outdoor play Archives - Plum Play Blog

9 Outdoor Activities – Keep Your Kids Busy This Winter

18th May 20235th June 2023Plum Play

As nature begins to wind down and the days become crisp and bright, it’s the ideal time to get out and about. There are lots of activities that you can do to keep your kids busy as the weather cools down and enjoy the changing seasons together outdoors. Read on to hear some of our favourites…

1. Winter Walk

A simple outdoor activity to keep the kids busy during the colder months is to go on a Winter walk.

Winter is the perfect time to whack out those Wellington boots, pop them on and go for a walk as a family. Jump in the puddles, splash in the mud or search for vibrant tree leaves. It’s all part of the fun of a winter walk!

Why not see who can find the most leaves, see how many birds you can spot or count the puddles as you go to immerse yourself and your little ones in the beauty of the season?

2. Scavenger Hunt

What will you find? Take your Winter exploration a step further by going on a scavenger hunt. This is an excellent activity for children of all ages to get involved in. You can keep this activity simple by looking out for the signs of Winter and scavenging for seasonal treasures.

Why not make a list of things to look out for:

🪵 Twigs

🪶 Feathers

🍁 Red leaves

🍂 Yellow leaves

🍃 Green leaves

🌰 Conker

🌼 Flowers

Need a chest to keep your Winter treasure safe? Egg boxes are a great way to look after all your finds. Use the egg box to keep things together as you go. Little ones can even decorate the box with pens and paper or stick some of their treasures to the box itself when they get home.

3. Wild Work of Art

Another great use of your little one’s nature treasures would be to create a wild work of art.

Use leaves, twigs, feathers and more to make a natural artwork. You can get your little ones to create their artwork straight onto the backyard patio or grass, then take a picture to remember their masterpiece. Or why not use a sheet of paper as the base for their design, so they have something to create and keep?

4. Pooh Sticks

This is a classic outdoor activity, made famous by a certain bear, and will be a fun way to pass the time together during Winter weekends.

You need two or more players, each with a stick. Find a bridge that sits over a flow of moving water, like over a stream or river.

Once everyone has chosen their favourite stick, everyone needs to stand on the bridge.

On your marks, get set, go! Everyone throws their sticks into the water at the same time.

The stick that floats under the bridge and emerges first on the other side wins, hooray!

Top Tip: Double-check how the water flows so that your sticks go the right way!

5. Bug Buddy

Insects and bugs like to stay cosy in Winter, living under snuggly moss or in big hollows in tree bark, so this is the perfect time of year to make a bug buddy.

Go on a bug hunt around the backyard and look for the marvellous minibeasts hiding out.

When your child finds their bug buddy remind them to be kind and gentle. To the bugs, your child is a giant. The bugs are minibeasts, after all! Encourage your child to scoop them up carefully in their hands and place them down gently once they have finished meeting their bug buddy.

You could even get children to write out the names of the bugs they see, count how many they find or draw their bug buddies too.

6. Bug Hotel

So, you’ve found some bug buddies. What about making a bug hotel so that they have a cosy place to stay in your backyard this Winter?

This activity is a great way to encourage your kids to help look after nature and will keep them occupied.

Use those leaves and sticks you collected on your scavenger hunt to construct a tiny house for the insects that call your backyard home.

When your child is creating their bug hotel, ask them to consider whether their bug visitors need leaves and whether they like their hotel to be wet or dry, in the shade or the sun – so it really can be the perfect retreat for backyard creatures.

Things like cardboard tubes and boxes can help to create ‘rooms’ for minibeast guests in your bug hotel.

7. Conker Painting

Conkers are the glossy brown staples of Autumn and Wintertime.

They are robust and relatively large, meaning they are great for painting!

This activity can be mindful and an excellent way for your kids to wind down after a busy Winter day.

Gather some paint and paint brushes, along with your conkers and get painting.

This is a great activity to do in the backyard. For one, your children can take inspiration from the outdoors around them for their painting-they’ll spot wildlife, flowers, and colours. Painting in the backyard also means no mess indoors, and the rain can wash any spills away afterwards!

8. Make a Mud Masterpiece

For this one, prepare to get messy, but that’s really what outdoor exploring is all about!

Encourage little ones to grab a big handful of mud and mould it like clay into mud masterpieces. Why not develop mud into a mud creature or perhaps a mud pie?

This is a great idea to encourage children to engage their senses outdoors. When creating their mud masterpiece, encourage your kids to fully immerse themselves in the sensory play by asking them questions such as, what does the mud feel like? What does it sound like when you squish it?

Encourage them to mould it in different ways, such as rolling, squashing, mixing and patting. This will help them create their mud masterpieces and aid the development of fine and gross motor skills.

