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Archive for March, 2009

How to Choose a Swing Set that is Right for your Kids– Swingset.com

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Customer testimonials will help you pick the right Swing Set

There are many things to consider when shopping for the right play set for your children. The number one concern for parents is always safety but beyond the basic safety precautions, there are plenty of differences between different jungle gyms, Swing Set pieces and other types of playground equipment. If you let the kids decide, I am sure everyone would be buying the biggest and most colorful play items for their yards and playgrounds, but of course there are too many variables to take into consideration before making such an important purchase. Age appropriateness is a vital consideration one must take and it goes right along with safety.

The internet is an extremely helpful tool for researching all the different Swing Set choices that are currently available. You can find out the specific dimensions of a particular piece of playground equipment to make sure that it will fit in the allotted space and also that it will not be too large and dangerous for younger children that may be around. Certain manufacturers have higher safety standards than others and when you visit their respective web sites then can see their credentials for yourself as well as learn about any associations to which they may belong and organizations they may approve of their products. One of the best features of these sites is the customer testimonials and reviews where past and present customers share their experiences with parents who may have questions. Swingset.com offers great resources for someone who is looking to learn about the different types of play sets and make informative comparisons. They have a great selection of Swing Sets and other recreation items built with the finest materials and hand crafted to ensure safety and quality for each unit. Don’t settle for anything less than the best when choosing the right piece of recreation equipment for your children.

Keeping Kids Healthy and Fit– Swingset.com

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Promote regular physical activity and healthy exercise with a Swing Set

Inspire more healthy and safe exercise for your children with fun activities they can do in the comfort of your own back yard.  With so much entertainment technology to keep young people indoors all the time, it isn’t surprising that the number of obese children keeps rising.  The impact on one’s health is quite concerning and should not be taken lightly.  There have been increased instance of kids being diagnosed with diabetes along with all the undiagnosed cases that are getting worse as the months go by.  A great way to ensure that your young ones are getting plenty of exercise is to install a Swing Set at your house.  Not only will the equipment provide an endless source of dynamic exercise and an imaginative play experience for your kids and their friends, but it will also foster a healthy exercise routine that will keep growing bodies active and fit.
Many grade school children are unable to meet basic standards for physical fitness and in most cases the educators are not to blame.  Some question the current scholastic benchmarks and argue that standardized testing is biased toward specific cultures and certain socioeconomic groups.  This may be true in many classrooms across America, but every school yard, field, and playground hold the same opportunities for growth and development.  Some facilities will have better recreation equipment than others of course, but the benefits of regular outdoor activity are undeniable.  More emphasis should be placed on physical education for the simple fact that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand.  To teach and enrich one without the other is to do a disservice to the child as well as their education.  A Swing Set and a few daylight hours is a necessary supplement to the rigorous studies and social interactions of elementary school.

School Safety and Playground Equipment– Swingset.com

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

Old and broken playground equipment could spell trouble for local elementary schools

When looking for a new place to live, parents and potential parents alike judge their possible new neighborhoods based on comprehensive predetermined criteria.  Near the top of everyone’s list is the condition and reputation of the closest elementary school.  Education in general is a major concern for anyone raising children, but kindergarten and grade school are especially important because such a large percentage of a child’s formative years is spent at school.  It’s nice to have the huge piece of property and corner lot at the end of a quiet cul de sac, but most every parent will agree that a big and pretty house is worthless if it isn’t in a decent school district.  It isn’t uncommon for future residents to visit local school and maybe even meet with the teachers and faculty that would possibly be instructing and interacting with their kids.  If you can tell a lot about a community by their school then can’t you tell a lot about a school by the condition of their Playground Equipment?

It is natural to want the best for your kids and is not unreasonable to purchase real estate partly because of its proximity to a good school.  Meeting with the staff is a great way to get a feel for the education system in any town as well as give you the opportunity to inspect the facilities without appearing creepy or hostile.  (Try explaining to the security guard why you needed to use both the little boys room and the little girls room; no paper towels might work but why risk it?).  Fresh paint and new carpet are aesthetically pleasing but you want to get to the nuts and bolts of the operation.  Visit the school sometime after lunch that way you can check out their Playground Equipment while it’s not crowded and you can actually get a good look up close and personal.  Check for anything hazardous like exposed screws or splintered wood.  If the jungle gym is in disrepair then chances are the classrooms and restrooms are in need of some TLC as well.

Jungle Gyms to teach Math?– Swingset.com

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The first Jungle Gym was nothing more than a free-standing coordinate graph

The person credited with the invention of the huge climbing frames that are the main attraction at most every public park today had a much loftier goal in mind than simple fun and games.  The idea was to give children an opportunity to grasp the concept of three dimensional space with a larger than life example.  There was even a game to go along with the huge metal grids that used the letters X, Y and Z as reference points much like coordinate plane used to high level mathematics.  Gigantic metal cubes no longer satisfy the most accepted definitions of Jungle Gyms, and probably would not meet your local safety standards, but originally these structures were just as much meant to be a tool for learning as they were to be a facilitator of entertainment.  Injury was not a serious concern at first because the children were not leaping back and forth and climbing spastically among a horde of laughing classmates.  Instead they were standing rather quietly awaiting commands from the instructor.  The transformation of Jungle Gyms from a math tutor to babysitter has created all the need for redundant safety precautions and the addition of colorful entertainment features.

