Voice of Play - PLAYFul Trends 2016 @Voice_of_Play #PlayfulTrends

We all know that it's important to get up and get outside, but in today's world where technology is so out of control, it's easy to get sucked into a virtual vortex and let a beautiful day slip by. Voice of Play encourages kids and adults alike to get up off that sofa, walk away from that computer chair, and get play. They've come up with a list of eight "PLAYful Trends" that all families should put into practice. They will not only keep you more physically fit, but also encourage quality time with your children. My family already practiced most of these trends, but we're making it a point to do try to them all at least one day a week.  Check out the trends and see which ones you can check on your list.

1) An Hour a Day

Voice of Play recommends you spend an hour a day playing with your children.  Any type of play keeps your brain's juices flowing. Kids learn by play, whether they are developing their balance skills on the monkey bars or  playing a board game where they practice their reading or number skills. One of our favorite activities is pretend play, which can helps kids learn about careers or regular daily tasks they will have to perform someday. 

2) Made to Move

Our bodies were designed to stay in motion. That means, we should get up and move every day. Personally, I try to go out and walk with my dog on our local nature trail every day,  no matter what the weather. The only time we stay in is if there is a hurricane warning. Walking is fun, relaxing, and a great way to stay in shape. As an added bonus, walking in the woods is said to help bring down your blood pressure!

3) Beyond Childhood

Kids aren't the only people who need time to play! Play is fun for adults as well! Find what you love to do and do it! It could be extreme sports or something as relaxing as a drum circle of Chakra meditation. Get your children involved, too, if you can! My teen daughter and I always go to drum circles together! 

4) It's Better Outside

Fresh air is good for you! Take a little time to go outside with your family. Play at the park or walk on the beach.  If you exercise, take your routine to the next level by doing it somewhere where you are embraced by mother earth.

5) Back to Nature

Nature is a part of us. It's deep in our souls. Embrace the magic of nature and  learn to live in harmony with it. Spend some time outside each day. Explore the nature trails in your neighborhood. If you leave in a city, take a ride to the woods once in a while.  You can even do something as simple as gazing up at the stars on a clear night. Embrace nature, because you are a part of it!

6) All Inclusive

People of all ages and abilities deserve the chance to play. Today, more and more locations are making sure their play spaces are universally designed. This could include things like wheelchair accessibility or swings designed for special needs children. No one should ever feel left out!

7) Take Chances

Don't stick with the things you're comfortable with, and don't be afraid to let your kids explore (within reason).  Let them try the monkey bars alone, take off those training wheels, and take the path less traveled. This is how you grow and learn through play!

8) Mind Expanding

While we don't want our kids hooked up to video games all the time, leaning games are definitely okay! Skip the violence and look for games that are educational.  Leapfrog and ABC Mouse are two of my favorites.

Looking at these trends gives us just a few tips on how we can make our summer and our whole lives more fulfilling, just by playing!  Make a promise to your family to put an hour aside each day where you concentrate on play! The Voice of Play wants us as parents to make  this promise official by signing a Play Pledge. Check it out and add your name to the list!  For more great ideas on how to engage your family with play, be sure to visit Voice of Play on their website.

The post is brought to you by Activate by Bloglovin and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

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Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ Review

Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ is the playard designed for outdoor play and imagination. It sets up in just 5 seconds and gives your child a secure and comfortable spot, thanks to a UV50 protection-lined canopy, roomy hexagon shape and durable base (to protect from the elements). This sporty playard features mesh for ventilation and a zip-open front door that lets you transition from playard to play space to grow with your child beyond toddlerhood. It weighs just 12 lbs. and comes with a convenient carrying bag with pockets, so it's ready for your all of your child's adventures.

• The playard designed to give your little one a safe, comfortable and secure spot to play and rest outside
• In just seconds, your mobile play station is ready for your child
• Large domed canopy features a UV50 protective lining to protect baby from the sun and keep cool
• Durable base protects your child from the ground elements, so all they'll feel is comfort
• Convenient shoulder bag makes it easy to carry anywhere and features roomy pockets for carrying essentials
• Zip-open front door lets you transition from playard to play space for your growing toddler
• Two integrated storage pockets let you keep your child's favorite things closeby
• Canopy folds neatly into the built-in storage pocket, so all of your accessories stay with the playard
• Grows with your child from baby to toddler and beyond
• Inventive hexagon shape gives your growing toddler more room to play
• Airy mesh tech fabrics allow maximum air flow and ventilation for baby's comfort
• Two-latch system makes set-up quick and secure
• Weighs just 12 lbs. when packed up, so it's easy to bring wherever your adventures lead