9. Winter Obstacle Course

This a fun way to encourage healthy, active play during the cooler months of the year.

Your children can make an outdoor nature obstacle course for their friends by gathering sticks to jump over or create hopscotch. Why not collect a big pile of leaves to jump into at the finish line?

If you have a climbing frame, why not use this as a challenge within the obstacle course? Kids can climb up the ladder, swoop down the slide, and go to the finish line!

If your backyard has a small footprint, children can take turns to complete the route and see who can complete it in the fastest time, so everyone safely gets a go with plenty of space.

plum play discovery create & paint easel

Wintertime is the perfect time to get outdoors, so pop on a coat, get the kids together and get out there! We hope these seasonal outdoor ideas give you lots of inspiration to keep your kids busy this Winter.

If you try out any of these activities for kids, share your adventures with us @PlumPlayAus #lifeatplay

Prepare to get set for even more Plum Play Fun…

There’s lots of fun to be had in Winter, and we hope that you and your little ones enjoy trying out some of these seasonal outdoor ideas. However, if you’re dreaming of sunnier days and even more Plum Play fun, don’t worry as the countdown has begun… You can now pre-order play equipment in time for Spring!

You can enjoy over 15% off on pre-order items, making it the perfect opportunity to get set for an unforgettable season of backyard play.

Explore pre-order play here.

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.

How to Celebrate the International Day of Happiness [7 Ideas]

17th March 202317th March 2023Plum Play

What is the International Day of Happiness?

Happy International Day of Happiness 2023!

Happiness is about experiencing positive feelings such as contentment and joy. International Day of Happiness is a day that encourages people to focus on what truly matters in life, and that is happiness. This year it is on Monday, 20^th March 2023. While adding some happiness to every day is important, the International Day of Happiness is an excellent opportunity to celebrate happiness with your family. Here are some fun activities you can try out to celebrate the International Day of Happiness with your kids…

Activities for Kids to Spread Joy on the International Day of Happiness

1) Share Your Happiness with Each Other

One of the best ways to celebrate the International Day of Happiness with your family is by sharing your happiness with each other. Take some time to sit down with your family and ask each other what makes you happy. Share your happy moments and memories, and remember all the fun activities you have done as a family. This is a great way to create a positive and happy atmosphere in your home.

2) Bake Some Treats Together

Baking is a fun and creative way to celebrate the International Day of Happiness with your family. Not only is baking a fun activity, but you also enjoy the delicious treats you make together. You could bake some gingerbread biscuits together and give them yummy happy faces by creating eyes and a smiley mouth out of fruit.

3) Go Outside and Play

Spending time outdoors is a superb way to promote happiness. Spend some time in the backyard together. You can jump on the trampoline, play hide and seek around the climbing frame, go on a backyard scavenger hunt, or play any other games your family enjoys. Spending time outside in nature can boost your mood and help you feel happier.

4) Do Some Arts and Crafts

You can draw, paint, or make crafts together. Creating art together is a great way to celebrate the International Day of Happiness. A really simple craft to try is creating happy potato prints. You’ll only need a few things: paint, paper and potatoes.

You will need the following:

📜 Paper

🎨 Paint – bright colours to spark happiness, like orange, yellow and pink work well

🥔 Potatoes – big baking potatoes work well

Instructions

Cut a smiley shape into your potato or try other shapes, like stars using a biscuit cutter to indent the outline and then finish cutting with a knife.
Let your kids loose on the paint and stamp the potatoes into the paint and then onto the paper.
Leave the creations to try.
Display where all the family can see to give you a little happiness every day.

This is a great way to express your creativity and spend quality time together as a family.

5) Have a Picnic

Having a picnic is a fun and easy way to celebrate the International Day of Happiness. Pack some sandwiches, fruit, and drinks (and don’t forget those biscuits you made earlier) and head outdoors together. This is a great way to enjoy nature and spend quality time together as a family.

6) Make the Wildlife Happy

There’s a whole host of activities you can encourage your kids to do to make the animals and insects in your backyard happy; it’s not just about happy humans! Why not get your kids to build a bug hotel to keep backyard minibeasts content and cosy or scatter some wildflower seeds so that you will have a host of happy bees in your backyard in the summertime?

Doing activities like this is a great way to get your children to spend time in nature and get involved in the outdoors. It also teaches them how to look after wildlife and make the planet happy.

7) Give Back to Your Community

Giving back to your community is a compassionate way to celebrate the International Day of Happiness. You could donate something to a local food bank or help at a community event. This is a great way to teach your children about the importance of giving back and positively impacting the world.

What is Happening Around the World on the International Day of Happiness?

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated around the world; families share online what makes them happy and how they celebrate the day with loved ones.

Schools sometimes have special events like dressing in clothes that make you happy or a happiness post box where children can post compliment cards to their friends.

