Get Your Plum Play Equipment Ready For Springtime

18th April 202318th April 2023Plum Play

Spring is in the air, so what better way to celebrate than by giving your Plum Play equipment a fresh look for the start of the season?

Why Should You Do DIY With Your Kids?

DIY allows children to develop key skills and nurtures their creativity. Painting or digging enhances their fine and gross motor skills as they learn to grip a paintbrush or a spade.

Involving the kids in backyard DIY projects will spark their imaginations. So, Spring is the perfect time for families to come together and have fun working on these projects.

Get Ready For Spring!

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, we want to inspire you to get creative with the kids and explore ways you can revamp, reuse and recycle your play equipment. Whether it’s a wooden sandpit, a cubby house or a trampoline, we have some great tips and tricks to inspire you to refresh your backyard play equipment and make your outdoor area more fun and inviting for your little ones. So, let’s get started!

children with wheelbarrow outside cubby house

Revamping

How To Decorate a Wooden Cubby House?

Decorating a cubby house can be a fun backyard play area DIY for children and grown-ups alike. Whether you’re looking to give your child’s cubby house a new look or you just want to add some personal touches, there are endless ways to get creative with decorating…

Cubby House Painting Ideas

One way to give your wooden cubby house a fresh look is by giving it a coat of paint. You can choose from a variety of colours to compliment your outdoor space or even opt for a theme to create a unique play area style. Pastel shades like pastel pink, mint and pastel blue are popular choices for cubby houses, as they can add a cheerful splash of colour to your backyard landscape.

To make your cubby house really pop, you could even add some quirky patterns, like polka dots or stripes. To fully embrace the DIY spirit, you could even create a mural on the outside of the cubby house, with a different pattern on each wall or paint a scene from your little one’s favourite storybook.

How to Decorate Inside a Cubby House?

Remember, it’s not all about the look on the outside. The inside of a cubby house can also be decorated to make it a cosy, inviting retreat for your kids. You can add some vibrant cushions, a little table and chairs and some playful wall decorations or plants to create a welcoming space that your kids can’t wait to spend time in. Adding a rug will give the cubby house that next-level warmth and comfort, making it the perfect place for your kids to play or read.

Let your creativity run wild

When it comes to decorating your kids cubby house, the sky’s the limit. You could add some fairy lights for an enchanted touch or even add some window boxes and hanging baskets filled with colourful flowers or herbs to give the cubby house a calming feel and allow it to blend seamlessly into your outdoor space.

Child gardening outside plum play garden hut cubby house

How to Decorate a Treehouse?

A treehouse is a wondrous place for kids to let their imaginations run wild and enjoy outdoor play. Decorating a treehouse can be a fun opportunity for parents and kids to connect, spending quality time enhancing the treehouse together. Here are some innovative ways to decorate your kid’s treehouse in time for Spring.

Use recycled materials – Decorating your treehouse doesn’t need to be expensive. Recycled materials like old cans make great plant pots, and plastic water bottles are ideal for making a cascading water run. To add a dash of colour, your kids can get creative, painting the cans and bottles, so their vibrant artwork can be seen from the treetops.
Add some greenery – Incorporating plants and flowers into your treehouse décor can create a natural and calming space. The Plum Discovery Woodland Treehouse encourages your little ones to tend to the flowers with a built-in potted planter so they can get a head start on sowing their veg patch or cultivating their own herb garden.
Use outdoor lighting – Adding some outdoor lighting to the area around your treehouse can create a magical atmosphere for evening play as dawn turns to dusk. Use string lanterns or solar-powered lights to illuminate the space, making it safe and snug for your little nature nurturers to enjoy active play in their treehouse all year round as the seasons change.

Whether you’re using recycled materials, adding greenery or incorporating outdoor lighting, decorating the treehouse is a creative way to spend time with your little one and make their outdoor play space even more special.

Plum Discovery Woodland Treehouse bottle run

Need a Spare Part for Your Trampoline?

Head over to the Plum Play website to discover our complete catalogue of trampoline spares for our full trampoline range. Simply use the handy spare part checker by typing in your product code to show all the spare parts available for your trampoline. Sprucing up your trampoline has never been so easy!

