Or they may want to give birth mother a gift. Discuss with parents (tactfully, since it is a delicate subject) if this is their wish. Then consider asking guests to bring a gift to adoption baby shower for birth mother.

Because this baby is adopted and mom-to-be is not pregnant, stay away from any maternity-type games at adoption baby shower, like “how big is Mom’s tummy” or any other such games. You can however, play games to guess baby’s sex or birth date (if they have not yet been born) for adoption baby showers.

It is important to know age of child being adopted in order to know what types of baby shower gifts to purchase. Buying rattles and baby booties for a 3 year-old is not helpful to Mom and Dad! Parents can still register for an older child at any retailer that has a baby registry for baby shower. Make sure you have an idea of not only child’s age, but also what size clothing they wear.

For families adopting an older child, a fun idea is to have a “welcome” party for child after he or she comes home. Find out child’s sex, age and what toys or types of entertainment they like.

Made popular by such manufacturers as Playskool and Little Tikes, plastic climbing frames are made of high impact, sturdy plastic that can withstand weather and rugged use. Bright colors, rounded corners and clever designs make plastic climbing frames perfect choice for toddlers and small children. Generally closer to ground, it often features holes and tunnels for crawling and climbing, broad-based support for safety and slides with rounded rails to prevent tumbles.

Finally, there are hybrids - metal frames with wooden structures or plastic components like crawling tunnels and climbing walls. These are most often found in public playgrounds, but there are some available to build in your backyard. They may be based on a metal frame with a wooden structure or canvas tent, or have a plastic crawling/climbing tube up to a wooden platform.

Considerations when buying a climbing frame for your back yard or garden include age of children, amount of use it will get, aesthetic considerations and safety features. A well-constructed climbing frame, whatever material, is one of best investments you can make for your family's recreation needs.

Ian Wide writes for several sport and leisure sites including climbing frames and <Back to Page 1