Local community hubs might host events like bake sales or pop-up craft tents to spread happiness and joy in the local community, so keep a lookout in your local area.

It’s time to share happiness! What are you doing to spread more happiness? Don’t forget to share your ideas with us @plumplayaus #LifeAtPlay.

Plum Play Christmas Gift Ideas 2022

11th November 202211th November 2022Plum Play

The end of the year is in sight, and the festive spirit is in the air, so this is the perfect time to start planning Christmas ideas and gifts to spread the Christmas magic from presents to playtime!

Plum Play recognise that every child is unique in their interests and abilities. So, we have created a handy gift guide to help you find the best outdoor and pretend play toys to surprise your kids with this Christmas to suit every personality and budget, plus some great Christmas gifts for the grown-ups, too!

Super for Junior Jumpers

Junior Jumpers are little ones full of energy and will love a trampoline to bounce away the day and bounce off all that energy through healthy, active play.

There’s a Plum Play Trampoline for everyone, from 18+ months to big kids. A Plum Play trampoline is a present that is sure to put a smile on your child’s face this year.

Jump with the Trolls!

Your toddler can jump into a Trolls world of adventure with Poppy, Branch and Barb on the 4.5ft Trolls Junior Trampoline with Sounds.

The bouncing mat on this trampoline makes six different fun Trolls sounds. As your child bounces and plays, they can jump with the Trolls and activate the sounds they will recognise from the movies. The sound box is battery-powered and easy to install. The trampoline is made from durable materials and has a galvanised steel frame for weather protection.

plum 4.5ft junior jumper trolls trampoline

Ideal for Ambitious Adventurers

For kids that love adventure, we have epic climbing frames that will help nurture their curiosity and bring out the independent explorer in them.

Adventure play will build your child’s confidence as they push their boundaries to new heights and develop new skills. With climbing frames for 18 months + we have something for all families this Christmas.

My first climb!

If you’re looking for gift ideas for preschoolers, little ones will love the My First Wooden Playcentre with its mini rock wall and secret den. It is a great wooden climbing frame to create magic first time moments for you and your toddler, making hours of laughter and play all the way to their brave first climb.

For kids that love to climb!

Older kids can explore the Wooden Lookout Tower Playcentre with Monkey Bars, which has exciting elements for 3+ year-olds. The climbing frame includes a ladder leading up to the tower and a rock wall with hand and foot grips and monkey bars. An 8ft wave slide will take them down, and they can hide in the ball pit below deck.

A perfect gift for kids this Christmas would also be the Plum Tamarin Wooden Climbing Frame which contains all of the features that your children will need to spend hours monkeying around. Two swings for double the fun, a wooden ladder leading to a play deck and a wave slide. This wooden climbing frame is perfect for encouraging agile and active play and will help your children burn off all their energy!

Check out our range of Climbing Frames for your Ambitious Adventurer here.

For the Cool Kids

Keep the kids cool this Christmas with the Premium Metal Double Swing and Glider with Mist.

This swing set has a unique water feature that hooks up to your water pipe for outdoor water fun, with two swings for twice the enjoyment and a glider, so even more friends and family can join in the fun.

The frame is larger than standard swing sets. The extra height means a bigger swing, perfect for keeping children active even on the hottest days.

plum premium metal double swing and glider with mist

Fab for All the Family

Play isn’t just for the kids! This Christmas, there’s fun for all the family with the Space Zone II Trampoline.

This trampoline is perfect for aspiring gymnasts; with Springsafe technology separating the jumper from the springs whilst maximising jumping, it’s sure to give the best bounce. The trampoline frame is also protected against rust, and the unique Tramp Klamp bracket secures the leg and frame joint, adding extra stability and more opportunities to push the bouncing boundaries!

It also comes in a range of sizes, up to 14ft (with a free trampoline accessory kit when you buy a Space Zone Trampoline and use code: FREEKIT) and supports up to 125kg, so you can hop to it and get a gift ticked off the list that the whole family will love!

Garden Explorers Will Love

Garden explorers enjoy digging and planting. They like to forage and find and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, pop on their wellies and go on a garden expedition.

Garden explorers will enjoy play equipment from the Discovery Collection. The collection inspires a love for nature and engages children in STEAM education in the early stages of childhood.

Explore the Discovery Collection here.

Great for Nature-lovers

Nature-lovers are naturally curious about the outdoors. They want to jump in muddy puddles, help plant the veg patch and hunt for minibeasts in the garden. We think kids who love nature will be at home in the Plum Discovery Woodland Treehouse.

The Plum Discovery Woodland Treehouse allows little ones to climb, slide and discover adventure and messy play. Little ones can interact with nature as they discover wildlife hiding in the garden, engage in active play, and keep a lookout from the playcentre as the seasons change.

