Step2

We have received questions surrounding the dimensions of our playhouses. You asked, so we listened and decided to create a scale to reference when deciding which playhouse will be a perfect fit for your child!

We are measuring all the nooks and crannies in our playhouses, kitchens, and art desks. Be on the lookout soon for picture graphs with all the information you need when making a decision on what product is right for your child!

Spring has finally arrived at the Step2 HQ. The sun is warm and shining so it is time to break out the playhouses and climbers.

Brush off the snow and bring the playhouses inside!

Fall came earlier than normal this year at the Step2 Headquarters in Streetsboro, Ohio. We have been experiencing a lot of rain and chilly weather! Even though the kids are back to school, they still need an outlet for active and creative play after a day of structured learning and scheduled play.  We are here to help with some suggestions of what to do when it is cold and rainy and your little ones cannot escape the confines of the indoors but still need to release some energy.

Step2 has a variety of toys that you and your little one can play with on those dreary days of fall. Better yet, incorporating arts and crafts or cooking into the equation can inspire more creativity. Here are our top picks of fun filled activities to do with your children on rainy days:

• Draw me a picture!  The All Around Easel for Two is a new product that inspires children to draw and post their artwork on the easel. Since there are two sides, more than one child can play with the easel. Suggest to your children to draw pictures of what it would be like if it was sunny outside. Ask them what their favorite season is and to draw it?
• Let’s get cooking! A customer favorite that has a new addition, the Grand Walk-in Kitchen & Grill! This great way to show your little chef what grilling is, is by firing up your own family grill and having your child imitate your movements on their Grand Walk-In Kitchen & Grill.
• Role play about the rain: Although playhouses are usually meant for outside, we have seen many of our customers bring playhouses inside during the colder months so their children can still play with their favorite toys. Suggest a role playing activity to do with your children such as pretending it is raining inside and running for cover in to the playhouse.
• Vroom-vroom in the living room: Ride-on toys are usually for outside but if you have some extra room in your house, you and your children can have fun riding around the house acting like a race car driver that is trying to make it home in a rainstorm.

How do you play with your children during rainy days?

This Labor Day teach your kids the meaning behind the holiday with facts and crafts that the whole family can enjoy.

First, ask your children if they know what Labor Day is all about. If they do not, explain the purpose of the day and why we celebrate it.

Apples4theteacher.com gave these brief facts about this honorable holiday:

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It’s a day dedicated to the hard working men and women of America. It became an official national holiday in 1894.

During Labor Day, we celebrate activities that relate to summer such as: swimming, camping, picnics, etc. A lesson that your children can appreciate about Labor Day is that everyone plays a role or works a job that helps to support the community, this can relate to how they help out in school or around the house.

Next, the real fun begins!  Ask your child (or children) what they want to be when they grow up and bring out the magazines, construction paper, scissors, and glue. Help your kids browse through magazines and find images associated with the job they want to have when they grow up. Have them (or help them) cut out the pictures and glue them to their own personal career board. Explain the different responsibilities of each job/picture they pick out. This is a fun way to intertwine education and crafts!

Finally, since Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, encourage the kids to get out and play during this fun filled three day weekend! Support active play and ensure that the kids spend a lot of time on their swing sets and playhouses.  This will buy you some time to prepare a special Labor Day meal.

From the Step2 Family we’d like to wish you and your family a great Labor Day Weekend! In celebration of the holiday, our offices will be closed on Monday, September 3^rd.  We will re-open on Tuesday, September 4^th at 8:00AM Eastern.

What family fun do you have planned for your weekend?