Here's a guide to which patio and backyard chores kids can do around the yard the summer, organized by age group.

Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level, he can generally do the chores for his age group and those for the age groups below.

Of course, some of these chores need to be done each day, others once a week, and still others once a month or even less frequently.

Use your best judgment for what gets done when.

Ages 2 and under:

- Pick up outside toys

- Collect snails in a pail

Ages 3 to 5:

- Previous chores, plus:

- Put away outside toys and games (and all their pieces) in the proper boxes or bins

- Help with planting

- Water outside plants

- Debug plants

- Sponge down the outdoor play table

Ages 6 to 9:

- Previous chores, plus:

- Hang up (pool) towel

- Rake leaves

- Sweep the patio and porches

- Wipe outside table and chairs

- Do easy yard work such as weeding

- Help test the pool or hot tub water

- Help balance the pool or hot tub pH

- Help clean the pool strainer baskets

- Prepare recyclables for pickup

- Clean doormats

Ages 10 to 13:

- Previous chores, plus:

- Take trash and recycling containers to the curb

- Clean outdoor furniture

- Plant plants and bulbs

- Harvest vegetables

- Mulch plants

- Take compostable material to the compost pile

- Cut flowers for the house

- Vacuum the pool once a week

- Scrub the pool sides occasionally

- Fish surface litter out of a pool (with a grown-up's supervision, of course)

Ages 14 to 17:

- Previous chores, plus:

- Mow the lawn

- Wash exterior windows

- Do yard work such as pruning

- Spring-clean the garage

- Check the pool or hot-tub filter

- Maintain the compost pile

- Clean out the fireplace and tools

- Change furnace filters.

Tara Aronson is a mom of three, lifestyle expert, and author of "Mrs. Clean Jeans' Housekeeping with Kids" (Rodale) and "Simplify Your Household" (Reader's Digest Publishing). Tara most recently shared her tips for family laundering on "The Rachael Ray Show" (February 4, 2009). Tara's website offers tips and strategies for simplifying family life, including "Motivating Kids to - Gasp! - Clean."

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It seems that children are not using their imagination nearly enough like they use to years ago. There was a time when you would find kids outside playing and doing their own games without having to worry about anything. Now that has changed. Today a lot of children stay inside because they are afraid of going outside or they just don't live in a safe neighborhood.

With so many children staying indoors, parents began to get worried about their education. And as a result, educational toys and games started being produced. These particular toys started selling fast because parents wanted to encourage their child to use their imagination instead of playing video games or watching TV.

Whenever kids hear of homework, they make a face. But when it's a fun toy they learn more from it. The best thing about educational toys is that it doesn't matter what kind of budget you are on, you can always find one. There are some cheap and expensive ones.

Some of the cheapest educational toys and games are as simple as turning a sock into a puppet, (also known as a hand sock) singing songs and saying numbers with it. More expensive toys might be getting shapes that match and playing a matching game. Blocks can also help because as they stack them, you can count with them.

Whenever a child is having problems learning at school, educational toys and games are the best toys to get. Then you can turn their hardest subject into fun. If your child is having homework problems, take a sock and make it fun for them.

It doesn't matter what age they are, you can always find something fun for them to enjoy and learn from.

Want to know more?

While searching for educational toys and games, I found a very helpful site called http://educationaltoysforyourkids.com. It is filled with a lot of ideas and suggestions to get your kids off the couch and interacting with others. They will feel like a whole new person rather then a couch potato or computer junkie.

You can check it out here: Educational Toys and Games.

educationaltoysforyourkids.com

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Ride on toys have been a favorite of both boys and girls for decades. Years ago, the only kind of ride on toy available was the type you had to push with your feet, which can be a little difficult for really small children. (They tend to always scoot backwards!) But now, there are countless motorized, battery-operated toys for children to enjoy.

Vehicles aren't just a "boy's toy" anymore. Girls love tooling around in their Barbie Jeeps as much as anyone. But instead of just having your standard "Cozy Coupe" or Barbie Jeep to choose from, there are many other options for the discerning child.

If you have more than one small child, then a two-seater vehicle is ideal for both to share. Trucks, jeeps, and cars come in all colors, makes and models to suit your child's individual personality. There are also battery-operated Go Karts which come in several different sizes depending on the age of your child. Four-wheelers and dirt bikes also are available in battery-operated child sizes. Lest you feel that a two-wheeled dirt bike is too dangerous for your child, never fear. There are motorcycles with training wheels as well.

For the little boy in your life who wants nothing more than to grow up and become a fireman, there are motorized fire trucks just for him! It even has flashing lights, a siren, and a working fire hose and megaphone. Or if you have a future race car driver on your hands, the Ferrari race car with real rubber tires can reach the speeds of 5 miles per hour! This is faster than most other battery powered vehicles, which only go 3 mph at maximum speed.