The Woodland Treehouse includes a built-in potted garden, create and paint easel and bamboo chimes to help develop little ones’ love of nature and add sensory elements to play.

For Alfresco Festive Picnics and Play

Kids can enjoy festive treats alfresco-style with the Surfside Wooden Sand and Picnic Table.

This innovative table provides the perfect place for little ones to sit and enjoy snack time in the fresh air. Then, when snack time is over, the tabletop can be easily removed to reveal the sand and water trays, so your kids can enjoy hours of sand and water play.

Encourage creative play. Will they dig for buried treasure, go on a deep-sea adventure or build sandcastles? This table is so versatile that kids can let their imaginations run wild and immerse themselves in sensory play.

On a Budget

You don’t have to spend lots to give your kids a Christmas they will remember. We have lots of great deals on a variety of fun play products this year, from Trolls to trampolines, swing sets to see-saws. Check out our magical Christmas deals here.

We hope this children’s Christmas present ideas guide has given you some fun present suggestions for your kids this Christmas. With something for everyone, Plum Play is a high-quality, safe and ethically manufactured choice to top your kid’s Christmas list this year.

6 Key Elements of Montessori Learning with Westwood Montessori School

21st September 202222nd September 2022Plum Play

‘Children freely working and making their own choices, that then allows them to work and develop how they need’ – Dr Michelle Wisbey, Headteacher of Westwood Montessori School.

When we first met the team at Westwood Montessori school in 2018, we were so excited to learn all about Montessori learning in the early years of education. We recently caught up with Head Teacher Michelle Wisbey and Teacher Liz Barclay to find out more about Montessori play and learning in school and at home – here’s what we found out…

What is Montessori learning?

Essentially, Montessori uses a skills-based approach to learning, in that children can make their own choices by choosing the learning activities they need, how they need to work, and how they want to play. The philosophy is to let your child pave the way and learn from your child.

What is the importance of the Montessori approach?

This approach to learning helps foster intrinsic motivation in the child. This is when inspiration comes from within the child themselves, rather than being driven to play or do specific tasks from extrinsic factors outside of themselves—for example, completing an activity because they enjoy it or want to learn more, rather than to get praise from an adult.

Key Elements of Montessori Learning:

1. Children Lead the Way

The Montessori approach centres on the idea that children should be in charge of their learning. This approach allows children to explore and discover through hands-on learning and self-directed activity.

Children will instinctively know how they would like to learn and develop; every child develops differently in their unique way.

As adult role models, we must provide a safe environment and freedom for children to explore and ask questions.

Children playing outdoors with Plum Create and Paint Easel

2. An Accessible Environment

When speaking to Liz Barclay, a teacher from Westwood Montessori School, she explained how Montessori encourages everything to be accessible to children so they can reach and explore independently without always needing to ask an adult.

Ensure that toy boxes are at your child’s level so they can reach for the things they would like and learn to help put things away after playtime.

Having Montessori furniture can help make the environment accessible to little ones. This doesn’t need to be specialist Montessori infant furniture. Simply child-size furniture, like chairs and picnic tables, helps encourage independence and makes the environment accessible to your little one as the furniture is low enough to the ground so that they can go and sit and move it by themselves without needing to ask a grown-up.

Ideally, they should be able to reach as many things as possible within their environment, from chairs to cutlery and wardrobes to wax crayons, so that they can get involved in daily life and develop independence and self-resilience.

3. Mixed Age Groups

Children can learn from those older and help teach those younger. Montessori highlights the importance of learning from others and helping others. When playing with other children, especially children of various ages, little ones can learn to share, take turns, and teach and support others.

Going out for a walk to the local park so your little one can interact with other children or inviting your child’s friends and family over to play on your garden playcentre is a great way to encourage this at home.

4. Encourage Your Child to Try Things for Themselves

Help them to help themselves. Encourage children to try things hands-on and give them the freedom to explore and test things out.

Liz, from Westwood Montessori, explained how important it is for adults to encourage and praise the whole process when children try things, not just praise them for the end result. This enables children to persevere and be more willing to try something again in the future.

Let your child be independent and responsible. Trust that they will try and work things out for themselves but be there to support and answer questions if they need a helping hand.

Children in Plum Discovery Nature Play Hideaway Cubby

5. Care For Themselves, Others and The Environment

Montessori learning values teaching children how to care for themselves, be kind to others and nurture plants and animals in their environment.

For example, food preparation helps them develop cooking, literacy and numeracy skills.

Growing vegetables or caring for a pet teaches them how to nurture and be compassionate and kind to animals and encourages love and respect for nature.

