Step2

The Step2 Company, LLC. showcased new products for spring and fall 2013 at the Toy Industry Association Toy Fair 2013 in New York City February 10-13. Proudly displaying photographs of the Everybody Plays photo shoot by photographer and best-selling author Kelle Hampton of Enjoying the Small Things. The Step2/Infantino booth showcased fun, excitement and, of course, creative play.

On display from our new spring line was a mix of versatile outdoor toys. The Fixin’ Fun Outdoor Grill™ is a stone oven barbeque grill that can be used for indoor play or outside as “me too” play. It features grill knobs that make real “clicking” sounds, plenty of counter space to prepare “meals,” and a realistic “lift up” grill lid. Plus, a molded-in side burner creates an extra cooking area.

Included with the grill is a 10 piece Stack ‘n Stay Hot Dog Set. Two additional accessory sets can be purchased separately – the Stack ‘n Stay S’mores and Stack ‘N Stay Hamburgers. Designed to help with gross motor skills, these unique play food sets have grooves so they stack and stay together.

Also new for 2013 is the Fun & Sun Climber & Sandbox. This 2-in-1 climber and elevated sandbox is great for small outdoor spaces and gives children a place to climb, slide and be active as well as a small sand area for sensory play. Children can pour sand in the cascade accessories and watch the sand flow. Included is a protective lid, a shovel for digging and a drain plug making for easy clean-up.

The featured spring item at Toy Fair this year was the Easy Turn Coupe. To celebrate the launch of this new little car, Step2 displayed this toy front and center as guests entered Booth #437.

After conducting extensive research with moms and dads, we found that our customers wanted a few new features when it came to their child’s play car. This included a see-through roof to keep an eye on their child while at play, a handle to easily push the car, and a better turning radius for all of those tight squeezes around the couches and kitchen table neighborhood. We also added a removable floor board so little feet are protected when mom is pushing, cup holders for both mom and child, and fun features included a gas cap, ignition key, and working horn.

In conjunction with the Easy Turn Coupe launch at Toy Fair, Step2 is launching a new campaign entitled I {heart} Easy Turn Coupe on the Step2 Facebook page.

Step2 focuses its charitable efforts on programs designed to enhance the health and education of children while enriching their lives and their family experience. It is that mission that has made The Saving tiny hearts Society (StHS), an organization that funds life-saving grass roots research of congenital heart defects (CHD’s), a non-profit that Step2 has supported for many years.

Several years ago, Step2 learned that CHD’s are America’s #1 birth defect affecting over 40,000 babies every year. With that type of statistic, it should have come as no surprise when one of Step2’s own, Tena Crock, was impacted by a CHD.

At her 20 week ultrasound appointment, Crock believed that the biggest news she would receive that day was the gender of the little miracle growing in her tummy. Instead, she learned that her son had a complex CHD, double inlet left ventricle (single ventricle) among other issues. Because of the established relationship, Crock was able to reach out to the founders of StHS who offered her support and information while educating her about their important research efforts.

Crock’s son underwent three heart surgeries and one heart catheterization in the first 7 months of life. He will have one more surgery before he is school aged, but for now, he is a happy and healthy toddler, enjoying the toys that Mommy brings him home from work.

Step2 would like to continue its support of the StHS with our “I {heart} Easy Turn Coupe” campaign. We invite you to watch a quick video on the Easy Turn Coupe and tell us what feature you {heart} most about it. For every comment received on the Easy Turn Coupe Facebook tab, Step2 will make a $1 donation to StHS (up to $10,000). You can submit your comment now through  April 6, 2013.

About TIA |Toy Fair

Celebrating its 110^th year, the annual American International Toy Fair® is the largest toy and youth product marketplace in the Western Hemisphere, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from around the globe to showcase their toy and entertainment products. The Step2 Company has exhibited at Toy Fair for 18 years. In addition to NY Toy Fair, Step2 also exhibits annually at International Toy Fair Nürnberg.

Finding ways to keep kids active during the fall can be a challenge. During the summer, children enjoy playing in the pool and being outdoors, soaking up the sun and fun daily. As school starts and the weather cools, as parents, we can easily forget about all that outdoor active play has to offer.  According to Health.com, there are simple ways to keep your children active during autumn.

