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Original poster

Outdoor toys.......Which ones have your kids used most ??

73 replies

nutcracker · 14/07/2004 21:59

My kids now have an endless list of what toys they would like for their new garden,but a) i don't have a bottomless pit of money and b) i would like the room still to be able to walk around the garden .

So which toys have your kids used most ??

P.s Am very tempted to buy a big plastic playhouse i saw reduced by 125 quid (shhh don't tell dp).

OP posts:
gold123 · 14/07/2004 22:02

trampoline, trampoline, trampoline oh and a swing - the latter depending on whether your kids can push themselves or will you have to stand there all day and at your slightest movement hearing MUM can you push us !!!!!

tamum · 14/07/2004 22:02

TP toys climbing frame, the Explorer one without many bells and whistles, just a rope thing hanging inside. They've used this more than anything, not least to have a good nose into neighbouring gardens

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:03

Am not sure about a swing as Ds will just walk straight in front of it and go flying.

Little trampoline or big ??

OP posts:
daisy1999 · 14/07/2004 22:06

Agree with the swing - it was pain until they were 3ish and could use a proper swing ie not a baby swing seat. I bet a trampoline is great. Gold123 what size is yours? (sorry to be so personal ) and what age are the children who use it? My 2 5yr olds have just got a wooden playhouse for their joint birthdays and they love it (pricey but they can play in it rain or shine and it gets all the housey toys, kitchen, food, pans etc out of my house)

SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 22:07

They've had good use out of their sandpit.

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:09

Perhaps i'll start off with the small one and see how much they use it.

Sand pit thats quite high on their list but will Ds (19mths) eat the sand do you think ??

OP posts:
gold123 · 14/07/2004 22:09

We have both sizes, depends on the age - the little one, we have had for a while and has been used to death - I do recommend that if buying a small one, you get the one covered in mesh and not plastic, you get a better bounce.

The big one has been great its 8ft (remember my thread - thoroughly recommend a trampoline) they have used it every day, my kids are a bit older than yours I think (4 & 6).

Your kids would be more than delighted with the small one I should imagine, mine at the time was about £40 - I think you can get them cheaper now though.

daisy1999 · 14/07/2004 22:10

Cheap but cheerful - paddling pool, when summer returns. Also chalks with the added bonus that you have a unique patio afterwards!

daisy1999 · 14/07/2004 22:10

gold123 how much for the large one if you don't mind me asking?

SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 22:13

If the sand's clean, it won't mater that much. I don't think they tend to eat too much of it - DS2 has had access to the sandpit from birth really since it was DS1s and always there.

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:14

Ooooh chalks good idea

Thanks Gold, knew someone had recommended one but couldn't think who.

OP posts:
gold123 · 14/07/2004 22:15

My mum and dad bought it as a pressie, but I think it was about £100 - I know they have them in B&Q for that price - also they do them in Argo and Index, can't find my catalogue to check.

Toys R Us had them on offer the other week and I think they were about £80, obviously the larger the better (of course !! )

I think I am going to become a trampoline sales person as I could rave about them all day

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:16

Right o.k smaller trampoline, sand pit, chalks, paddling pool and what do you think about a slide ?
I keep thinking they will get fed up of that and then it's in the way.

OP posts:
gold123 · 14/07/2004 22:17

I was just about to say slide as well

hmb · 14/07/2004 22:18

Swing and slide, and the sand pit.

gold123 · 14/07/2004 22:18

Water table

Someone stop me, I'm on a roll here

GeorginaA · 14/07/2004 22:19

Lots of different type of balls to kick around - these get played with more than anything else. Little Tikes car is popular (we got ours second hand from the paper, so you can get them cheaper if you're prepared to wait and hunt around). Definitely pavement chalks, they're ace. A pop up tent thing also gets used a lot and isn't as expensive as a playhouse.

SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 22:19

Get a slide that you can put over the edge into the paddling pool...

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:23

They do have a pop up Tweenies tent somewhere and a tunnel.

Slide into paddling pool , great idea. Think it'll hold my weight ??

Has anyone got a plastic playhouse ?? They do have one at my dads but it's falling apart.
They have the Berchet (sp??) garden house or something on the D&A web site for 125 quid. It is 250 in toys r us.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 22:23

The slide might but you could take out the side of the paddling pool if you hit it full on

Original poster
nutcracker · 14/07/2004 22:25

LOL Soupy, maybe i could get a reinforced one

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 22:29

Ooooh - one of those water slides!! The ones that are just a length of plastic!

daisy1999 · 14/07/2004 22:36

gold silly question but does the trampoline (large one) stay out all the time?

Grommit · 14/07/2004 22:40

I bought a small trampoline last year, not standard small single but double, for 2 kids IYSWIM. Dd plays on it all the time and ds who is 7 months likes to lie on it while she jumps up and dows

Piffleoffagus · 14/07/2004 22:44

our little tykes slide and cube is very popular with dd since 18 mths

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