Outdoor Toys – Plum Play Blog

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.

4 Accessories You Should Buy With Your Trampoline This Year

8th April 202225th April 2022Plum Play

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of jumping on a trampoline. If you were lucky enough to have one as a kid, you’re sure to remember the joyful days bouncing up and down with your friends and family. While a quality trampoline is a lot of fun on its own, there are always trampoline accessories available to make your experience more fun, more safe, and more easy. Whether it’s the added safety of a trampoline anchor kit, the ease of a trampoline ladder or shoe bag, or the extra challenge and fun of a trampoline basketball hoop, we’ve got you covered! Read on to discover our list of four great trampoline accessory ideas to enhance you and your family’s playtime!

1. Trampoline Basketball Hoop

A trampoline basketball hoop is by far the most popular accessory to go with a trampoline. With one of these, you and your kids will be able to practise your lay-ups, rejections, and slam dunks in the backyard. Compete for bragging rights as you decide who is the family’s sharpest shooter! A trampoline basketball hoop is perfect for getting to grips with tricks like through-the-legs dunks, 360s, and alley-oops. Get some airtime and feel like an NBA superstar with a trampoline basketball hoop from Plum Play. Our trampoline basketball hoop is spring-loaded and foam covered for maximum safety, and it comes with a free ball and pump so you can get started right away! The trampoline basketball hoop from Plum is suitable for our Space Zone and Magnitude trampolines, between eight and fourteen feet. Buy a trampoline basketball hoop today and experience the hang-time that a basketball legend feels.

2. Trampoline Ladder

One of the hardest things about having a trampoline can be getting off and on! Not so, with a trampoline ladder. A trampoline ladder makes it easy for smaller folks to mount and dismount the trampoline with ease. Reduce the risk of a fall with a trampoline ladder, and remove the need for that awkward wriggle onto the trampoline that smaller kids usually have to do! Using a trampoline is excellent exercise, and if you want to encourage a healthy lifestyle for your family, the best way to do that is to remove as many obstacles to activity as possible. Adding a trampoline ladder from Plum to your eight to fourteen foot trampoline is a surefire way to get your kids bouncing and burning energy more often! We have trampoline ladders available as part of our trampoline accessory kit.

3. Trampoline Shoe Bag

What’s the cardinal rule of jumping on a trampoline? No shoes! You don’t want to get grime from the soles of your shoes onto the trampoline surface, because it’s bound to end up on your pants and clothes when you’re bouncing around on it! But you don’t want to just chuck your shoes on the dirty ground, otherwise you’re going to end up giving yourself more work cleaning them. Invest in a trampoline shoe bag to eliminate this issue altogether. Give your family a place to store their footwear while they’re having a bounce, and they’re sure to find it easier to keep the trampoline clean and tidy. Check out Plum trampoline accessory kits, which includes a shoe bag.

4. Trampoline Anchor Kit

Safety first! You can never be too careful, and a trampoline anchor kit is a perfect precaution for securing your family’s favourite toy to the ground. A trampoline anchor kit will prevent your trampoline from being at risk of wind and other extreme weather conditions. Firmly anchoring your trampoline means it won’t be able to tip over, and the sturdier the trampoline is, the more reliable your bounce will be. The more reliable the bounce, the more fun you and your family can have! Plum trampoline accessory kits come with anchors included, so check one out today.

Where To Buy Trampoline Accessories

Plum Play is dedicated to creating experiences that let a child’s imagination run wild. We’re committed to doing this in a way that is as safe, as it is fun, letting children run free while parents rest easy. We have a great range of trampoline accessories, so if you’re after any of the products listed above – a trampoline anchor kit, shoe bag, ladder, or trampoline basketball hoop – we are sure to be able to help you out!

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!

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