• Encourage them to play outside during the weekends or after school during the week
• Remind them to use their playhouses and swing sets to increase their levels of activity
• Find a kid friendly class in the community that requires physical activity
• Go on a hike during the weekend – don’t forget to bring your wagon to collect leaves and rocks
• Turn simple chores into active play – turn on the music and ask them to sweep up the kitchen floor with the beat

Teaching your children the importance of staying active will help to lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits.  What tips do you have when it comes to keeping your children active during autumn?

It is no secret that children today have higher rates of obesity than ever before, that time playing video games or on the computer have usurped the place of outdoor activities, and that kids are missing out on crucial element of life: the carelessness and joy that comes from playing outdoors. Here are a few ways that you can get your kids more interested in playing outside:

If you have a backyard, make it a place that your kids want to retreat to. Here are a few ways to make your backyard kid-friendly and appealing:

• Build a playhouse. Not only do kids love playing house, you can also use the playhouse as a storage space for extra toys. A children outdoor play set – such as a small kitchen or dollhouse – can also be stored in the playhouse.
• Build a tree house. Imagine an afternoon of reading and sipping lemonade (or even having lunch) out in a tree house.
• Get a climber and slide, or a swing set, for your backyard. You could even consider putting a sandbox at the base of the slide; young kids love playing in the sand and making sculptures. Kids also love swinging; sometimes it even sparks creativity or ideas for school assignments.
• If your kids like have friends over often, get them to put on a talent show with various skits, dances, comedic acts, etc. Make it a requirement to host their talent show in your backyard.

If you’re not lucky enough to have a backyard, or if you’d rather venture further, here are some other ideas to get your children passionate about the outdoors:

• Visit a nature center or arboretum. Take photographs of various plants, insects, trees and flowers, noting their species and name. You can also pick leaves and dry them in the microwave, and then preserve them in a notebook collection. The next time you are outdoors, your kids will start to spot and recognize these plants. Visiting arboretums throughout the year can also get your children to appreciate seasons, as they start to become familiar with the different types of flowers that bloom and when.
• Start a collection of “nature items.” This can include seashells from your last beach vacation, pine cones found at the park, or uniquely shaped rocks or stones found at the pond.
• Play at the park: fly kites, play Frisbee, four-square, tag, hide-and-seek or on a swing set.
• Invest in bicycles. Once your children are confident riding a bike, you can ride to the park.

The kids are almost out of school, temperatures are rising all across the country, and outdoor toys are being brought back outside. This means one thing – Summer is almost here!

At Step2, safety is our number one priority; so we’ve devised some tips for getting your outdoor Step2 products ready for summer fun.

Wagons & Ride-Ons

• Review assembly instructions [available on all product pages (example)] to verify products meet all safety requirements as installed
• Check seat belts on wagons and ride-ons to insure that they are secure, the buckles function and the fabric is not weathered or damaged
• Look for signs of excess wear on wagon and ride on wheels
• Check for bent axles or casters
• Look for cracking on any handles

Swings & Climbing Equipment

• Review assembly instructions to verify products meet all safety requirements as installed
• Check for obstacles around home playground equipment  (there should be a minimum of 6 ½ feet clearance around the perimeter of the equipment)
• Check all hardware on climbing & swing set equipment to make sure they are tight and make sure anchors are in place and beneath surface level
• Check swing ropes on climber/swing sets to insure they are in good condition with no signs of fraying or rotting from sun/weather exposure. If you see signs of wear, please call Step2 at 1-800-347-8372 to order a swing replacement kit.

Sand & Water Products

• Make sure sandbox lids are intact to keep sand clean and critters out
• Check umbrellas for proper installation, function and fit.  Check umbrellas for exposed metal tips or torn fabric.  Remove damaged umbrella from use.
• Check all sand & water product plugs for wear and make sure they are inserted all the way to prevent leakage

Additional Outdoor Toys

• Review assembly instructions to verify products meet all safety requirements as installed
• Check to see if basketball/football bases are properly weighted with sand or water
• Check for cracks in any plastic toy before use
• Products can be washed with a mild soap & water
• Use Armor All®* to shine up your Step2 mailbox or playhouse after washing (not recommended for use on climbing/swing equipment for safety reasons)

Replacement parts & decals to spruce up your products (with exception to some discontinued products) are available at reasonable prices by calling us toll free at 1-800-347.8372 Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM ET.

*Armor All® is a registered trademark of Armor All Group

It used to be that when the weather turned nice, you’d see all the neighborhood kids playing outside. They’d be jumping rope, riding bikes, kicking balls, and flying kites. They’d be hopping, skipping, running, leaping, and sliding. Everyone was happy and the world seemed right.