Top tip: Unsure of your trampoline’s product code – look for the sticker on one of your trampoline’s legs, and you’ll find it there.

Reusing

How to Repurpose Play Sand?

Reusing play sand is a resourceful way to give a new purpose to your children’s outdoor play materials. Here are a couple of easy ways to repurpose your play sand…

Make Textured Paint

Simply mix some sand and paint to create a textured paint effect. This can be a fun way to add a sensory element to play. By creating artwork with this paint, your children can explore the sensation of the rough texture and gritty feeling of the grains of sand in contrast against the smooth paper.

Revitalise Your Compost

Adding play sand to compost can improve its quality. Adding sand to compost improves drainage and aeration, which leads to healthier soil and happier plants – carrots especially love sandy soil as it helps them grow deep into the ground.

Repurposing your play sand is a creative way to give new life to something that may have otherwise gone to waste. So next time you have some leftover sand, don’t throw it away – repurpose it!

Recycling

Plum Play products are built to last for years to come, but perhaps your kids have outgrown their sandpit, or you no longer need your trampoline. If so, you can always recycle your play equipment when it’s no longer needed.

Sandpits also make the ideal container for a mini veg plot. By removing the sand, replacing it with soil, and planting some of your kids’ favourite veggies, you have an instant mini allotment in your backyard.

Encourage your children to embrace their green fingers and plant the seeds together. Looking after their own veg patch will help teach them the importance of nurturing something and caring for the environment.

Wooden Products

All Plum Play outdoor wooden products are made using FSC^®-certified wood, so they come from sustainable sources and can be recycled at the end of product life. Even our sandpit liners can be recycled, so the environmental impact is minimal.

Girl playing in Plum Play Giant Wooden Sandpit

Trampolines

100% of the metal used in a Plum trampoline is recycled, so the impact on waste is minimal. To keep this reduce, reuse, recycle circle going, you can recycle the elements of your Plum Play trampoline after use – be sure to check with your local recycling centre to recycle the different elements efficiently.

Chicken Run

Did you know trampolines can be transformed into the ideal home for chickens?

When you no longer need your trampoline, turn it into the perfect sanctuary for your feathered friends by removing the enclosure and securing chicken wire around the base of the trampoline. The jumping mat becomes the coop roof, and your hens can then live sheltered under the sturdy trampoline base, making it the perfect pen.

Even More Ways to Transform Your Trampoline…

Of course, if you want to reuse the trampoline for yourself, then other options are to transform the base into a robust frame to hang a hammock for backyard dozing or use it as a trellis for plants that love to climb high.

These are just a few ways to inspire you to get your play equipment Spring ready and revamp, reuse and recycle your Plum Play products. So, if you give your play equipment a new lease of life, then be sure to let us know over @PlumPlayAus #LifeAtPlay. We’d love to see your revamp, reuse and recycling innovations.

The Benefits of Random Acts of Kindness for Families

13th February 202313th February 2023Plum Play

What is Random Acts of Kindness Day?

17^th February 2023 marks Random Acts of Kindness Day. It is now a day celebrated worldwide to encourage people to be kind to one another and undertake random acts of kindness. It was a movement that originated in New Zealand through the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which believes in the positive power of kindness.

Being kind is excellent for the person receiving the act of kindness, but it also can make the person giving the kindness feel positive and happy. So Random Acts of Kindness Day is a way to spread positivity and joy by doing something nice for those around you.

Children Playing on Plum Play Discovery Woodland Treehouse Cubby

Why is it Important to Teach Children About Random Acts of Kindness?

Teaching children about Random Acts of Kindness Day is a great way to open conversations around feelings and well-being. It can encourage kids to realise the power of their actions and help them develop social skills, such as empathy, tolerance, and self-awareness.

Teaching children about the positive power of kindness can empower them to be kind and shape the world in the way they want.

Teaching children some simple random acts of kindness that they can do for someone is a great way to get kids involved in the day and help them learn about kindness and compassion toward others.

What Are Some Tips for Teaching Kids About Random Acts of Kindness?

1) Show them how

When it comes to learning about life, you are a role model for your kids. So, teach them how to be kind by being kind yourself. They will see this and want to copy your positive behaviour.

