Do your little ones ever get the rainy day blues? Are they bummed out when the weather is bad enough to keep them inside? When watching television and playing video games get old, there are plenty of other great indoor activities that your children can engage with. Whether they are boys of girls, toddlers or kindergarten age, they will love having their own play tents, tunnels and tepees.

Play tents are a great way for your children to pass the time. They can be sat in while little ones watch tv. They can use them to play board games in or even to color in. They can bring their sleeping bags in their play tents, unroll them, and snuggle in them while they watch movies and eat popcorn. There are princess ones for girls, where they can pretend they are the ruler of their kingdom. They can serve as a house, where little ones can pretend they have a family with friends, dolls and stuffed animals. They can also be used to play restaurant. The food can be kept in the tent and that can act as the kitchen when your child “cooks” you dinner. There are race car ones for boys where they can pretend that their play tents are zooming around the track and they are in the drivers seat. They can also pretend that their pop up toy is a sailboat and they are the skip or captain. They can pretend it is a pirate ship and they are a pirate on the high seas! There are also even some that look like tanks, where boys can pretend they are a soldier or private in the army. With a little imagination these great toys can be transformed into anything and kids will never be bored again.

Tunnels are another great play structure that your kids and all of their friends will love. This daycare favorite can entertain your kids for hours! These tunnels are usually multicolored and can collapse and expand quickly for easy set-up and easy storage. They are great for little ones who love to crawl. A little over one year to five or six years of age is probably the ideal age range for this piece. Kids will have lots of fun climbing through this and coming up with games to play. Some play tents even have tunnels that connect them to another play tent! Those sets are an awesome 3 in 1 combo! Do some research and look online before you buy to find the best tunnels for your kids! Don’t forget to check your space requirement to make sure it will fit in your home!

Tepees are also another kid favorite for indoor play. These canvas structures come to a point at the top, making them have a cool cone shape. With the flap door, your kids will love crawling inside and hiding in their own Native American Tepees. The lines of Tepees offered has greatly expanded in the last few years, so you are destined to find one that you love. All your cjild’s friends will beg to come over and hang out in the Tepees.

Vintage rocking horses have been the much loved toy of children for centuries. They have remained a popular present, and cherished heirloom still found in baby nurseries and playrooms the world over. But where did these wonderful toys comes from? The toys found in today’s antiques shops have a long and fascinating history. And like all great tales, the story of the rocking horse includes princesses and kings, children and most of all magic!

The original version is said to have been inspired by the wheeled, wooden horses used by swordsmen during the middle ages. Though these wooden horses were not toys but training tools, they sparked the imagination of toy makers and led to the development of what we now know as the toy rocking horse. The traditional design which has become increasingly popular with children, complete with saddle details, rocking base, reins and painted accessories was introduced to well-to-do children in the middle of the 18th century.

In the 19th century, as a result of the industrial revolution, these toys started to be made in abundance and were accessible to families from all walks of life. However, the vintage rocking horse design so collectable today did not become popular until it was given “royal approval” from a very special young queen.

Queen Victoria visited J. Collinson in Liverpool to purchase a toy horse to ride. The world was captivated when she left with a beautiful dapple grey in tow. The tale of the surprising shopping trip spread quickly. Soon children everywhere were wishing, hoping and praying for a darling rocking horse of their own.

Unlike other toys, as time went by, love for these horses did not dwindle, but rather grew and spread. The horse toys collected today range from elaborate carousel designs of the 18th century to more modern models which were mass-produced and purchased in the 1900s.

If you are a collector interested in purchasing a vintage rocking horse, do your homework and enjoy the history! After all, it is the story behind a collection which really makes the magic come alive!

Crib Kids CD Player

This CD player is by A World of Music and it is great for newborns. The parent can record the music that they want their child to listen to and insert it into the player. The player attaches to the crib or can be set on a tabletop. It includes a child resistant cover, a fifteen minute timer, auto shut off and a soft glow nightlight that you can choose to turn off if you wish. It includes one free CD and is priced at approximately thirty-five dollars.

Fisher Price Learn and Laugh Kids CD Player

This player is great for children six months to three years. It includes light up buttons, sing-along and nursery rhymes. It includes three pretend CDs so the child can practice putting in and taking out CDs. It is bright, sturdy and very child friendly. This player is priced at approximately seventeen dollars.

Sing-Along Kids CD Player

This is a combination player and karaoke machine. It is made with bright colors of yellow, red, green and blue and is very visually appealing to children. The player is durable and easy to operate. It includes an LED display, two microphones, a forward and backward fast track search function and a repeat function. It is priced at approximately sixty-five dollars.

Fisher Price Tuff Stuff Stereo Kids CD Player

Made for children ages four and up, this player is colorful and durable. All the buttons are easy to push and the sound quality is very good. There is a storage drawer and a microphone for “pretend” singing. Parents say that neither bumping the player, swinging it around or turning it upside down will cause the CD to skip. This kids CD player has won a Parents Choice Award and is priced at approximately seventy dollars.

There are other good kids CD players on the market and a quick online search will allow you to do a comparison on the features. Kids CD players will heighten your child’s senses and give them hours of joy.