6. Encourage Creativity and Imagination

Allow little ones to be creative and use their imagination. Encourage wonder and expression through arts and crafts, music, dancing, language and questioning.

Child playing with Plum Discovery Create & Paint Easel

Thank you for reading part one of our Montessori blog with Westwood Montessori, looking at the key elements of Montessori learning.

Look out for the next blog post, where we’ll delve deeper into the skills Montessori can help your child develop. We’ll also give you some ideas on incorporating Montessori ideas at home and some fun activities you can try with your little one.

Find out more about Westwood Montessori and the Montessori method here.

How Children’s Climbing Frames Can Keep Kids Active

5th August 202222nd September 2022Plum Play

Children climbing on Plum Play Climbing Pyramid

The Benefits of Children’s Climbing Frames

Climbing frames are a great way to help your kids to burn off energy, increase their climbing confidence and to help them develop their physical strength. Whilst climbing does encourage positive risk-taking, at Plum Play, we design our play equipment with safety and durability in mind, so, children can enjoy the freedom of play and parents can have peace of mind.

Child Development and Climbing

Climbing is an important skill that children learn as they develop. Children first learn to climb when they are young, typically from around 12 months, and this helps them to develop their coordination and spatial awareness. Learning to climb then helps them to acquire new skills. For example, learning to climb by playing on a climbing frame means that they can then use these skills to walk up steps.

Once children have become more experienced with climbing, they can then further improve things like their balance and dexterity.

In addition to physical benefits, climbing frames can also help children to develop mentally. When climbing, children need to make choices, which hand grip to hold to get the best grip and climb up the playcentre or decide which route down the climbing frame to take. Playing in this way helps children to increase their problem-solving skills and decision-making. This can then help them in other aspects of life, such as deciding what clothes to wear each day or which route to take on a family walk.

Children playing on Plum Play Climbing Pyramid

Children’s Climbing Frames

On your marks, get set… Climb!

A great activity to keep your children active using a climbing frame would be to create an obstacle course.

Children can work together to set out the route using the climbing frame as the focal point, climbing up the ladder and scrambling down the cargo net. They can add other toys into the course too. Why not add in footballs to jump over, cones to run around or draw hopscotch with chalk on the path to add even more fun to the route?

Children can then take turns to see who can complete the course in the fastest time or race each other to the finish!

Another fun climbing frame activity to keep your kids busy is hide and seek. The seeker can head to the top of the climbing frame and count to 100 whilst the other children hide around the climbing frame.

Then the hide and seek fun begins! The seeker needs to find all the hiders as quickly as they can. Remember to look high and low. Don’t forget to look in tunnels and dens and behind slides, if your climbing frame has those, there are lots of places to hide.

Children in Plum Play Climbing Pyramid Den

The Plum Play Climbing Cube Wooden Playcentre is a really good choice for primary-school-aged children; it’s feature-rich, with a wooden climbing platform with steps, rock wall with hand and foot grips, cargo scramble net, double length monkey bars and double length trapeze gymnastic bars. It even has a camouflage fabric den will roll-down door, the ideal base for secret missions and hanging out with friends.

Toddlers’ Climbing Frame

I spy with my little eyes…

I spy is a great game to play with little ones around the climbing frame and encourages them to keep their mind active.

Each child takes turns to seek out something they can see on or near the climbing frame and the rest of the children can take turns to move around the climbing frame and guess what the other child can see.

I spy is a simple game to help little ones learn about their environment and can be played in a variety of ways. Perhaps looking for things beginning with different letters of the alphabet, looking for things of a certain colour or looking for things up high or down low.

Child playing in Plum Play Discovery Woodland Treehouse

Our Discovery Woodland Treehouse allows toddlers to join in the climbing fun too. The treehouse is ideal for adventurous little ones aged 3+ and is a great way to help build your child’s climbing confidence.

This wooden climbing frame has lots of other features to keep your children active. There’s a built-in planter, the perfect feature to help little ones discover their green fingers by growing their own vegetables or tending to their flowers. There’s also a pail and pull so children can water their plants with the bucket and the bamboo wind chimes also add a nice nature-inspired soundscape as they climb. When they’re not climbing, the easy-clean painting screen allows little ones to unleash their inner artist!

Their First Climbing Frame

We have been a leading provider of children’s toys for over 30 years, so you can count on us to put a smile on your little one’s face. The My First Wooden Playcentre is the perfect first experience for your little climbers. This wooden climbing frame has a small climbing wall and cargo net and 4ft blue slide, so that your little ones can learn to climb and slide whilst also developing their gross and fine motor skills. There’s even a den space so your little ones can hide out in their playcentre or use it as a cosy place to play with toys and think up new adventures.

For first-time climbers, a great way to keep them active here would be to help them climb and count their steps as they make their way to the top of the playcentre. Or maybe they will call out the colours of the hand and foot grips as they go, this will help keep both their mind and body active.