2) Play and learn

Playing is a great way to teach kids about random acts of kindness. Through play, kids need to respect each other, take turns, act with integrity, and have the courage to climb and explore. All these aspects of play encourage kids to be kind. Next time they go out to play, be sure you acknowledge when they are being kind.

3) Kindness story time

Reading a children’s book about kindness is a great way to teach kids about acts of kindness. These books don’t just have to be about being kind to others. Books about self-confidence, being kind to themselves or the environment and looking after the planet also demonstrate acts of kindness. Get your kids to think broadly about caring and empathy; this will be the best way to teach them about kindness overall.

4) Don’t expect anything in return

Many aspects can make a person kind; acting honestly, being patient and considering others’ feelings are just a few. However, the most important thing to teach your kids is that you don’t act kindly to get something in return. You do it because it is the right thing to do.

5) Keep being kind everyday

Although Random Acts of Kindness Day is a special day to help promote the power of being kind, being kind isn’t a once-a-year thing! Remind your children that to really be kind, you must try to be caring everyday, as that is the best way to be kind.

Kids playing on Plum Play Lookout Tower with Swings

What Can Parents Do to Encourage Random Acts of Kindness in the Home?

As a parent, there are some easy things that you can do to encourage random acts of kindness at home.

One of the best ways to do this is by demonstrating kindness daily, as kids will notice this and wan to follow suit. So, let them see you being kind to others. For example, when you hold the door for someone in the café or help your neighbour carry out an errand.

It’s also super important to acknowledge when your kids are kind to someone and let them know why that was kind. You don’t need to reward them, but just recognise that what they did was nice and the reason behind it. This will help to encourage random acts of kindness.

Another way to promote kindness at home is to give your kids responsibilities. This will help them to learn to be reliable and do what is expected to support others. For example, if you have a family pet, giving your kids the responsibility to feed your pet in the mornings helps them to learn responsibility and compassion towards others.

A creative way to teach your children about kindness at home would be to ask them to draw a picture of your family acting kind. Then chat with your little ones about what they have drawn and identify the act of kindness in their image. This will help them identify acts of kindness and remind them how they can be kind at home.

Family and kindness go hand in hand. Teaching kids to be respectful and treating people and places in a thoughtful way will naturally encourage them to be kind at home. For example, packing their toys away when they have finished playing so that they treat their home environment with care or sharing toys with siblings and turn-taking during a family game also shows respect and can encourage kindness.

How Can You Celebrate This Day with Your Kids?

A fun way to celebrate Random Acts of kindness day with your kids would be to write and leave kindness notes for each other around the house and yard. These notes will surely bring a smile to your face as you go about your day!

You could celebrate this day by baking a cake together and sharing the washing up duties. This is sure to be a tasty way to mark the day and remind your kids that sharing tasks (and treats!) is a great way to be kind.

Do your kids have a favourite way to show kindness, or perhaps you have your own way of celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day? Be sure to let us know @PlumPlayAus #LifeAtPlay.

5 family activities that will improve health and wellbeing at home

18th February 202118th February 2021Plum Play

Family life around the world rapidly changed in 2020. With the impact of Covid, families are finding new ways to get through lock downs, juggling homeschooling and full-time jobs. To help overcome these changes, many of us have focused on finding health and well-being in a time of uncertainty. Parents are now seeking the right tools to support their children and to create a rounded home environment that includes a winning combination of learning, safe playtime and relaxation.

With this in mind, here are 5 activities you can incorporate into your daily plans to encourage more feelings of well-being in your family life.

1. Eat Meals Together

Sitting down together at meal times without distractions is a great way for your family to catch up about the day. This environment helps your little ones get things off their chest as the group listens and offers advice. This can also be a great environment for both parents and children to unwind and relax into the evening.

Here is what the experts say…

‘Regular mealtimes which are shared provide a sense of rhythm and regularity in lives. They offer a sense of containment and familiarity, and can evoke deep feelings of contentment and security. Humans need structure and routine.’

-Mental Health Foundation 2021

2. Help Others

We all know that helping others feels good, but during these times it can feel more difficult due to social distancing and being advised to stay home, however there are still lots of ways you can lend a helping hand. Why not offer to do an elderly neighbours shopping or on your daily exercise you and your little ones could do some litter picking in the local community.

How does volunteering impact on our well-being?