Corvettes, BMWs, classic cars, Volkswagon Bugs, Ferraris, Jaguars, Mercedes, Porsches, Mini Coopers, and dune buggies are available for tiny car enthusiasts. These cars have very authentic stickers and badges, and even realistic alloy-like wheels. The sports cars also come with wing mirrors and a sports steering wheel. The bodywork and paint is very durable and scratch resistant.

Prices range from $190 to $700 depending on the size and type of vehicle you are looking for. Many battery-operated toys come with free shipping. All items include a battery charger and most of the cars are designed to accommodate children ages 2-6 depending on the child's weight and size.

The toddler and preschool years are all about your child gaining a degree of independence. They want to be just like you. Nothing makes them feel more grown-up then getting to ride around in their own vehicle. Now they can do it safely and very much in style!

Denise Sanger is owner of NewCoolToysOnline.com which features a diverse catalog of outdoor toys including ride on toys that will have children begging to go outside and play.  The company is located in sunny North Florida and may be reached toll-free at 877-950-7665.

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What was your favorite childhood game? Checkers? Dominos? Tic-Tac-Toe? It seems that the more sophisticated some games become, the more others stay the same. Some games simply withstand the test of time. Our parents played them. We played them. And now our children are playing them. Some classic games have new twists to them. Yet their essence hasn't changed over the years, and they still create as much entertainment, as they always have. Marbles is one such game.

From nuts to glass

Have you ever wondered about the history of marbles? Before marbles, kids probably played with polished nuts. Roman and Greek youngsters later played games with small balls of clay. And marbles were even found in King Tut's tomb!

Marbles have a long history in Europe. They remained popular through the Middle Ages, when society frowned on children enjoying fun game. Clay marbles of the Medieval and Elizabethan eras became marble marbles when Germans started to manufacture smoother versions. In fact, the word -marble- itself means -for the rock- in German.

Germany became the world's leader in marble for numerous centuries. They produced them from materials such as brass, gemstone, and limestone. Amazingly, some businesses could produce roughly 800 marbles per hour!

Today, glass marbles are the most common ones produced. Historians believe that they were first made in either Germany or Italy.

Another great American pastime

How about marbles in North America? Scientists believe that various tribes of Native Americans played with marbles made of clay and stone. The most famous ones were found at the Hopewell burial site, located in the same state as Millersburg Ohio.

Much later, the first manufactured marbles were produced in America towards the latter part of the 1800s. Later, the initial marbles that a machine created were made in the state of Ohio. Martin Frederick Christensen received the official rights for a machine that made steel ball bearings that were nearly perfectly round. He also produced America's first machine-made marbles! Christensen's company was manufacturing 10,000 marbles per day, by 1910.

Today, one company in Mexico cranks out 12 million marbles every day, and then ships them to an amazing 35 nations throughout the world!

Marble madness

Fortunately, playing a game of marbles with your kids won't require 12 million of them:

Equipment:

- A minimum of 14 marbles: 13 -mibs- marbles and 1 -shooter- marble

- A circle

Rules:

- Every player chooses how many marbles they'll use during the game

- Draw a circle with a diameter of 3-10 feet (use bigger circles for better players)

- Put 13 -mibs- (smaller marbles) in the circle's center, creating an -X- or an -O-

- A player flicks a shooter to knock out at least 1 mib from the circle, without the shooter rolling out of the circle. If a player achieves this objective, he can shoot again from where the shooter landed.

- The player gets 1 point for each mib knocked out of the circle. Also, other players' shooters can be knocked out of the circle.

- If the player: 1) fails to knock out at least 1 mib, or 2) his shooter rolls outside the circle, the player must place the shooter within the circle.

- After all of the original mibs have been hit outside the circle, the player with the highest number of points is declared the winner!

Marbles remains one of the timeless kids outdoor toys, in almost all places. While games such as Marble Racer blends the timeless toy with other types of kids outdoor toys, the essence of the toy remains unchanged. As long as there are children in the world, they'll never become tired of watching the colorful glass balls roll along a tile, pavement, or miniature slide!

For more tips and information about kids outdoors toys, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/outdoor-toys.html

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Are you looking for space toys that your kids will love? Many people think that only local toys stores are going to sell space toys. But in today's world you can get almost anything online. You do not have to spend hours and days driving from store to store looking for your child's dream toy. With the Internet you can do all your research and purchasing right from the comfort of your own living room.

What are the top Space Toys?

