Step2 toys have a reputation for lasting many years. Since our toys last for so long, many times customers will see toys that their friends, neighbors, and family members own that were available for purchase in the early 2000’s. But, unfortunately, these products that have caught their attention are no longer available for purchase.

Many customers have asked about the Camper Fun Playhouse and Caterpillar Swing for Two. Unfortunately, these two products are among the discontinued. Although these adorable products are no longer available for purchase, we have products that are similar in function and size.

Naturally Playful Welcome Home Playhouse: This giant playhouse is even bigger than the Camper Fun Playhouse, which means more children can play in the playhouse together. In the old camper, children would use pretend play to imagine that they were going on a camping trip. In the Welcome Home Playhouse children can pretend to not only to play house but they can imagine they own a drive thru restaurant and use the windows to take food orders and use one of the other windows to deliver food.

Infant to Toddler Swing and Toddler Swing: The Caterpillar Swing for Two held two children; however, by attaching the Infant to Toddler Swings or Toddler Swings next to each other on a swing set, toddlers will still be able to swing next to one another while being able to enjoy a comfortable swing all to themselves.

Which products have you purchased as an alternative to the Camper Fun Playhouse and Caterpillar Swing for Two?

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In 2009, SPPRAK (special people performing random acts of kindness), a nonprofit organization was launched by Kim Grubb, Robin Heng, and Susan Short.  SPPRAK’S mission is to encourage acts of kindness that make a difference in the lives of others. In February 2013, SPPRAK received permission to place banners inside schools, encouraging students to write on sticky notes when their classmates and teachers performed a random act of kindness for them. A first grade teacher in Terre Haute, Indiana, where SPPRAK banners were placed, asked her students to write down each act of kindness that their classmates and teachers did for them. This was only meant to be a two week program but due to its popularity it has become a long term program that has become popular in other local schools and even at many high schools. American comic strip creator and author Scott Adams once said, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”  This quote is true for the students partaking in SPPARK; they are proving that kindness is contagious. This Thoughtful Thursday, we thank SPPARK for teaching children at a young age how to be kind to others.

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Are you hungry? With so many kitchens to choose from, your children will be cooking up a storm!   

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Did you know that Step2 originally started off manufacturing mailboxes and home & garden before branching into children’s toys?. Even to this day, Step2 is known for durable mailboxes and home & garden products. While there are currently a variety of home & garden products available, some of products get discontinued from time to time.

During the spring, we often get questions from customers about where can they find a Step2 pond for their yard. At the end of 2010, we discontinued the Stone Hill™ Tranquility Pond. Although this product has been discontinued, we have other home & garden products that can make your yard look great (we even have garden tools that will help make gardening easier).

Outdoor Storage Bench: This bench with natural colors and textures will look great in any backyard and can also double as a great storage place for gardening tools or children’s toys. Spoiler alert: be on the lookout for more outdoor furniture during the summer of 2013!

Garden Kneeler: This planting assistant makes it comfortable to kneel or sit while gardening! It is also easy to transport from place to place.

Garden Hopper: Roll your gardening tools around and take a seat on this durable gardening tool. It also features a beverage holder to keep you hydrated while you plant.

MailMaster Hudson Mailbox with Planter: While flowers and other plants are in full bloom, you can place some shrubbery into the planter of this mailbox and have the most beautiful mailbox on your street! This mailbox is also available without a planter.

Which Step2 home & garden products are you using this spring and summer in your yard?

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We have received questions surrounding the dimensions of our playhouses. You asked, so we listened and decided to create a scale to reference when deciding which playhouse will be a perfect fit for your child!

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“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others,” said Classical Greek Philosopher, Plato. This quote describes, ten year old, NaSeaph Williams perfectly. NaSeaph is battling Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, a rare genetic condition that weakens his heart, muscles, and lungs. He is unable to walk and is prone to seizures.

NaSaeph’s mother describes her son as a giving person that always wants to make others happy. During Christmas, NaSeaph used $60 that he was given to buy toys for children at the Saratoga Spring, Florida homeless shelter.

Laurel McAdoo, founder of Myles of Smyles, and Erin Musto, founder of Maddie’s Mark, met NaSeaph at a charity event put on by the  Starlight Children’s Foundation on March 29^th . When Laurel and Erin found out that NaSeaph’s  birthday was in a few weeks, they asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted to have a party and for everyone who comes to his party to bring canned goods to donate to the food pantry.  The reason why he wanted to donate food to the hungry for his birthday was because he was appreciative for the help that he and his mother received from others during his life.