‘Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism.’ -Mental Health Foundation 2021

3. Hold on to Family Memories

Family memories are a part of our identity and help children to understand more about who they are and why they are here. Telling stories from the past and sharing photos with our families gives us a great sense of wellbeing. The stories you tell can be happy, informative and interesting; these stories help the past live on into the future.

What are the benefits of sharing family memories?

‘They can increase well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, reinforce feelings of closeness among family members, and build resilience for navigating life’s normal ups and downs.’

-Frances Lefkowitz 2013

4. Get Active As A Family

Getting active as a family does not have to involve relentless workouts or mountain climbing; a trip to the park or a little boogie to your favourite playlist is still getting active and let’s face it… a lot more fun! Take the pressure off of yourself to become a personal trainer or class instructor (parenting and teaching are enough!). Getting active as a family can be fun and a great way to get little ones outdoors.

How is being more active as a family good for your health and well-being?

‘Physical activity keeps the body strong and healthy and can improve mental health by decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, pain and loneliness. Physical activity can also improve focus, school performance, sleep and energy levels.’

-About Kids Health 2020

5. Create Positive Relationships

We often tell little ones to treat others the way you would like to be treat. Maintaining positive friendships with family and friends helps your children to grow in confidence and self-esteem. Maintaining positive relationships is difficult, especially as we get older. Sharing the challenges of friendships with children helps them learn problem solving skills, which will help them throughout their lives.

How do positive relationships effect our well-being?

‘The benefits of social connections and good mental health are numerous. Proven links include lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships.’

-Better Health 2017

We put these few suggestions together, like volunteering or family meal times to inspire your family on their health and well-being journey. It is important to remember this is a challenging time for families; not every day will go smoothly. You won’t be able to get outside or get everyone around the dinner table every day. We just wanted to give you a little bit of inspiration, so that if you do have time one of the days you can do a small activity.

Our Plum outdoor toys and Discovery range has been developed with family well-being at its heart. Our collection encourages learning through play in your backyard (ideal for homeschooling). Encourage your little ones to get into the fresh air for hours of fun, helping them to burn off some energy and enjoy some screen free play.

Plum Play 2020 Christmas Gift Guide

17th November 202017th November 2020Plum Play

This year outdoor spaces have become more valuable than ever before, making outdoor toys this year’s must-have products. We have put together our own gift guide, to help you find the best outdoor toys to surprise your little ones with this Christmas.

Gifts for 12+ Months

Our Little Plum picks will create a magical first Christmas for you and your baby, from their very first swing, creating hours of laughter and play all the way to their brave first climb. Watch your child grown and develop through active play, with our specialised items, perfect for outdoor adventures.

Gifts for 3+ Years

As your little ones grow more and more energetic than ever before, we have selected four of our favourite products for your inquisitive adventurer, that will inspire their imagination and put their increasing energy into hours of playtime.

Combining **sand, water** and storage with outdoor eating and drawing, what could be better for social play with a friend.

The Plum® Tamarin Wooden Swing Set will inspire hours of outdoor fun and active play. For a little fun and adventure, the Plum® Tamarin Natural Wood Swing Set is the perfect play platform. Swing to the sky and swoop down the slide!

Gifts for 6+ Years

At 6+ years your child is an independent explorer. They want to create their own world and set out on new adventures each day. Adventure play will build your little ones confidence as they push their boundaries and reach new heights while developing new skills.

The Plum® Free Standing Wooden Monkey Bars are perfect for monkeying around. Watch as they burn off energy and conquer swinging across from bar to bar.

Plum’s Space Zone Trampolines with Spring Safe® technology promise an even safer, springier bounce. These trampolines are perfect for the whole family, and built for long-lasting outdoor fun!

Bring the trampoline park to your own backyard

The ultimate fun for the whole family imagine their faces when they wake up and see the Plum Freebound Bowl Trampoline® in the backyard!

The Benefits of Climbing Frames for Kids

30th October 202030th October 2020Plum Play

From learning to walk to climbing trees, kids are always looking for ways to pull themselves up and explore. Climbing frames allow little ones to use their imaginations and safely challenge themselves whilst developing important physical skills such as balance, co-ordination and agility.

