Play tents have become one of the latest craves in children's toys. As kids, we all enjoyed stimulating our imaginations by building the occasional fort. Not only is a child's imagination essential in normal and healthy childhood development, it's also a key factor is stimulating the 5 senses. Play tents make building forts and acting out tent scenes in the backyard, or in the living room, easy and fun for all ages.
What to Look for
Play tents come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and prices. When shopping for a play tent, sites such as babycenter.com, amazon.com and toysrus.com offer a variety of styles to choose from. Important things to look for when purchasing a play tent include safety ratings, cost and size.
Safety is first and foremost the most important factor is purchasing any children's toy. Look for loose strings, tags and detachable items that may become choking or strangulation hazards. Most play tents are made of nylon, which is safe for children of all ages. Proper care of play tents is essential in maintaining a clean and healthy play environment with your child. Weekly washing of all toys is recommended to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria.
Play tents are great for infant and toddler outdoor play, as they can play inside the tent and avoid insect bites, sun, wind and dust. But make sure the tent has proper ventilation to prevent overheating and suffocation from inside the tent.
Play tents come in a variety of sizes, from mini pop-up tents small enough for any indoor room, to large outdoor pop-up tents that mimic an outdoor camping adventure. Most weigh between one to three pounds and fold up into tight, compact kits that are easy to store and carry. When choosing your play tent, be sure to keep in mind the area that your child will be playing with the tent.
As with any infant toy, there is a vast price range for play tents, depending on the size and detail. Tents are available in characters and themes, including Barbi, Cinderella and Thomas. Brand name tents are likely more expensive than plain, simple colored play tents. But all serve the same purpose--fun for the children, healthy stimulation of the senses and use of their developing imaginations.
Common Pitfalls
Some drawbacks to play tents may include easy manipulation, meaning that if the child plays too rough around the tent, it can become damaged.
Once a play tent is damaged, discard and replace immediately, as it can become a hazard to children of all ages.
Due to the bulky size when open, the play tent can be difficult to clean properly. And, if windy day approaching, the light weight of the play tent makes it possible to blow away easily.
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