This Plum My First Wooden Playcentre would also be a great place for you and your little one to read stories together in the den after a busy day of climbing. This will help to keep your child’s mind active, whilst also being a great chance to enjoy some peaceful time outdoors together.

Plum has climbing frames for children of all ages, so whether it’s their first climb or for more adventurous children, we’ve got something to suit your child’s needs.

Now your kids can climb away the day! If you try any climbing frame activities with your children, be sure to share your adventures with us on Instagram @PlumPlayAus.

Find out more about our climbing frames here.

Things You Can Replace If Your Plum Play Trampoline Is Damaged

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Trampoline activities are a great way for kids to get outside, be active, and enjoy the garden. We all know how enthusiastic kids can be when it comes to playing, so trampoline-based activities are ideal for them. With games that they can play on their own, and others that parents can join in, trampolines are the go-to for family fun. Your child can happily bounce away with the Plum Play range of Junior and Premium Trampolines.

With so much usage, normal wear and tear is to be expected. Here at Plum Play, our equipment is built to last. However, if for some reason, your trampoline does get damaged, it’s easy to fix at home. All products at Plum Play are simple to assemble and come with clear instructions. You can easily find replacement parts on our website. Here are the most common things that might need replacing in your trampoline.

Trampoline Mat

The trampoline jumping mat is first on our list of the most important and urgent trampoline parts to replace on a trampoline. After a while of putting weight on your trampoline’s mat, you’ll notice that it has less bounce. Other reasons that can affect your mat’s bounce can be weather-related effects like continuous exposure to sun and rain. You’ll know that you have to replace your mat when you see the mat sagging and getting overstretched. There may also be thin areas of holes.

When you order a replacement, keep the shape and size of the mat in mind. For our Junior Trampolines, we have a 4.5FT Junior Trampoline Jumping Mat. Your little ones can continue jumping to the moon when you replace their trampoline mat. Our sizes go up till the largest size of our mats – the 14FT Premium Trampoline Jumping Mat. Make sure to check each product’s dimensions so that you get the right size.

Trampoline Springs

Trampoline springs are designed to stretch out to generate the necessary bouncing stress. Plum Play trampolines are made of the highest-quality wire. Despite this, over time and with exposure to harsh run and rain, springs can deteriorate and stretch. The stretch in the springs can affect the trampoline mat and your bounce. With stretchy or faulty springs, the mat can get unevenly pulled to one side. If you have had a trampoline for a while, it would be a good idea to check the springs to see how they are holding up. If your trampoline is out in the rain, make sure you keep an eye out for signs of rust.

For some regular maintenance on your trampoline springs, make sure to grab our spring packs. They are available in 3 sizes – 85mm, 140mm and 178mm. Each size is compatible with different sizes of trampolines. Check the product details to make sure you get the right springs for your trampoline.

Trampoline Safety Pads

Safety pads are one of the most important parts of a trampoline. They guarantee the safety of your little ones and have them bouncing happily. They are made of absorbent material. This material can degrade over time. When you are doing regular maintenance on your trampoline, make sure you check that the safety pads are shock-absorbing. If the safety pads are worn out, they will not provide adequate protection. This can potentially injure your happy bouncers.

At Plum Play, we offer replacement safety pads for each size of trampoline. You can also get safety pads in different colours like pink and blue, depending on what your kids like. Take measurements for your trampoline replacement and check product specification before ordering to get the correct size.

Trampoline Enclosure Nets

Enclosure nets are essential for safety. They are a barrier that prevents the bouncer from falling off. Trampoline enclosure nets can tear due to pulling. Exposure to sun and moisture can also deteriorate the net. This is more common with outdoor and garden trampolines than with indoor ones. It is time to replace the enclosure nets when you start seeing holes.

Plum Play trampoline accessories include a range of replacement enclosure nets. Available in different sizes and colours, these nets can easily replace your worn out net and your trampoline will look brand new.

These are the four essential things that will need replacing in your trampoline as time goes one and you use it more. Apart from these, you can also find other replacement parts like enclosure poles, top rims and legs. Browse our entire range of trampoline accessories and spare parts here.

Keeping an eye on your trampoline and checking it every couple of months will help you keep on top of maintenance. This will ultimately give your kids a happy and safe experience.

5 Tips To Take Care Of Your Trampoline

8th April 202225th April 2022Plum Play

child jumping on plum trampoline with enclosure

A good family trampoline is a long-term investment. Without proper care and maintenance, however, your trampoline start to wear , no matter how expensive or durable it is. You must take adequate trampoline care to ensure that your trampoline remains in safe working order.