Encourage Self Directed Play

Free play on a climbing frame in a well-designed outdoor play area naturally inspires children to be active. It also allows kids to entertain themselves and helps them to think independently and develop important decision making skills.

Coordinate Movements

Swinging allows children to develop and practice coordinated movements. Climbing can also help a child’s cognitive development through problem solving, memory and the feelings of fear and motivation often experienced through climbing also have great benefits to children.

Build Balance

Through sliding, children learn to keep their torsos balanced as gravity pulls them down the slide. Climbing to the top of the ladder also helps with leg strength.

@tanna__tribe enjoying their Plum Wooden Climbing Pyramid

“Pretty sure we won’t ever need to leave the house for park visits again! These girls are loving their new Plum Play Climbing Pyramid with swings, rockwall and a slide. It also offers a fun little hideout under the fort. Hours of play are sure to be had with this neat little set up!”

Plum Wooden Climbing Pyramid

SHOP NOW

Plum Wooden Climbing Cube

SHOP NOW

Plum Tamarin Swing Sets

SHOP NOW

Trampoline fun with Zara’s Play Tribe

29th October 202029th October 2020Plum Play

We just love Zaras amazing play ideas and her creative ways to use her new Plum 8ft Trampoline are no exception. Check out her latest blog post below:

Ok, so we love the trampoline but why? Encouraging Aidan and Evie to use their gorgeous energy in a positive way is HARD, especially when we are stuck at home. Have the trampoline as a crazy zone outlet is just perfect for the moments when they need to bounce off the walls…because they literally can!

Physical exercise is not only something my kids love it is a necessity! Did you know the Australian Department of Health states ‘ Preschoolers (aged 3 – 5 years) should spend at least 180 minutes a day in a variety of physical activities, of which 60 minutes is energetic play such as running, jumping and kicking and throwing, spread throughout the day.’

That is 3 HOURS! EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!

Stuck for ways to play on your trampoline?

Here are just a few that will not only inspire your active children but will make them laugh too! I use a lot of these, especially in the cooler months as it encourages the kids to move outside and keep their bodies moving!

BALLOON PARTY

You can do this with 1 balloon or 20, it really doesn’t matter! The way the balloons jump, bounce and float within the trampolines safety enclosure is just so much fun! Throw them to friends, try and jump on them, whatever you feel like!

WATER BALLOON JUMP

Although this balloon was very hard to pop, I recommend doing it on a warm day! This is a 90cm latex balloon from our local party store. I filled it with water, tied the top and let the kids at it. It ended up taking 3 hours for this one to pop, that is three hours full of jumping, crashing and giggling. This also works with standard balloons but of course you can’t fill them with quite this much water. Check it out

DRAWING

Have you ever tried drawing on your trampoline with chalk? The colours are SO vibrant! Draw some shapes, jump on the shapes until they disappear and then start again. If it is a warm day, grab the hose once you have finished and get the kids to clean the trampoline!

TRAMPOLINE BED

Too cold to go outside? Take your doona and some pillows and make a warm and cosy trampoline bed. Don’t forget some books and maybe even a nice warm cuppa! Be warned though, there is a high possibility this will turn into a game of ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed’.

SPRINKLER TRAMPOLINE The perfect summer game, those days when it is too hot to run around but there is still lots of energy trapped inside us! Pop a sprinkler under your trampoline and GO!

For even more fun play ideas be sure to check out Zara’s Instagram @zaras_play_tribe

Colours By Plum

23rd August 20192nd September 2020Plum Play

Welcome to the perfect place for picnics, parties and social playtime! The Colours by Plum® range will transform your garden and create an imaginative fun role play environment; immersing little ones in the outdoors!

Made from sturdy FSC^®certified timber, and finished with a unique teal colour, our latest range of outdoor products are a must have. View the latest range and images from the campaign.

Shop the Colours By Plum® Range

25078AB108_Surfside-Sand-and-Water-Table_Teal_6109

27667AB108_Deckhouse-Wooden-Playhouse5917

Mum Central Trampoline Review

22nd November 2018Plum Play

Bounce into Summer Fun with a Plum® Premium Magnitude!

We are very honoured to have received a glowing product review from Belinda Jennings, Founder of Mum Central – the go to hub for Australian Mums with real stories from real women.

