Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Help!

OK, James' birthday is right around the corner and I just can't decide between these two big gift ideas:

The first is a Step 2 Playground Climber. He just loves the playground in our community, but every time we go there are loud, obnoxious pre-teens, and graffiti, and trash, so I would like to have something for him in the backyard.


My other idea is an easel/art center. I found this one and think it is pretty cute. I am thinking that this would help me keep him entertained while I am working (as I have been relying too much on the tv and you know how I hate that.)

Of course, as Chris points out, it is getting hotter here, and I won't want him playing on the playground set during the day when it is 110+. (And, I will be indoors working, so maybe the easel is a better idea?) But, I can do the same thing setting him up on the coffee table or the kitchen table with supplies, right??

Both cost about the same.

All you Moms and Dads out there, I need you to weigh in on this for me!! Thanks a bunch!

10 comments:

Redhead in Vegas said...

hmmm, that's tough. we have a magnetic easel and Ryan loves putting her letters on it. she likes to stand and draw on it, too. on the other hand, i am TOTALLY with you on the playground nonsense. i can't stand dealing with the teenagers at the park. chris is right, it is going to be very hot soon. how about this, get him the art center and when it gets too hot to go outside, come over and hang out with us at the pool.

Stephanie said...

Unless he is really into art & drawing already, I would go for the climber. Could you move it somewhere inside when it's hot out?

I only say this because of our easel experience...James (at 4.5) is all over it but Ruby (at 2) colors for about 2 minutes and then moves on. :)

Allison said...

Redhead--pool?? Did you say POOL???

Stephanie--Good point. Of course, he could play on it in the morning and in the evenings during the summer (which is only a few more months). It should be a comfortable 90 degrees by September . . .

Gini said...

playground toy

Redhead in Vegas said...

i actually agree with gini and stephanie. i was just trying to bait you into starting a 2 child play group all the away across town.

yes. we have a pool. we were in it this weekend. ryan did NOT want to get out. we even have a blow up pool for her, if the big pool is too cold(no heater)

interested?

Kim said...

I'm all about the playground. I say work wirelessly outside while he's playing on it. Can't Chris devise some covered area outside that pulls in the A/C from the house? Come on, Chris, you know you can do it...

Jerolyn said...

Play ground toy all the way! If it's hot bust out the sprinkler...wait that's a bad idea scratch that... we wouldn't want James slipping and smacking that beautiful face of his!

Play ground toy...dry and hot!

Mary said...

I'd popped by to say easel but see that the voting is in favour of playground!

I am overly influenced by the fact that it is winter here and our playground setup has not seen a child on it for weeks.

There is a lot of drawing going on though.

alice c said...

Definitely climber - you can get the easel for Christmas. When my children were that age they loved their sandpit - it kept them quiet for a long time - and there are less likely to be bumps and bruises if you get distracted by the tiny Miss.

Heather said...

I was going to say go with the easel, but the idea of getting the climber now and the easel for Christmas is a good one.

I wanted to say the easel because it has more longevity. My 10-year-old still uses something like that!