopper for his second birthday and he absolutely adores it.

He is not an overly tall two year ld but he can easily sit astride the horse, with the ears giving him something to hold on to.

We also bought him a space hopper, but this is by far more age appropriate for him, as the shape is much easier to sit safely on.

There is nothing better that Cicak Junior enjoys than to sit astride his horse while we sing "Horsey horsey don't you stop" while he bounces to the rhythm, and he is able to use this in the garden, on the grass, and also in the house.

The Wheels on the Trike

Learning to ride a tricycle is almost a rite of passage for toddlers, and by the age of two most toddlers should be able to at least attempt to ride a trike.

Cicak junior received his trike a month ago as a belated 2nd birthday parents from his grandparents, but as yet he is not able to pedal it.

He has learned how to climb on it, his feet can reach the pedals, and he loves to be pushed around the garden. I am sure that before too long he will have mastered the whole pedalling concept – and in the mean time he is having a whale of a time learning.

This Kettle Primatrike is similar to the one that Cicak Junior has, and if this one had been available in El Salvador then we would have bought it.
It is not a very  expensive trike but it is very well made with wide quiet running wheels and a low centre of gravity that makes it safe to ride without the fear of toppling over.

Please read the Toddler Trike Reviews for more reviews of trikes that are suitable for toddlers.

The Best Baby Toys

Are you looking for baby toys and in need of inspiration, or searching for gift ideas for a baby shower, baby's birth, christening or first birthday or maybe looking to spend money that your baby received as a gift?

Below are reviews of the best baby toys. Not necessarily the top selling toys, but the toys that in my opinion are they ones that are going to be played with again and again by your baby.

As a mother to Cicak Junior, who is now a lively toddler I can remember how confusing it was knowing which toys to buy for my then baby. As a new parent it can be difficult knowing which toys will last the test of time and be more than a passing fad.

The most popular baby toys that I bought were not necessarily the most expensive, and are the ones that he still revisits now. I remember asking my mum for advice about whether a toy was too advanced for him and her reply was that he would play with it at the level he is currently at. This is very true, as many baby toys have features that babies cannot operate alone until they are toddlers.

Choosing a good baby toy that is age and development appropriate for a baby can be difficult. Baby's need colour and sound to stimulate their senses and hands on activities to help to develop their coordination. During the first year of a baby's life their developmental curve is steep, seeing them progress from a helpless newborn to a mobile and vocal one year old.

You also have to remember that anything you give a baby will, at some stage, end up in their mouth, being explored for taste and tgexture. It is therefore very important to be careful what you buy for your baby. Whilst it might be tempting to cut corners and buy a cheap toy that is not made by a reputable manufacturer, you could well be risking the health of your baby, with toxic paints and loose parts a real danger. If money is tight then it is safer to buy fewer toys from well known toy makers, or take advantage of second hand or pass-me-down toys. Just be sure to check that everything is good and secure and give them a clean with an antibacterial wash or wipes.

By researching the best baby toys, you will be helping your baby to get the most from their play experience.

All children love music and sound, and the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes provides your baby with an introduction to music.

With large buttons that are easy for baby to operate and a cute caterpillar handle to grab hold of this music player has a repertoire of seven classical tunes, lights and buttons that will provide your baby with hours of fun.

Most importantly, from the point of view of a parent who tries to tidy toys away once baby is asleep, it has a volume control and an on and off switch!!

Take Along Tunes from Baby Einstein is currently the number 1 best selling baby toy from Amazon.com with the second highest number of positive customer reviews, so you can be sure you are buying a toy that is going to entertain your child and remain a popular toy for more than 5 minutes.

This Munchkin Figure 8 Teether is exactly the same teether that my own child had as a baby and I would fully recommend it to anyone with a teething baby.

Because it is not gel filled there is no benefit to be gained by placing it in the freezer, but don't look on this as a disadvantage because it makes it the ideal teething ring  to take with you when you are out of the house.

Divided into eight sections, this teether is easy to hold and has different textures for your baby to chew on. I was a little concerned about making sure this teether was thoroughly cleaned, because of all the textures on it, so as well as washing it in the dishwaher I also sterilised it on a regular basis, more often if Cicak Junior had a cold.

All babies and toddlers are fascinated by reflection, and it forms an important part of their development to realise that their reflection in the mirror is not an entirely different person to themselves.

The Sassy Crib and Floor Mirror gives a true undistorted reflection that can help babies to focus and has textured animals for baby to reach out for.

Having a mirror will help your baby's sight and communication skills, and I still find it really sweet when my toddler talks to his reflection.

Cicak Junior had several Lamaze toys and they were all built to the same high standard as the Lamaze Play and Grow Freddie the Firefly, which is currently a number 1 best seller in baby toys.

Young children really benefit from toys that offer a multi sensory experience, and this is exactly what you get with the Lamaze Firefly.

With crinkles, squeakers and mirrors in the wings, textured knotted feet, a teether, plastic rings that clack together this firefly is going to keep your baby happy for a long time! And most importantly - it is completely safe for your baby to suck and chew - as all babies do!