If you’ve recently purchased your first trampoline or are curious to find out how to extend your family’s trampoline lifespan, you may be wondering what trampoline care entails. How can you get the best out of your kid’s favourite toy? When we talk about trampoline maintenance, we’re talking about a series of modest tasks that you should follow from the beginning of the trampoline set up to the end. Those phases include things such as correctly installing the trampoline, doing frequent inspections, and cleaning the trampoline, among others.

1. Find the right location

You may believe that because you have a robust trampoline, you can put it anywhere in the backyard as long as there is sufficient space. In truth, you are not entirely incorrect. However, it would be preferable to find a shaded spot with level ground. Even ground is ideal for setting up the structure on which the trampoline is situated. As long as the frame is properly installed, your family will have excellent fun jumping and enjoy a long trampoline lifespan.

Even though most top-rated trampolines have UV-protected mats and other materials, if the trampoline is kept in the sun without care, the sun will eventually cause the mat to wear. That’s why we usually advise choosing a shaded location. This being said, try to stay away from areas with trees or tree branches that are too close. This will stop debris and leaves from falling into your trampoline, also you don’t want your kids bumping their heads as they try to jump as high as they can.

2. Store your trampoline

If you are convinced that you will not need your trampoline over the winter, disassemble it and store the parts in a safe location. When dismantling some components, it’s best to remove the net, jump surface, springs, and safety pad while leaving the poles and metal frame in the yard. Even though trampolines Australia wide aren’t usually exposed to snow, we do still experience heavy rain and winds, so storing your trampoline during the colder months can help to protect it.

3. Protect from the wind

A strong storm or strong wind might badly destroy your trampoline. To make the trampoline stable, you’ll need ground anchors, which are like wind stakes. They are inexpensive, but they lessen the risk of your trampoline blowing away. It will strengthen the trampoline by securing it to the ground. You can also use sandbags to protect the frame from the elements too.

4. Invest in a good trampoline cover

A trampoline cover is an essential piece of equipment for maintaining the trampoline throughout the year. If you can’t locate a shady spot to put up your trampoline, a cover might help protect your trampoline from the sun. You may cover your family’s trampoline in the rain to prevent water from entering as well. There are a few things to consider when it comes to using cover in the winter. Trampoline covers may allow moisture to collect beneath them, causing your trampoline springs or frame to corrode. If you use a cover in the winter, you must remove it from time to time to allow moisture to evaporate naturally.

5. Replace the parts when necessary

If you take proper care of your trampoline, it will serve you well for a long time. If any parts, such as springs, become rusted or the jumping mat is ripped, you should repair them immediately. Alternatively, if you’re still inside the warranty term, make a claim as soon as possible. If you ignore a problem because it is minor, that minor problem could result in a significant loss in the long run. Take action when necessary.

Take care of your trampoline

Your family deserves the best, and here at Plum Play, we have a superb range of safe and durable trampolines Australia will love. With quality products, though, still comes quality maintenance, and with the right amount of care, you can make your trampoline last throughout your children’s pivotal jumping and playing years.

What Makes Plum Play Swing Sets Safe for Babies?

18th March 202225th April 2022Plum Play

What makes a baby swing safe? Should we make all swings from wood? Can you put a baby swing set in your backyard? These are questions that many parents ask when they are looking for the perfect way for their baby to play. Swings are a great way for babies to get exercise, and they can provide hours of fun! In this blog post, we will discuss the different factors that go into making a Plum Play baby swing set safe. With a Plum Play baby swing set, parents can have peace of mind. Their children are riding a quality swing set, with safety standards at the centre of its design.

What Material Should Baby Swings Be?

The material we make baby swings from is the most important factor when it comes to safety. It is best to choose a wooden swing set, as this material is reliable, safe, and durable. Plum Play has a range of wooden swing sets to suit your needs. We even stock a baby swing set that grows with your child! We also have our 2-in-1 metal swing set. This is made from powder coated steel, which ensures full protection against rust.

At Plum Play, we test all our products against the relevant European Safety Standards. Our products follow or exceed EN71-1, 2, 3 and 8. They also meet or exceed REACH chemical standards. REACH is a European regulatory body. Its full name is Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. What does complying with these standards and regulations mean in layman’s terms? We make our products from materials that are, at minimum, non-toxic and non-flammable. We also use FSC certified, sustainable sources of timber. You can rest assured your new products are environmentally conscious as well as safe.

What Makes A Baby Swing Safe To Use?

A good baby swing will have a safe seat for the child. A high back and harness is essential. We design our baby swing seats with a T-bar front, so your infant has something to hold on to while they’re having fun. Our wooden growing swing set also has an adjustable lap belt. This has a clip fastening, which doesn’t only make your baby safer. It also makes it easier to get them in and out of the swing!

How Can I Make My Baby Swing Safer?

