Step2

Keeping kids physically active is important. Instead of sitting around watching television or playing video games, encourage your children to use their imagination to create beautiful works of art using different types of materials. Once you have a designated space for your child’s art desk, tell them to go outside (or sift through the basement or old bins if it’s chilly outside) and gather up materials to begin an art project.

Art does not have to be a sedentary activity. Kids need to be inspired to create art and this can come from all different sources. If you have a large yard with lots of plant and animal life, these can be great materials for art projects. Your children or grandchildren can find leaves, sticks, or even bugs to make unique pictures or sculpture. Depending on the age of the children, you can allow them to paint, cut and glue all of these materials to make all kinds of creative projects.

Another way to encourage children to use their creativity is to provide art easels for kids. If you are planning a birthday party for boys or girls, consider setting up several easels and provide paint, chalk and other art supplies. You could ask the children to create portraits of themselves or each other to give to the birthday girl. Kids love to create and the more encouragement you give them, the more likely they are to seek out creative art projects on their own.

As a grandparent, you may not have a lot of space in your home to keep toys when the grand-kids come for a visit. You do not need a lot of room for art supplies and these activities will keep the kids entertained for hours. You can store a folding art easel in the closet and all of the art supplies in a plastic container. When the grandchildren show up and start complaining they are bored, instead of sending them into the den to watch television, watch their eyes light up when you bring out art easels for kids and all of the supplies they need. Not only will they have a great time creating beautiful pictures, you will have something to put up on the fridge or wall to remind you of the grand-kids once they return home.

If left to their own devices, children are more likely to sit in front of the t.v. or spend much of their time playing video games. It is important to encourage kids to stay physically active and explore the world around them. Not only will the children sleep better if they are able to use up their energy and breathe in the fresh air outside, art projects can be inspired from almost anything. Take a field trip and let your child’s imagination do the rest.

Puppets have been entertaining adults and children alike for centuries. While we’re probably most familiar with popular culture figures like Howdy Doody and Kermit the Frog, puppets have been telling stories to all ages for years. Puppet theater of 1500s and 1600s Europe are probably the most historically famous, including the well-known Marionette puppet theater. While the history of puppets reaches back centuries, the use of puppets for entertainment is still very current.

What is a Puppet?

A puppet is a representation of an animal, person or other entity that is manipulated either by hand, string or by stick. There are over thirty types of puppets, the most famous including:

• Sock
• Cloth
• Wooden
• Finger
• String (Marionettes)

Ancient History to Modern Popular Culture

Puppet theater traces its history back to the very early origins of civilized man. While puppetry has been used for everything from rituals and ceremonies to creative expression, puppets are often thought of currently as providers of children’s entertainment.

Puppets base their origination in ancient India, where they told beloved stories to the people. They found their way to Asia with the Bunraku puppets of Japan. From there, they made their way to Europe, developing into the well-known puppets on a string – the marionettes. The history of puppetry continued right up to today, where it is still both an esteemed art form and form of children’s entertainment.

And while we love to look back at favorites like the puppets featured in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, or on Jim Henson’s Muppet Show, children are keeping the art of puppetry alive and well in their own homes.

Requiring little more than puppets, a puppet theater and a little imagination, children are keeping the spirit of puppetry alive. Don’t have any puppets on hand? Make some! Allow your child’s creativity and imagination to soar by creating puppets out of paper, fabric and other supplies. The only limitation is their own creativity.

Children today observe their parents watching television, playing video games and spending time on the computer. If you are hoping to entice your toddlers to spend time with imaginative play instead of TV and technology, consider purchasing an activity table. Toddlers love to get their hands dirty and create using their imagination. There are many different activities to choose from including sand tables, water tables and game tables.

If you cannot take your grand-kids to the beach every weekend, or if you live in a cooler climate, the next best thing is a sand activity table for toddlers. This table can be placed inside or outside depending on how much mess you are willing to deal with. The children will love making castles, creating roads and building mountains all within the table. If you enjoy getting your hands dirty along with the kids, you will love the elevated structure so you don’t have to get up and down off of the floor. The activity table is at a perfect height for your toddler and she will love spending hours playing in the sand instead of watching television or playing video games.

Another great way to set limits on TV and technology time is with a water activity table for toddlers. If you already have the sand table or you are worried about a mess, the water table will be great. If your son or grandson loves to float toy boats in the bathtub, you will love the convenience of a simple water activity set in the playroom or in the backyard. Children love to spend time outside when the sun is shinning and weather is warm. Give the kids hours of fun with a durable water table and shut down the computer for the rest of the day.

To lure the children away from the television, putting a fun game table inside or outside will do a great job. If you have two or three toddlers who enjoy playing simple board games, pretending to have a tea party, or working on art projects, a large activity table will be a good use of space. Not everyone wants to have the kids’ toys all over the family room or dining room, with a small activity table you will be able to entertain the little ones without making your house look like a daycare.