Specifications of Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™

Weight: 11.5 lbs
Overall Height: 27" (42.25" w/ canopy)
Width: 50.5"
Depth: 45"

Our Thoughts

I have a 2-year-old. My sister-in-laws have a 1-year-old, 11-month-old, and newborn. When we are camping with the family, what happens with them? They usually end up staying inside the enclosed deck because of the sun. Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ is and will be the solution for all of us until our children are too old to enjoy it. The Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ holds an appeal for even the older kids if they were allowed to take part in the toddler's fun. What I think are the best features of this Pack ‘n Play® though, have to do with the easy set up, the canopy, and the mesh door inserted in the side for your growing toddler. 

Let's start with the easy set up. This Pack 'n Play is seriously TWO pieces. Yup, just TWO pieces. It's the Pack 'n Play and the canopy. The canopy actually has a pocket inside the side of the Pack 'n Play where it is stored. I LOVE that! I love that there aren't numerous pieces to this. It's so simple to set up that even my father-in-law can set it up and he's never once in his life set up anything like this for his kids or grandkids. 

Then you have the canopy. Like I mentioned before, the canopy has it's own pocket in the Pack 'n Play where it is stored. Want to know what's great about that? It's the fact that you have a storage spot for the canopy where it can't get lost! It's also snug enough so it's not real easy for the kiddos to try to pull the canopy out of it's hidey hole. The canopy is solid on one side and mesh on the other. The mesh allows the light in but the solid side gives you enough shade that your kiddos will not be in the direct sunlight if you don't want them to be. I have to say, I love that feature because it is easy to use down at the beach during the day when the older kids want to go swim but the little ones just want to play with toys or nap. 

The Full Canopy

The Canopy half way folded.

Next is the mesh door. How many times, with a regular Pack 'n Play do you have your child asking for in or out of it? For me, it's all the time. The mesh door makes things very simple. By leaving the door open, the toddlers can come and go as they please. Or even with an infant, the door makes it very easy for a parent to get them in and out of the Pack 'n Play without leaning over the rail. My daughter particularly loves the door because she can bring her babies, blankets and (toy) horses in with her without having to ask for help. You can see how happy she is with her "tent" as she calls it.

 I was skeptical that Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ was going to be big enough for Miss K and her cousins but obviously (see the photo below) it's more than big enough for her and her cousins. I can't wait to take this to the camper and use it again the next time we have a family camping weekend!

If you are looking for something that is going to keep your little one entertained, contained and in the shade this summer, look no further. Go grab Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ and enjoy your summer! You can find the store nearest you carrying  Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ though Graco's website. You can also see more from Graco on their Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest and on YouTube. 

New Gardening Product - LeakFree by Nelson & Gilmor

Nearly a half-century ago, the United States sent a man to the moon. You would think that with all the technological innovations since this historic event we’d be able to develop a watering system that doesn’t leak. Now, we have. Years in the making, Nelson and Gilmour brands have developed the LeakFree watering system, which is the first of its kind guaranteed to be completely leak-free- something no other watering tool can claim. 

LeakFree by Nelson and Gilmour is great for everyday gardeners, or garden enthusiast.

Leaking is the number one frustration among consumers when it comes to watering. Luckily, gardening, lawn care and outdoor cleaning just got a whole lot easier, and a whole lot drier, thanks to the new LeakFree by Gilmour and LeakFree by Nelson watering systems. 

Both the LeakFree by Gilmour and LeakFree by Nelson product lines feature a starter kit that includes all the necessary fundamentals for a leak-free watering experience from start to finish: a LeakFree adjustable spray nozzle, a 50-foot LeakFree heavy-duty hose and LeakFree faucet-to-hose connector.

The LeakFree system will be available beginning spring 2014 at home centers and garden supply stores nationwide. The LeakFree starter kit retails for a suggested price of $59.99.
To find out more or to locate a dealer, visit www.gilmourleakfree.com, or www.homedepot.com/nelsonleakfree

My Thoughts

This summer I was able to set up a little vegetable garden for the first time in four years. Back to back high-risk pregnancies and little ones had made it impossible for awhile, but it felt wonderful to get my hands back in the dirt and have my kids there to help.  I was also excited to try out the Leakfree System by Nelson and Gilmor. If you think all hoses are the same,  you haven't tried this one. 