Exercise is good for children.  It is a healthy activity that can be made much more fun by introducing a Jungle Gym into the daily routine.  During recess, young students get a chance to run, shout and play in between the intense academic lessons and the sophisticated playground equipment allows them to do so without completely shutting off their brain.  They need to negotiate distance and height and other spatial equations quickly as well as learn to take turns and share with their peers.  The problem is that some adults leave their children to the play yard for hours and hours hoping to keep them occupied with minimal supervision.  A fort equipped with a slide and a rope ladder will keep your kids busy for the better part of an afternoon, but it will not teach them arithmetic, reading, or manners for that matter.

Smart shoppers save money on Daycare Supplies– Swingset.com

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Simple money saving tips for buying daycare supplies

The economy is hurting right now and the value of money-saving tips is at an all time high, even if the dollar isn’t worth all that much.  The government is printing more paper monies as if an infusion of currency will help ease any of the financial troubles running rampant across the country.  Extra money is not really extra at all if the value of the dollar continues to drop like it is.  Family budgets are just as whacked at state and federal budgets are.  Banks are failing left and right so it is not an easy task to get approved for a personal loan these days.  So once all the money is spent then what?  All we can do is try to make our money stretch by making smart decisions and working together to help ease one another’s burdens.

Many hard working parents spend a lot of money on day care and in turn, the day care facilities are spending a lot of money on their kids.  There are ways to save money on Daycare Supplies and they are a lot easier than one might think.  An easy way to start saving is to buy in bulk.  The obvious items are cleaning supplies and non-perishable food like canned goods.  Even larger things like tables, chairs and playground equipment can be purchased in larger quantities at a cheaper price if multiple facilities can coordinate their orders.  Parents and local businesses may be willing to donate toys, games, furniture etc. and may have planned on throwing some stuff out or taking it to the salvation army.  Consignment stores, however, can be a great resource for Daycare Supplies.  You could easily trade in used items for different supplies that may not be brand new, but they will certainly be new to the children. Take advantage of back to school discounts as well as garage sales.  You never what great deals might be waiting for you until you look.

Wood VS. Metal– Swingset.com

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Looking at the pros and cons of different materials for playground equipment

Which is better: metal or wood?  This is a common question asked by those shopping for Commercial Playground Equipment.  Unfortunately, this is not a simple yes-no, either-or situation.  There are many variables to consider when making the choice between wood or metal play sets, but there a few simple questions you can ask yourself that may make the decision a little bit easier.  1) Where will you be installing the play sets?  Certain locations make it difficult to choose metal equipment for aesthetic reasons.  If you plan to install the piece at your house or a small neighborhood in a rural community then wood is probably the better choice for a more natural and less obvious appearance.  Other residents, especially those without children, could be bothered by the presence of a metal jungle gym and how it disrupts the pastoral surroundings.  2) Who will be in charge of maintenance and how often will the equipment be serviced and possibly upgraded?  With proper maintenance, a metal swing set can last longer than its wooden counterpart, which can deteriorate relatively quickly even when adequately treated and weather proofed.  Metal sets need to be checked regularly for rust and inspected often for loose bolts or protruding screws.  The frequency with which Commercial Playground Equipment will be serviced should be influential when deciding which material should be used.

Even the most comprehensive warranty will not do you any good if you do not take the time to maintain the equipment.  Some warranties contain a clause that will void coverage should the set not be properly maintained.  Injuries can happen in an instant but regular service can help avoid many accidents and help your playground equipment last as long as possible.  No matter what materials are chosen, be sure to consult with the manufacturer to determine the best to keep the play equipment in good working condition to prevent safety hazards.

New Ideas for baby shower gifts– Swingset.com

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

Baby Swings make great baby shower gifts for the little ones to grow into

It can be quite a difficult task choosing the right gift for a friend’s baby shower.  Expectations are high and the selection is just so overwhelming it seems that there are so many ways to go wrong.  I know that that mother to be is supposed to be the star of the show and gifts are generally cute and pretty sentimental in nature, but why not get something practical that the baby and mother can use together?  A Baby Swing may not be the most traditional gift for a shower and they might not get much use out of it right away depending on the type you decide to get them, but it will prove to be very useful and enjoyable for the baby and maybe for mother as well.

Cradle swings and baby jumpers are geared toward infants and are primarily used in the home.  These items provide perpetual motion that is soothing to the child and cuts down on the time he or she wants to be held and cuddled.  Once the baby reaches the toddler stage then they can graduate to a free standing Baby Swing that require an adult to gently push them back and forth.  Since they are still in the developmental stages as far as balance and coordination, Baby Swings are equipped with a safety harness that keeps the child in place and prevents them from falling off the swing.   Even though they are incapable of pumping their legs, babies enjoy the swinging sensation and are happy as dogs riding in the car to feel the wind on their little faces.  Yes, the expecting mother would probably be thrilled if you bought her the latest model diaper genie, but something a little more useful and exciting for the baby it in order.  A trashcan with a closable lid should hold all the dirty diapers just fine.  A Baby Swing will provide hours of joyful entertainment as well as save your arms and your nerves.


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