Some of the most popular space toys for kids are replicas of actual space ships and other products from NASA. Because NASA is so well known for their astronaut programs, children really enjoy receiving toys that have the NASA logo on them. Part of loving space and related products is the idea of traveling outside of earth. Children often dream of being astronauts and so they especially enjoy astronaut toys.

Flying Saucer Toys

Another very popular toy is the flying saucer or alien spaceship. Most of these products are operated on battery powered remote controls. They are very similar to remote control plans and remote control cars. You can control the altitude and speed of the saucer so it is a great toy for children of all ages.

Figures and Dolls

Most action figures that are sold in the space genre are the astronaut. The standard astronaut play figure is for both boys and girls. You can also find female dolls that are astronauts as a profession. When purchasing these consider getting an action figure for either your boy or your girl, they will enjoy playing with them for hours and hours.

Other Space Toys

There are a variety of other toys that you can buy for your space enthusiast. Some children will enjoy space ships while others will enjoy space aliens. Be sure to discuss with your child all the types of space toys and clarify which kind of toy they would like. There is nothing worse than buying your child a space ship when they really wanted a space shuttle!

Before You Shop

Before going out and buying up all of your child's favorite space toys you should check the Internet. The Internet is a great resource for both you and your child. Help your child do a little Internet research on the different things that are available. Once your child has found the toy that they really like, you can start encouraging them to save their money so they can purchase this toy. Compare prices from all the surrounding and online stores before making your purchase.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as space toys at http://www.outerspacesuperstore.com

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Lets face it. Moms are always busy with taking care of children, laundry, dishes, dinner, paying bills, taking care of pets and some even work for a living outside of the home. When children play in a play room or in any room with their toys, it is a little bit of breather for a busy mom but one thing you must consider at all times is your child's safety while they play and you take a second to rest.

• Always watch your kids while they play. You may be exhausted and just want to rest but playing with your child can relieve stress and they have much more fun when you are involved and interacting with them.
• Never let your child play with a toy that isn't age appropriate for them. Read the safety labels.
• As toys are played with, dropped, thrown etc pieces start to break and they show wear and tear. Inspect your child's toys to make sure that they are still safe and wont get hurt on rough or sharp edges or swallow small pieces and choke.
• Avoid toys that have large cords or strings attached. Children tend to wrap the strings around things including their own necks which can result in strangulation.
• Use a toy box to store your children's toys but make sure that they lid can not fall on your child's head or fingers.

One of the best and most vigilant things you can do is check the Consumer Product Safety Commissions web site (www.cpsc.gov) for all the recent toy recalls. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.

Visit http://www.onestopshopforkids.com/kidstoys.html for everything you need for babies and kids!

Author of A Humorous Guide to Being a First Time Mom and Bright and White Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun! Both books are available on Amazon.com and One Stop Shop for Kids! They make great baby shower and first birthday gifts!

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Kids have distinct individualities amid influence by ancestry. Regardless of social status, they share common interests on toys that vary from expensive types to fabricated or improvised ones.

Signature toys that command price belong to the moneyed people while the less fortunate kids make the best devise their young minds can manage to produce. This distinctive privilege to possess quality toys for kids against inability of many to own one invites innovation and imaginative output from the kids' sensitivity and awareness to creativity.

A young man narrated how his fondness of fancy toys harnessed his innovative potentials that stemmed from his desire to owning the type of toys deprived of him by poverty when he was a kid. Sneaking from the high perimeter concrete fence walling off the subdivision from the squatters' area where he grew up, he watched kids of the rich families play with their luxury toys flying by remote control.

The desire transformed into ambition minus the aid of formal education. The young man succeeded devising some flying toys for kids that he keeps for his own kids when he raises a family of his own. In altering our external existence and connection to it, we must know that even though most of the outside world is seemingly not in our control, we can control our habits pertaining to it by realigning our essential preferences that alter our genetics as well.

Consider the super hero characters seen from movies and televisions. Toy manufacturers virtually reproduce the characters in miniature sizes that draw outright market patronage contributory to the new trend of toy products. However, original and patented manufactured toys bearing price dominion limits distribution among the elites, hence local manufacturers produce similar yet lesser quality toys to cater affordability to the masses. As such, prices become insignificant but the prevailing trend of the new fashionable toys, generally distributed worldwide.

Survey showed that among the character building toys for kids are the following:

o Robots

o Toy planes, cars, and trucks

o Super hero characters

o Dolls of different identities

o Toys of animal kingdom

o Diminutive kitchen utensils

Our environment is one of the premises in our existence. Instead of learning the lessons life has given us, we play with it to adorn ourselves in it mostly. We can easily be misguided by this in our evolution process, and begin to believe we can survive without the environment, or create our own somehow. Maybe because we never get out of here until we get it right. We use up all the energy, but where does it go back but into the original dimension from whence it came for further utilization.