I particularly love the very useful plastic ring at the top that can be used to attach the toy to a stroller, car seat or indeed crib. If you have ever retraced your step through a crowded mall, frantically scanning the floor junior's favorite toy, you will know exactly why this is important!

CASA CICAK'S TOP CHILDREN'S GIFTS

For all the best gift ideas.

Best Toddler Toys:18-24 Months

In the run up to the biggest toy shopping period, Walmart released it's 2013 holiday top toy list Chosen By Kids, and from that list I have taken the five best toddler toys that were chosen by their panel of children.

Getting the opinions of 1,000 children between the ages of 18 months and 10 years, Walmart really have drawn on a wide cross section of the population, and these are toys that are going to be popular as birthday gifts right through 2014 and beyond.

With Big Hugs Elmo winning the Infant/Toddler Toy of The Year 2014 and the VTech Go! Go! range runner up in the same category, Baby Alive, Fisher Prices Farm and Crawl Around Car they really are quality toys.

Who knows better what children would love to receive as gifts than the children themselves. No more worrying if you are choosing the right toys, espescially for younger children who are not yet capable of verbalising their wishes.

What I especially like is the fact that the top twenty toys has been divided into 4 age groups, so it makes it easier to see what age the toys are appropriate for, unlike most top toy lists that do not specify age.

However, do not feel restricted by the age groups as it will depend on individual children if they would like and enjoy a toy from a different age group.

If you are shopping for older children, or a just interested to see what the children recommended, then please check out my other reviews of the choices for: 3 to 5 year olds, 6 to 7 year olds and 8 to 10 year olds.

All the toys reviewed below can be ordered direct from Amazon.com, saving you the hassle of trailing around the stores looking for toys. 

This collection of toys really has included many tried and tested brands, and Sesame Street is another, celebrating its 44th anniversary this year.

Big Hugs Elmo featured in many of the 2013 top toy lists that were compiled by the best toy stores, including Walmart and Toys r US and was voted Infant/Toddler Toy of The Year 2014.

Originally an educational US TV series, Sesame Street lends itself perfectly to being marketed as a range of toys.

It is popular at the moment for toys to be interactive, able to react to the child who is playing with them, and Elmo is just such a toy.

When you cuddle Elmo expect to be hugged right back. He will dance and sing and when he's tired he will fall asleep if you lie him down.

This toy is almost guaranteed to be loved by any young child that is lucky enough to get the opportunity to play with it.

Voted a "Runner Up" in the Infant Toddler section of the Toy of The Year 2014 awards, the Vtech Go! Go! Smart Wheels selection is going to be winner with kids, in much the same way that Fisher Price's Little People range is.

Currently the number 1 best seller in the Toddler Train & Train Sets category at Amazon.com you can read this review on the Smart Wheels sets, or if you would prefer you can buy this VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train playset now.

First introduced by Kenner in 1973, Baby Alive was an astonishing 40 years old in 2013!

Now owned by Hasbro, Baby Alive has been through many reincarnations since then, with the Real Suprises doll being the latest.

So what does Baby Alive Real Surprises do?

This is a truly interactive 21st century doll. We expect Baby Alive to be fed and to be able to pee and poop, and need diaper changes, but Real Surprises does much more.

Reacting to what your child does to her, she will shake her head to show that its not what she wants and she will talk to your child, just like a real baby would.As an added bonus Real Surprises is bilingual, and can talk in either English or Spanish.

This toy was voted as a top toy for children aged 18/24 months in 2013, but the manufacturers do not recommend it for children under 3 years.

I see no reason why you could not buy this doll for a younger child, provided that you maybe kept all the small parts to one side until they were old enough not to be at risk of choking.

The Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car is not a car in the sense that it moves, but rather a car shaped activity center that will give your toddler hour upon hour of educational fun.

This car has a huge amount of activities, with more than 75 phrases, tunes and songs, an interactive dash interface and 3 different categories of activities.

The fact that this car is not able to move, and is built to be very stable, means that it will encourage your pre-walking babies to use it to develop their standing skills, newly mobile children will be able to safely cruise around it whilst older mobile toddlers will love to sit in it and pretend to be driving.

Fisher Price's Little People are another range of toys that have stood the test of time, with them first being made in the 1960's under the "Play Family People" brand.

I have written countless reviews about Little People toys, and I cannot speak highly enough of them.

My own toddler has a huge collection of Little People buildings, vehicles, people and animals, including a farm that is identical to this.

The Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm is small enough to not take up to much storage space, yet it opens out to provide lots of pretend play opportunities. Your toddler will be introduced to animal sounds when the sheep, horse, pig, cow and chicken are placed where they live.

My toddler does not often play with this farm in a way that you would expect (unless you are a parent to a toddler, then you surely expect the unexpected!), but that is part of the fun of Little People. You are more likely to find a parrot or a vulture nesting in the chicken coop, a dinosaur drinking from the trough or a collection of trains parked inside the farm building.

Cicak Junior also has the tractor and trailer, complete with a delightful peek a boo pig hiding in the haystack, and I have showcased that below, along with a couple of other add on sets.

You really can't go wrong with Little People for children aged between 1 and 4 years of age.

CASA CICAK'S TOP CHILDREN'S GIFTS

For all the best gift ideas.