The Leakfree is a complete system that comes with  a heavy duty hose, a leak proof nozzle and the connector.  Set up is simple and there are no tools required. The nozzle is easily attached and comes right back off if you need to remove it, without any sticking. The hose is great because it doesn't tangle or bend, so the water supply never gets cut off. With my old hose, I'd have to run back and forth getting out the kinks, but that never happens with the LeakFree.

The spray nozzles is even more impressive. Of course, as its name implies, it never leaks. Yeah! No more changing my clothes every time I try to water my plants! But that is only the beginning. The nozzle offers a powerful spray in a variety of different patterns from jet to mist. I love how it provides such perfect, even coverage. All my plants get a good soaking, but using the gentler settings, the more delicate flowers are never squished or damaged. I am super happy with this hose and spray nozzle. It's helping me get the most out of my summer garden and I'm looking forward to a great harvest!

To learn more about the LeakFree and all the other great products at Gilmor, be sure to check out their website or follow their social media.You can also find their products on Amazon.

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Strider Balance Bike #Giveaway

 Strider Balance Bikes

STRIDER balance bikes are industry-leading training bikes that help children as young as 18 months learn the fundamentals of balancing, leaning, and steering, without the distractions and complications of pedals or training wheels.

The STRIDER’s simple, no-pedal design builds confidence and eliminates fear by allowing kids to have their feet on the ground and progress at their own pace.  This unique design teaches young children balance on two wheels right from the start, avoiding developmental delays typical with tricycles and training-wheel bikes.

Genuine STRIDER balance bikes are sometimes referred to as push bikes, scoot bikes, run bikes, or running bikes.  The U.S. Patented STRIDER balance bikes are the lightest balance bikes in their category (6.7 pounds), have the lowest seat height (for the youngest starting age), and are tested to the most stringent safety standards (age 18+ months vs. the less stringent 36+ months).  Frame-integrated footrests, proprietary ‘toddler-sized’ components, and the ability to easily adjust to a growing child, make the STRIDER the only bike your child needs to develop their riding skills and successfully transfer onto their first pedal bike without training wheels.


Our Thoughts

When you have more than one child, you start looking at how to get them to use the bikes you have. We had two (R&B) on bikes with training wheels until fall of 2012. In the spring of 2013 it took some time to get them back into the whole idea of being able to balance themselves on their bikes now that the training wheels were gone. M, our youngest son, wasn’t big enough to even get on a bike last spring/summer. He mainly rode on the four wheeled, less than 18” tall plastic toys that the other boys had used. This year he’s wanting to ride bikes with his brothers but at the same times he still can not reach the petals of the bikes that we have. On top of that, I’d love for him to be able to ride without training wheels and be able to balance himself without help. That is where STRIDER comes in. The STRIDER balance bikes make it easier to transition to a regular bike as they’re short enough for M to ride without petals but when he picks up his feet, he has to balance himself.

When we received the bike, it was in a box and did require some assembly. The assembly though was so simple! The bike came in about five pieces and actually came with the hex-wrench that you need to tighten down the pieces. I think I had the bike together in about 5 minutes. Once the bike was together M took it and was able to ride it by pushing it along with his feet. I can’t tell you what it meant to me to see the excitement on his face because he was riding a “big boy” bike! Now before you ask, because it is winter here in Wisconsin and we have the “Polar Vortex” hanging around (I am SO ready for spring!) I am letting M ride the bike in the house. Quite honestly, I love this bike! M is able to ride the bike on the carpet and linoleum without any issues. I also love that the bike’s tires are pneumatic and don’t need to be inflated. Bike tires around here with our boys don’t last long if they have tubes… It’s just the truth. You can click here to see the bike we received.


I have also found that with STRIDER, they offer an array of not only accessories to the bikes but also some apparel! You can check those out by clicking the following links: Accessories or Apparel

If you’re looking at bikes for your little ones, I really recommend looking at STRIDER balance bikes. They’ll teach balancing, spacial awareness and basic motor skills a lot easier than the traditional bike!

You can find them on Facebook, Pintrest and Twitter too!

Giveaway
Thanks to the wonderful folks over at STRIDER, one lucky winner will get a STRIDER balance bike of their own! To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 2/16/14. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Open to the US only. Thanks again to STRIDER for offering this fantastic prize!


a Rafflecopter giveaway