Although NaSaeph does not want anything in particular for his birthday, he has four wishes; he wants a wheelchair van to help get him to his doctor visits, meet Tom Brady from the New England Patriots, meet Jon Cena from WWE, and to be free from pain. NaSeaph wants to continue to give back for the kindness he has received. When he was asked what makes him so nice, he said it was his mother.

An unknown author once said “kindness and honesty can only be expected from the strong.” NaSaeph is an incredibly strong young man who will keep fighting for himself and others. This Thoughtful Thursday, we honor his willingness to give to others and pray someday that there is a cure for his rare disease.

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We have always said, we have the most creative customers. Check out what one dad created* for his little princess:

*Disclaimer: The Step2 Company LLC does not promote or condone the alterations of Step2 products. This blog was solely written for the purpose to show the creativity of our customers. If you choose to alter the appearance of your Step2 product, it will void the warranty.

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One of our favorite spring products, the Easy Turn Coupe was featured on NBC as a spring PAL (Play on Words) Award Winner. Creator of PAL, Sherry Artemenko, speech language pathologist, writer, and toy consultant recognizes toys for their quality, design, and  play value. Toys that receive the PAL award spark creative play within children, which is essential for their development.

The Easy Turn Coupe has fun features which both Sherry and parents admire:

• Gas cap, ignition key, and working horn for added fun
• Removable floor board protects mom or dad’s feet when pushing
• Molded in push handle in roof
• Clear roof enables mom or dad to see their child when pushing
• Easy maneuverability because of the front castor wheel
• Cup holders for both parent and child

What do you think of the Easy Turn Coupe?

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Written by Sara S.

My husband has been working nights for the past few weeks. It took a bit of time for the kids and I to get used to it.  Meanwhile, they began sneaking into my bed during the night… knowing that I have been too tired to kick them out.

Ryan started coming into my bed in the middle of the night and I wouldn’t notice it or I would be too tired to send him back to his own room.  For goodness sake, there is plenty of room in the king bed for me and a five year old.  But that’s where I was wrong.

Somehow Grizz started coming in too. I thought it was Ryan because Brady never would get out of his bed at night without calling out  – “Mommy where are you?”  Mommy where are you?” I am pretty sure that meant – “Mommy come get me or Mommy come here.” Grizz has a phobia that adds disruption to sleep.  He won’t put his feet under the covers because he is convinced there might be spiders lurking under there waiting to bite his feet; so the safest place for his feet is on top of the covers.

The bedtime visits have escalated and now I have two bed bugs. One comes in around 1am and the other one stumbles in sometime later. I woke up the other morning to Brady sleeping with his feet in Ryan’s face.  Both fast asleep.

I think it’s time for them to share a room. At least then they can crawl into bed with each other.

I remember crawling into bed with my parents. It was the safest and happiest feeling. If they said “no,” and sent me back to my room I remember feeling so sad and scared. Those memories make it harder for me to be stern with my own kids and send them marching back into their own cold and dark rooms.

I will be strong when Chris is done working nights and we can enforce the kids sleeping in their own beds!

Any ideas?

 
Sara is an on the go – down to earth Momma, married to a Marine and the mother of two get dirty wild and crazy, play in the mud boys. She loves Michael Jackson, dancing and spending time with her family. She is honored to be able to teach her little guys about the world around them, about kindness love and the human spirit. For fun, she loves to make jewelry, shop, ski and spend time outdoors getting dirty with her boys. Sara is a Sr. Product Manager at Step2.

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Parents claim they know their babies well, but would they be willing to bet on it for a chance to win money toward their child’s college fund?  Bet on Your Baby, ABC’s newest game show first aired on April 13^th. Each week on Bet on Your Baby, five families will compete to see if they can correctly guess their child’s next move.

During the game, one parent goes with their toddler to the Babydome, which is the child’s obstacle course of fun, while the other parent guesses their child’s moves. Families are not competing against each other; instead they are competing with themselves in a self contained challenge.

Step2 toys are featured in the Babydome that the toddlers play in during the show! So far Step2 has been featured in every episode. The products that have been spotted so far are: All Around Easel for Two, KidAlert, All Star Sports Climber, Up and Down Roller Coaster, and Soccer Ball Toy Chest.

Below, you can spot many of the mentioned Step2 toys in the first few seconds of episode two! Make sure to tune into Bet on Your Baby every Saturday on ABC from 8-9pm EST and check out past episodes at ABC.com.

Do you have any of the Step2 toys featured in the Babydome?

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