Today, you’ll still see kids playing on nice days. But unfortunately, most of them will probably be indoors — “playing” on their computers, TVs, and handheld game consoles. Sheesh! What’s this world coming to?

It’s finally time for parents to realize just how important it is for their kids to get fresh air and sunshine during outdoor play. Specific health benefits include:

• Increased oxygen levels. The efficiency of almost all our body systems depends on high oxygen levels, which have also been linked to lower cancer risk. That’s precisely why fresh air is key.

• Vitamin D absorption. Sunlight produces vitamin D, which encourages the absorption of calcium, which kids’ bodies need to develop strong bones and teeth. (Rickets is an example of extreme vitamin D deficiency in children.) Just be sure to apply adequate sunscreen protection.

• Reduced vulnerability to infections. Fresh air and exercise help stave off infections, colds, and the flu by strengthening the immune system and by enabling the infectious agents to spread out and be dissipated.

• Increased fitness. American children are becoming increasingly obese, caused in large part to a sedentary lifestyle. Counter this alarming epidemic by getting your kids to exercise in fresh air to increase both their physical activity and their cardiovascular endurance. Doctors suggest an hour of play a day in an effort to ward off childhood obesity and diabetes.

• Reduced stress. Playing outside and connecting with nature helps to reduce worries, depression, and hyperactivity. Fresh air indisputably provides an important component to soothing, mind-body wellness.

• Better breathing. Regular exercise in fresh air helps increase lung capacity, improve respiratory efficiency, and provide cleaner air for your children’s lungs. Other benefits include improved breathing technique, which in turn causes better stamina and increased energy.

• Improved eyesight. Recent studies have found that children who play outdoors are less likely to be nearsighted or need eyeglasses.

• A longer lifespan. The alarming fact is that doctors now estimate sedentary and obese children will lose 3-5 years from their life expectancy. Ensure that your children will grow to become healthy adults by getting them out to play now as children.

Besides these health benefits, outdoor play in fresh air and sunshine also supports:

• Greater socialization. When playing outdoors, children usually get less direction from adults, enabling them to gain greater skills in negotiation, cooperation, exploration, risk-taking, and compromise. They also have more opportunities to gain independence and self-confidence, too.

• Longer attention spans. Kids who continuously play with fast-paced TV and video games have much less patience and much shorter attention spans than kids who play outdoors and take a greater interest in their natural surroundings.

• More creativity. The opportunity for children to use their imagination, become more resourceful, develop greater inventiveness, and expand their creativity is much greater when kids play outdoors.

• Less aggression. When kids spend more time outdoors and less time witnessing the violence so prevalent on TV and in video games nowadays, they begin to see more clearly that violent behavior simply does not solve problems.

• Better grades. When children become healthier in both body and mind, they tend to perform better in school as well.

The importance of outdoor play simply cannot be overemphasized. The benefits are many and the rewards even greater. So turn off the electronics and tell your kids to go out and play. You’ll be doing them a favor. A huge favor at that!

Suggested adult reading about outdoor play:

Healthy, Active and Outside!: Running an Outdoors Programme in the Early Years
Go Out and Play!: Favorite Outdoor Games from KaBOOM!
Nature and Young Children: Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments
Little Book of Outdoor Play
The Outside Play and Learning Book: Activities for Young Children

This post was written by Creative Play Plus contributor Maria Isabella. Maria is a mother, grandmother, published author, and award-winning writer with over 30 years’ experience in the advertising, marketing, and publishing industries.

Temperatures are starting to rise and it looks like spring is coming early this year. To kick off the season of outdoor play, we are running a $2.99 shipping sale now through Monday, March 5.* The following outdoor play items are shipping for $2.99 (up to a $27 savings):

• Clubhouse Climber
• Welcome Home Playhouse
• Skyward Summit
• Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center
• Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center w/Glider
• Extreme Coaster

In addition to the $2.99 shipping sale, the following items are 10% off with code S2ADVEXT

• Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center $809.99 with code
• Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center w/Glider $899.99 with code
• Extreme Coaster $224.99 with code

We also offer flexible payment options now including PayPal and BillMeLater (on order over $199).

Also on sale through Monday, March 5 is the Fun Fold Jr. Picnic Table. Take 15% off with code S2FF15 making it just $50.99 + $2.99 shipping.

*No promo code necessary for $2.99 shipping. Regular shipping prices resume at 12:00 AM ET March 6, 2012. Valid on US shipments only (to the 48 contiguous states).