Setting limits on technology and television time is important to keep children active and using their creativity. There is a time and a place for television and technology and children should be allowed a small amount of time with electronics. As a mother or grandmother, you will want to encourage the kids to play outside with sand, water or art supplies and let their imagination run wild.

Keeping your children safe is a number one concern for parents of kids of all ages. Instead of dragging the old furniture out of your parents attic, investing in the new and improved specialty kids furniture will give you peace of mind. You want your children to have fun and enjoy all that being a kid has to offer. When looking for safe furniture for your children, consider durable picnic tables, kids beds and toddler beds.

Choosing the best picnic tables for kids may be more difficult than you think. There are many great choices and sizes and you will need to carefully consider who will be using the furniture. You may have several grandchildren who love to have picnics when they come to visit grandma and grandpa. If so, you need to purchase a large picnic table with an umbrella. Even if you plan to use the table in the basement during the winter months, when the kids are playing outside for long hours, an umbrella over the picnic table will give them some shade. Kids will improvise when they need specific furniture for their playtime. If you do not want them using the expensive coffee table in the formal living room or the flimsy t.v. tray in backyard, choose colorful picnic tables to provide the space they need.

Kids love a cool bedroom and finding a safe bed is important. If your son is into NASCAR he would love the stock car convertible bed. Once your children move out of their crib into a regular bed, you may worry about safety and making sure they don’t fall off the bed. Instead of putting just a regular twin size bed in the room, find a fun safe piece of furniture that will appeal to your child’s imagination. Affordability may also be a key concern when looking for children’s bedroom furniture. Although you may be tempted to use the old daybed in the spare room, you will feel much better when putting your child to sleep in a Lifestyle or a Princess Palace twin bed.

Toddler beds come in all different shapes and sizes. Once your child begins to climb out of the crib, it will be much safer to give her a toddler bed. You can find safe beds that use a crib size mattress and will be comfortable and cozy for your daughter or granddaughter. Give the kids a safe place to sleep and endless hours of fun.

Furniture made especially for kids is key to keeping them safe during the day and the night. You will find creative and colorful picnic tables and kids and toddlers beds. If you want to make the children happy for years to come, make their space fun and imaginative.

Birthdays are exciting for little ones and we know the importance of celebrating that special day. So that we too can wish your little one happy birthday, we invite you to sign up for the Step2 Birthday Club.

When you sign up, you’ll receive special offers, sales, new product details and promotional coupon codes via email. You’ll also receive an email with a special offer the calendar month before your little one’s birthday (to ensure you receive your birthday email, please provide your child’s birthday month and year in your Subscription Profile at least 60 days before his or her birthday).

Toddlers are by definition, on the go and toddling around. You know all about it, since you’re one step behind them, keeping them safe. While many toddlers have mastered getting around, how do you know if they’re ready for a ride on toy? The best way to determine if your child is ready is by assessing the physical development of your child and also being aware of the age appropriate guidelines of the toy.

After your child has reached certain developmental milestones, they are likely ready to play with ride on toys. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists several movement milestones for toddlers, including:

- He / she can walk unassisted
- He / she can kick a ball
- He / she can climb on furniture and other objects
- He/ she can climb stairs
- He / she is beginning to run

The other important factor in determining if a ride on toy is appropriate for your toddler is to understand the age appropriateness of the toy. Pay special attention to the age guidelines listed on the packaging of toys and evaluate every toy’s compatibility with your own child’s development. By making sure your child is old enough to play with a certain toy and meets the developmental readiness of toys, you will help avoid injury.

We’ve put together a few tips to help recognize if your toddler is ready for their very own ride on toy and ways to keep them safe while riding:

• Make sure the ride on toy is used in a safe environment – one free of stairs, streets, water and sharp hills. By noting your child’s environment while they are on an age appropriate toy, you ensure their safety while in your care.
• Read the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe use, the information there can help alert you to potentially unsafe situations.
• Make sure your child is using the ride on toy properly. By keeping your child positioned on the toy correctly, you decrease the chance of injury. Additionally, make sure your child holds on to any handles properly. The handles on Patches the Rocking Horse are a good example of this.
• If restraints are provided, as in some wagon toys, utilize them to keep your child safe while the ride on toy is in motion.
• Provide constant supervision. We all know children love to explore, and they like to do it quickly! Stay in an area where you can easily supervise your child on their ride on toy. For example, while your child is on the Extreme Coaster, make sure you are there to to help them get on the toy safely and stay on the toy until the ride’s end.

If you find that perfect toy, the one you know your child will love, make sure she’s old enough to understand how to use it safely, stay with her while she rides and enjoy the time you get to spend with your child having fun! Kids only have one childhood – celebrate it with Step2!