Our back yard has always been one of the favorite neighborhood spots for kids to hang out in. Because I am a Step2 Ambassador and a fiercely loyal user of their products, we have built quite a collection of outdoor activity areas for the 0-5 crowd, which is perfect for us because we are an outdoor family through and through. This year I plan to add a few new items and donate some of our older ones, and with the kids spending more time at their grandparents house this year, I thought I would get a simple playhouse for over there as well.
I love the idea of a patio/garden styled play structure that is easy on the eyes and neutral in color scheme. It isn’t tacky or “out there” looking like some can be, which is perfect, because I know the grandparents probably don’t want a neon nightmare sitting in the middle of their perfectly manicured lawn. So, simple neutral tones were my biggest sticking point. Another area of importance was function and space – instead of having five or six big toys laying around the yard I needed to make sure it was one multi-activity structure that went beyond a simple box with nothing in it. What fit both of those requirements? Step2’s new All Around Playtime Patio with Canopy. They generously sent us one to check out, and it couldn’t be more adorable!
It is colored in tame, earthy tones and easy to move where I need it. The canopy is removable and machine washable, and I can leave it off for days when they want to be in the sun. It features a double door entrance, and three fun activity areas: A food prep area with a grill and sink, a table/bench to sit at, and a sand and water play station. The surface height is just right for my 4 year old, and I don’t think she will grow out of it for at least a year if not more.
Kaia’s favorite area is the sand/water station, of course, and it offers a cute water wheel and a quick drain hole for easy cleanup.
It doesn’t come with a ton of accessories, but it does have a set of picnic plates, cups, and pots, along with a mesh bag that everything can easily fit in.
I love how contemporary and minimalistic it looks – perfect for those that like to keep clean lines and prefer not to have busy, cluttered yards. You might remember us having the Great Outdoors Playhouse, and I feel like this new Playtime Patio is a much better version of the same idea! This is a perfect addition to any yard, and goes great with the tailgate and picnic crowd. It is large enough to fit 4 kids comfortably, and the light airiness of it keeps it cool and breezy instead of stuffy like some other plastic playhouses.
Want one for yourself? You can purchase it for $199 over at Step2.com.
