What yard toys have been worth the money and which ones have been a waste

Well its about 80 degrees here today and the boys want to go in the back yard. We dont usually let them out there because of our dogs "land mines". Dh got it all cleaned up yesterday so I dont have an excuse to not let them out except for the fact they have nothing to play with out there. So I guess it is time to invest in some new toys. I was just wondering what has worked well for your little ones. Also if you have any feed back on sandboxes pls let me know. I seem to remember having one for ds and I dont think it worked out well but I cant remember why.
Thanks gang!
Meg

 

On our back deck we have a Step2 play house that they LOVE and a turtle sand box that i fill with ball pit ball. They have a great time with that. i just throw the top on at night so they stay clean.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb69/lgrazia/IMG_4362.jpg

this was from last summer.

 

My two also have the playhouse and enjoy it. It is the neat and tidy cottage from step 2. They also really like the sand and water table.

 

Mine have a playhouse/swing set combo (with a slide) that they love. It's by Little Tikes. They like their sand table too.

For their birthday we're getting them a teeter totter (Step 2).

 

We have the Step 2 Kangaroo Climber, which we got when ours were about 18 months . . . they loved it then, and still love it now at almost 3, although they're really too big for it now.

They also love their Little Tikes car, and all sorts of push toys (we have a little wheelbarrow and a couple of lawnmowers).

Depending on where you live, it might be worth checking craigslist or Ebay for getting used stuff cheap - on Ebay you can do an advanced search by zipcode so you could try to find something you could pick up, since most sellers aren't interested in shipping big things.

-Rachel

p.s. - my DH built our sandbox - he just dug a big square hole, about 6" deep, lined the sides with landscaping timbers, and stacked the timbers up about 6" above the ground also, and filled it up with sand. He made a cover with a wooden frame and tied a big plastic tarp onto it to keep the cats out.

 

We have a step2 sand and water table too and also a sandbox that got a lot of use last summer. We just bought a playhouse from step2 as they offered free shipping (if you want brand new stuff, check their website as they randomly put their larger stuff on free s/h sales and it beats having to haul it!) They have the smaller Kangaroo climber and we keep that inside and even at almost 3 they still get use out of it. The bubble blowing lawn mower was a big hit last summer, but I really think the playhouse is going to be a huge hit as they love the neighbor's

 

We are going to use some of the tax refund for a new swing set in our back yard. I can't wait to hear more for outdoor activities.

Diana w/Rianna and Justin

 

We have a swing set w/ slide. They recently learned to climb the ladder on their own. Plus it has a little "house". We also have a sandbox. I wanted one w/ legs (not the kind on the ground which they can sit in). They love it.

 

I buy any of the Little Tikes or Step 2 outdoor toys I find on Craig's List (climbing toys, playhouse, water table, etc). They're so durable that it doesn't matter they've already been used. Then, when my twins are done with them, I'm able to sell them for about the same price I paid and buy something else.

Best,
Mia

 

Step 2 sand and water table has been a hit here for 2 summers!!!

 

Sandboxes with lids (best if you have animals)
Swingset
slides
climber http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1281
cozy coupe
mower
balls

 

I was gonna suggest the ball pit idea also!! Ive got one of those tents that i put one of those plastic swimming pools in and filled with the ball pit balls. Of course this sits on my enclosed front porch. But they love that idea.

Both also love the cozy coupe!! I found one at a yard sale that was missing the top and called it a convertible, they fight tooth and nail over it!!



Im glad to see input on the sand and water table, i had wondered if they were worth the money!

 

Cozy coupes are ALWAYS a hit and still are even with my 5 yr old!!
Sandbox...my sons could live in there all summer!!
Swings, my dh built a swingset/sandbox. Also has a rock wall
The lawnmower is also a huge hit for my kids
the step 2 up and down roller coaster is great for outdoors or indoors

 

We have an 8-in-1 adjustable playground, a water table and a turtle sandbox (small). I wish we had a big sand box or table.
It has been raining a lot here, so we brought the sandbox inside and put different types of beans in it. Beans are very easy to clean up.
Julia

 

Hot here too and we go outside everyday. We can kill a couple of hours easy back there. We've got part of the yard sectioned off for the dog to leave his "landmines" in so that keeps it zone free for the girls. We have a playhouse with kitchen, a little sandbox, a slide and a blowup pool. They've just recently gotten used to the sand box, it's taken them a little over a month, but now they love it. Be prepared though to have sand all over. They also love it when I put the end of the slide into the pool. They like chasing a ball around too.
Good luck on your quest. It's so worth getting outdoor stuff!

 

I didnt read through the other posts yet so Im sorry if these are a repeat.

First im totally jealous that its 80 degrees there. I wanted to go for a walk today and its still to cold, The snow is melting but now everything is flooded

now for the toys.

A water table is a MUST. we have the step 2 waterwheel table. the kids LOVE it.

We have a little tikes climber that has 2 slides and the kids lover this aswell.

We had a house but got rid of it b/c mosquitos took it over.

Chalk, cars, bikes, child size rake, mower shovel.

I cant think of anything else right now.

good luck and ENJOY YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAY!

 

We have a Step Two Kangaroo Climber with a slide. They started using it at about 15 months and still really like it.

I'd like to get a playhouse, but I'm not sure we have the space (and they're so expensive).

We don't have an official water table, but we have a big plastic bin (shallow and rectangular) that I fill with water and they have a great time with plastic flowerpots, old sippy cups, etc.

They also really like to dig dirt from the flowerbeds and spread it around the yard, or carry rocks from one place to another.

 

QUOTE(RachelJoy @ Feb 4 2008, 03:30 PM) [snapback]605004[/snapback]
p.s. - my DH built our sandbox - he just dug a big square hole, about 6" deep, lined the sides with landscaping timbers, and stacked the timbers up about 6" above the ground also, and filled it up with sand. He made a cover with a wooden frame and tied a big plastic tarp onto it to keep the cats out.


Let me suggest that if you make your own sandbox you put either rubber used for ponds or some other type of material under the sand. My dad made me one when I was little and all kinds of bugs and weeds took over because he forgot to put a bottom on it!