Top Tips

How do you go about selecting the right outdoor toys? How do you choose outdoor toys your children will not immediately grow out of? More importantly, how can you ensure your outdoor toys are well made and likely to last years of active play? Here are some simple guidelines to help you make the right choice of outdoor toys for your family.

1. Safety First

Only choose outdoor toys that have passed the required European Safety Standards of EN71. Check the manufacturer’s literature to see how seriously they take safety. Are the outdoor toys they sell tested at an independent laboratory for misuse, stability and inherent material strength?
EN71 is a general toy safety standard and its part 8 clause relates to outside play: your chosen outdoor toys should have undergone the testing procedures of the standard.

2. Go modular!

Modular outdoor toys offer the best value for money in the long term. Because you can add to modular systems at any time, the outdoor toys are more versatile and can be extended as your children grow. Think about a steel climbing frame for example. The Challenger is suitable for children as young as just 18 months when built at low height. But by growing it up to full height and adding more challenging accessories for your outdoor toys, it will still be a favourite for those children when they reach eight years.

3. Check material quality - what are outdoor toys made of?

The quality of material used in outdoor toys are key to its durability and longevity. If you choose steel outdoor toys, check that it is manufactured from high quality galvanised steel. TP’s confidence in the quality of its steel is underlined by its lifetime guarantee against rust causing failure. The same requirement for top quality materials applies to outdoor toys made of wood. Again it is important to look for manufacturer’s guarantees on their wood. woooden climbing frames and wooden swing sets are increasingly popular. It is important to know about wood and its characteristics before you make your choice. Often your outdoor toys will include plastics. To make sure they are durable check the thickness of the plastic and whether it has ultra violet filters to prevent the plastic cracking after prolonged exposure to daylight

4. Check your garden space carefully

Choose outdoor toys that are the right size for your garden. All outdoor toys should have plenty of room surrounding them so children can run around safely.

5. Buy from a reputable stockist

Investing in outdoor toys is a significant purchase. You want to be sure you’ve chosen the best for your family’s needs both now and in the future. A TP Centre of Excellencewill be pleased to advise you on all aspects of your purchase. You can even have your outdoor toys delivered and built too, they will be happy to provide a no obligation quotation for that service.