Have a garden party! essentials for your little ones
The weather is heating up again and summer weddings are in full flow. Mums and Dads are bringing their children along, hoping for some peace whilst knowing the kids are happy, busy and safe!
It’s time to dust off the paddling pool, shake out the play tent and unearth the missing jack from the ancestral boule set. Large garden games both old and new can be a great addition to any event; add them to a vintage themed wedding to create a day fit for all ages.
We’ve gathered a collection of classic and quirky garden toys. If you’re starting to think that your little ones’ outdoor playthings could do with an update or you just want something a bit different this summer, take a look here…
Giant Jenga-style tumbling blocks
Let’s start with a classic. Perhaps more suited to bigger kids, the up-scaled, outdoor version of this rainy-day classic will certainly get competitive spirits running high. Most sets come with carry bags for easy storage, and if summer showers set in, more trusting parents could even let play continue indoors.
Tipi play tent
Available in all shapes, sizes and designs, tipi tents are the children’s answer to the boutique tents us grown-ups know and love! Swap banqueting ottomans for beanbags and blankets and the effect is the same: a magical space where all who enter can unwind and enjoy the outdoors in comfort and style.
Bouncy castle
Not just the preserve of fairs and parties, a bouncy castle could be a permanent feature in your garden this summer! They range hugely in price and sophistication, with features such as integrated paddling pools, ball pits, and slides, they are even available themed with your kids’ favourite cartoon characters, so there’s a bouncy castle to suit everyone’s little one!
Bubble machine
Bubble machines create a fun and enchanting environment, certain to get your little ones excited and running around outdoors. A bubble machine is a gentler outdoor fun alternative to just turning the sprinklers on, having an outdoor ceremony? This could also help you make an entrance down the aisle! Keep it topped up with inexpensive bubble mixture, or even try making your own.
Gelli Baff
Is the paddling pool less exciting than it once was? Wondering how many more bath toys the inflatable plastic can hold? Gelli Baff is the answer! Turn your paddling pool (or bath, if the British summer time isn’t delivering the goods) into a pool of brightly coloured goo with this weird and wonderful formula. (Don’t worry; it disappears just as easily with included goo dissolver.)
Space hopper
We couldn’t go through a list of garden essentials without mentioning this timeless classic. They are available in every colour, theme and size you can think of (and even some unusual shapes – we found a horse and even a cow amongst our research). The whole family can bounce all summer long, with a retro orange face, or a racehorse hopper.
Keep them busy at outdoor parties in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and beyond this summer with these brilliant toys, but don’t feel left out. We’ve got everything the grown-ups need for quality garden time this summer , too!