Mum to two cheeky boys, and wife to her superstar husband, Belinda’s family live a busy but crazy lifestyle in Adelaide. Belinda is committed to celebrating the journey that is Australian parenthood and we LOVE that Mum Central provides a “no plastic fantastic and gossip” zone, a place for safe and authentic conversations with Mums of all walks of life!

When asked to provide one of our Plum Springsafe® trampoline models for Belinda to trial, we jumped at the chance!

Mum Central Video Review: Plum® Springsafe® Premium Magnitude Trampoline

Product Assembly: Watch the full build in under 4 minutes!

Read the full product review here and enter into our competition for the chance to WIN one: https://mumcentral.com.au/plum-springsafe-trampoline-review/

Explore the range: https://www.plumplay.com.au/trampolines/by-model/premium-magnitude-trampolines

Discover Nature Play

15th August 20182nd September 2020Plum Play

Inspire a love of nature, engage children in STEM education and discover the advantages of early play!

The research is quite clear that the best practice in early childhood education is to break away from structured activities and allow for more play and investigation. This kind of learning early in life builds skills and interests that serve children throughout their school years and into adulthood.

In 2017, Plum® introduced the award winning nature play collection designed to get kids out into the garden, experimenting with STEM activities. The Plum Discovery® collection combines learning and play all year round whilst inspiring natures little ambassadors to get messy in the garden with outdoor role play. Children can interact with nature as they discover wildlife and engage in sensory and active play as the seasons change. Little green fingers can cut and trim the buds and shrubs to create their very own mini eco centre. All Discovery® toys have been made from FSC® sustainably sourced wood, include a bamboo wind chime, easy clean painting screen and mini growing station for beginner gardeners.

“The collection brings families, friends and communities together.
The idea is to use non-linear unstructured play features to stimulate
imaginative engagement. Our new design is feature rich and gives 360°
play. We have continued the rustic, earthy look & feel, discovery products
feel like a part of the garden, like they are were grown in the woodland.”

Product Developer, Francis Wright

Discovery® Nature Play Hideaway!

Discovery® Woodland Treehouse!

Discovery® Mud Pie Kitchen!

Discovery® Create and Paint Easel!

Shop the Discovery® range now!

Explore Adventure Play

15th August 20182nd September 2020Plum Play

Adventure play to spark creative minds!

Children have a natural desire to explore their surroundings, create their own world and set out on new adventures. Adventure play will build your child’s confidence as they push their boundaries, developing new skills.

Up, up and away!

The Plum Swing Set range includes sustainably sourced round poles made from whole tree trunks which are stripped of their bark, trimmed to size and left to retain their natural charm and strength. Built for a healthy playtime and packed full of fun features, each frame will encourage year round physical and imaginative play.

The Plum Create Your Own Swing Set range is designed for the way you want to play. Simply choose your frame, decide on your colour and pick your interchangeable play accessories.

“When I first showed the kids a sneak peak of the Create a Swing package that was available through Plum Play, I was so happy to see the excited expressions on their little faces. We were long over due for an upgrade and for years Rylee had been asking for a basket swing like the “cool ones” they have at the public playgrounds. We sat down as a family and talked about what features they wanted most of all in their set. Although this part was quite difficult we finally agreed that a slide and basket swing were our top picks! Installation was a success and the kids have barely been inside ever since LOL. The slide and basket swing are both very generous in size and are definitely made to stand the test of time. I love how sturdy the frame is and very pleased with the overall quality. We now are the talk of the neighbourhood and the kids friends have so much fun here that they never want to leave. Thank you Plum Play they will still be swinging in years to come!”

Sam Walker, Mummy Blogger

Love to climb!

Free play helps children develop confidence and express themselves through problem solving whilst overcoming fears. A climbing frame can be whatever a child wants it to be… a place to let off steam and create stories. Climbing will increase hand, feet and eye coordination and stimulate the mind.

Let’s tell stories, explore and make believe with friends!

With a wooden playhouse at the bottom of the garden, children have an outdoor hideaway that they can call their very own. Choose the Wooden Cubby House in teal for something classic and colourful, or the Wooden Teepee Hideaway or Nature Play Hideaway for hours of fun outdoor play.

Shop the Adventure Play range now!