It is important to make sure that you concrete your swing set into the ground. This will help prevent it from tipping over if someone pushes or swings too hard. Plum Play recommends that new owners concrete all our swing sets into the ground. This is necessary to follow Australian safety standards. All Plum Play baby swing sets come with the hardware and ground anchors to secure your set with ease.

happy baby looking at parent in plum swing

How Do I Choose The Right Baby Swing Set?

It is important to choose a swing set that is appropriate for your baby’s age and size. We design sets for children of all ages. Some are for babies as young as six months old, while we intend for toddlers and older children to use others. Be sure to read the product description before clicking ‘buy’! Our product descriptions list appropriate age and weight ranges for each swing set.

Where Can I Buy Baby Swings?

Do you need more help selecting the right baby swing set for you? Check out our range, then get in touch with our helpful team. We’ve been in this business for over thirty years, so we are leaders in the field. We’re more than happy to give you the benefit of our expertise. Ensuring that you and your child have fun with their new toys is our top priority!

At Plum Play, we understand the importance of safe play. To this end, your child’s well-being is at the forefront of our design process. We pride ourselves on creating toys and play equipment for childhood development. Our mission is to encourage healthy, active outdoor playtime.

As parents, we dedicate ourselves to ensuring all our products encourage safe play. We design affordable, innovative and fun products for all ages. We refuse to compromise on safety or quality.

How Do You Anchor Metal Swings?

18th March 202225th April 2022Plum Play

Playing on metal swings is some of the most fun you can have as a child. That’s why we ensure our swing sets are extra safe! Anchoring your swing set is crucial. Read on for our guide to securing your swings with ease. With these tips, you’ll be able to ensure the safety and enjoyment of your kids for years to come!

As a parent, your main concern is that your backyard swing set is safe. Anchoring the legs in concrete is a simple and effective way to make sure of that. Grass is a nice padded surface to land on should you fall or jump from the swing. It doesn’t provide ideal stability though. Swinging will give the set momentum, especially if there is more than one child playing at once. If it rocks back and forth too much, the set might tip. This is why we recommend concreting.

What Do I Need to Anchor My Metal Swing Set?

Plum Play metal swing sets come with all the necessary materials for anchoring. These include anchoring plates, stakes, screws, nuts, bolts, and bolt covers. Always use the manufacturer’s recommended ground anchors. If circumstances prevent you from doing so, use replacement anchors from Plum Play.

Make sure that you have all the tools needed before assembling. You won’t need much except for a wrench, hammer, shovel, and drill. You will need to buy some concrete, and it’s useful to have a post hole digger. Your shovel will suffice if you don’t have one, though. You might also need a tape measure.

How Do I Anchor My Metal Swing Set?

Begin this process by marking the position of your swing set legs. An easy way to do this is to tap stakes into the ground where you intend for each of the swing set legs to go. This is most useful if you’re using a post hole digger. If you’re not, any other method of marking will suffice.

Next, dig a hole about 20cm deep and 25cm wide. You should position these holes so that they’ll be on the inside of each of your swing set’s legs. If you’re using a post hole digger, put it over the stakes you’ve inserted into the ground. Take a handle in each hand, lift it up, and slam it down into the ground. Pull out the handles and the blades of the digger will collect dirt. Wrench the digger out of the ground, then release the handles to dispose of the dirt. Repeat this until you have the right amount of holes to match the number of swing set poles.

If you’re using a shovel, dig the holes the traditional way. Make sure they’re somewhat uniform in size, so the finished product looks nice.

Now you need to fill these holes with concrete. Take a 20kg bag and pour it into a wheelbarrow, or another suitable container. Add the amount of water recommended by the manufacturer and stir with a shovel. Make sure there are no dry bits left over. Shovel concrete into each of the holes you’ve dug and smooth it over with a trowel.

At this point, you can take the ground anchors provided and insert them into the concrete. Push them in at a 45° angle to their corresponding swing set legs. Once they’re secured in place, you can leave the concrete to set overnight. If you roughed the wet concrete up while inserting the ground anchors, smooth it over.

The next day, you can attach your ground anchors to your swing set’s legs. You can do this with chains, straps, rope, or the hardware provided with your Plum Play metal swing set. Once you’ve done this, your swing set is ready to enjoy! The combination of ground anchor, secure strap, and concrete will keep your kids safe.

Where Can I Buy Metal Swing Sets in Australia?

Plum Play stocks a great range of metal swing sets. This includes single swings, double swings, nest swings, and more! Check out our 5-Unit Metal Swing with Slide for a premium play experience.

Each one of our swing sets comes with the necessary materials for anchoring. We make a commitment to keeping playtime as fun and safe as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about the safety of Plum Play products, we are always happy to help.