In this case, our true essence sits within our spirit power and our connections to the energy we use, transform, dispose of, and interact with, through all these states of consciousness. It would be critical to balance the whole process in order to learn what our real nature is, and possible realities beyond our assumption experienced.

For more tips and information about toys for kids, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/toys4kids.html.

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A prom night is a very special night for you and your friends and you want to make the best of those few hours that you have in your hands. Most teenagers see the prom night as a stage in their life when they attain adulthood. Prom nights could be a worry for parents as they need the children to reach home safely after a night of fun and dancing.

The transportation is the major concern for many parents and they should take it seriously. Most parents spend a lot of money getting that perfect outfit for their children. However, they should also pay some attention to transportation. It would be prudent that a parent spend some more money and hire a limousine from a car rental agency. One adult can also go with the children as a chaperone and he or she can wait outside for them till the night is over.

You should make sure that several children go together in the same limousine. This way children feel responsible for each other and ensure that they all return home safely at night. Hiring a limousine from a reputed car agency makes all the difference as a responsible driver will make sure that there is no mischief after the party and everyone is dropped home safely.

Teenagers will be merry and they will also drink at the prom night, whether it is permitted or not. This is a reality parents have to accept. For most teenagers this is the stage where they have completed their education and now ready for the big world and they want to celebrate this momentous occasion with alcohol. But parents are always worried that their children might be up to some trouble or get drunk. But hiring a limousine can actually work for the parents as the chauffeur will be vigilant and ensure that children do not end up doing something they might regret later.

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Pauline Go is an online leading expert in dating. She also offers top quality articles like :
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I was watching a video on my computer the other day, it was a news video about popular toys this holiday season. Of course the hottest toy this season is without a doubt the Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster and it's accessories.

Toy stores can't get the items in fast enough. When a shipment comes in people are lined up outside the stores fighting practically to get inside and get some of these little toy wonders.

Myself, I don't like waiting in some long line outside of a store standing for long hours in the cold just to try and beat the crowd to get one or two of this years most popular toys. I believe people should use there heads and order off the world wide web.

Every year more and more people order items off the web in a secure and safe manner. Yes, there is some risk of credit card fraud and identity theft. However by far the majority of purchases are safe today.

To be honest it really does not take that long to get the item to your home. Usually only a few days, although it could take up to 10 days or so. Generally on average it is less time than that.

I make online purchases all the time and have never had any problems. If you use a credit card then you have some protection available to you. Your card company has certain safe guard measures in place to help when a client may have issues like identity theft or something of that nature. However before you make a purchase online with your credit card be sure and ask your credit card company about such actions. Every company is different so that is why you need to ask. It always pays to be well informed.

So, what are you waiting for? Start shopping online for some or all of your Christmas gifts, there is still plenty of time buy items on the world wide web and get the items ready to give as gifts for Christmas day.

This author writes about many subjects, visit his website about how to Find a person and how to get us government grants.

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Outdoor water toys hold a special place in my heart. I have many fond memories of growing up under the hot California summer sun with great water toys. My arsenal included everything from massive water grenades to Super Soakers to Slip 'n' Slides. All of my school friends used to venture over to my home each and every weekend to play with all of my goodies and cool off during the hottest days during the summer. While our water bill was probably astronomical, none of us cared, as we were all having far too much fun outside. Even though we could have trapped ourselves inside and had hours of fun playing videogames on out Nintendo, we really enjoyed heading outdoors simply so that we could play in the water. After all, what kid does not enjoy getting wet on a hot summer day? If you are tired of having your kids sit around the house all summer long when you feel that they should be outside enjoying themselves, you definitely need a wide variety of outdoor water toys to help motivate them to head outside.

A small kiddy pool is the first outdoor water toy that you should consider purchasing for your kids. Short of running through the sprinklers, this is the single best way to cool off on a hot day if you do not already own an inground or above ground pool. These kid pools come in a multitude of shapes and sizes and are great for all sorts of youngsters. All you have to do is inflate it, position it in your backyard and then fill it full of water to provide your kids with hours of fun.

As far as squirt guns go, you should avoid all of those realistic looking pieces that look like handguns and stick with something that has been tried and tested over the past decade or so. The Super Soaker brand of squirt gun is what you should be looking for. With their massive range of prices, you can find these guns in just about any toy store. From the weaker guns that only hold a little bit of water to much more powerful items that almost look like high tech water based flamethrowers, there are tons of these toys that are perfect for kids of all ages. There is nothing like a great water fight in your backyard during a hot summer day, and no water fight would be complete without a Super Soaker squirt gun in each kid's hands.

For vital information on all things concerned with outdoor toys visit Outdoor Toys

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