1. Create a nature trail - Print off a sheet of clues and a short quiz or word search of what you will see on your walk. Collect leaves along the way and try to identify them when you get home or (even better) make pictures with them by gluing on recycled cardboard.
2. Head to the beach - Collect shells, seaweed and count the crabs. Write your names in the sand and paddle in the sea.
3. Go to your local park - Let them run around and simply play. Interaction with other children is an important part of child development.
4. Play ball - Play catch or have a kick around on an open field. Always a favourite!
5. Take a camera or binoculars - Let your children take some photos and they will love to show them off to their friends. Try some bird watching with a pair of (not too expensive) binoculars and introduce them to a new hobby.
6. Get planting in the garden - Create a small plot for your youngsters to sow some lettuce or herbs and they can enjoy watching them grow. They are also more likely to eat it!
7. Get on your bike - Enjoy a family cycle ride, take along a scooter, skateboard or roller blades! Check out the Sustrans network for some great cycle routes.
8. Wear suitable outdoor clothing - Layer your kids with a fleece mid-layer and waterproof outer-layer in winter or UV protective clothing with high factor sunscreen on sunny days. Hats are always important (pick something bright and fun) and gloves for chilly days.
9. Take a picnic - Kids can’t go far without being hungry or thirsty, so remember to pack some fruit and treats in addition to a water bottle.
10. Make it so much fun that they will ask to do it again and again! - Fly a kite or take torches on an evening walk.

We, at Adventure Togs have been in full support of Sustrans for many years and regularly use the Sustrans cycle routes in our area. We were very pleased when they asked us to help publicise the new “Free Range Kids” campaign…..

Free Range Kids is all about putting the right to roam back at the heart of children’s lives. Today the average eight year old’s horizons extend a few hundred metres or, for some kids, to their back garden and bedroom.
Childhood should be a crucial time in our lives – a time to develop independence, explore, have fun, discover friendships, scuff our knees, and generally learn about life. These days it’s more about being removed from our environment, and denied freedom to get out and about.
There are things we can all do to give our kids more freedom now, or we can get together with our neighbours to do something for the children in our community, or call on those in power to make changes for the better, like lower speed limits.
Sustrans launched the Free Range Kids campaign in June 2011 with the aim of encouraging and enabling more children to play outdoors and travel more freely, safely and independently around their local area.
The Free Range Kids website has a wealth of resources for parents, giving advice and ideas on how to get their kids out and about. Visitors to the site can sign the Free Range Kids pledge, calling for 20 mph speed limits in residential areas and investment in walking and cycling routes, particularly to school.
The more people who get involved by signing the pledge, writing to their MP, holding an outdoor play event and simply just encouraging their children to play outside more, then the more likely it is that we will be looking at a future with brighter, happier and healthier kids.
For more information visit www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids

Well it’s almost upon us…the season of goodwill to all men, women
and children. I have shopped, I have decorated and I have baked!
Mincemeat muffins with cinnamon icing (recipe courtesy of Aldi), White
chocolate cheesecake and a hummungous  quiche – I hope the army of tea
guests on Christmas afternoon will be talking about my home cooked
fayre for weeks after reaching for their Gaviscon.
Things have been a little less stressful on the shop front this
Christmas. Having had 2 snow affected Christmases in a row, it began
to feel the norm! What with quadrupling orders and delayed deliveries,
the last two years brought out the headless chicken (or turkey) in me.
I feel positively relaxed this year and will absolutely delight in any
significant snowfall from January onwards!
This Yuletide maybe more relaxed at the Adventure Togs residence but it
will certainly not be peaceful. I shall say the word as I wince and
reach for my ear plugs….”Drums”.
It’s a joint present, so what can you say. Just think of me when you
are relaxing in silent bliss with your sherry or Baileys…. I’m sure
I’ll be reaching for something  just a touch stronger!!!

Merry Christmas !

The Bye Byes all-in-one snow suit has been very popular already. Although the weather has been mild so far this winter, our customers are preparing for the colder weather. The snowsuit is padded and microfleece lined, with a fake fur trim and is available for girls or boys. The suit is warm, waterproof and windproof. This babies snowsuit also comes with a free pair of matching booties.

Trespass Baby All-in-One Snowsuit

Trespass Baby All-in-One Snowsuit

If it’s pure warmth you are looking for, we have the Tiny padded snowsuit or the Booboo baby fleece all -in-one. Both are warm and cuddly for babies and toddlers and come in a choice of colours for baby boys and girls.

Padded Baby / Toddler Snowsuit by Trespass

Fleece Baby / Toddler All-in-one Suit by Trespass

It is no secret that Adventure Togs is a flexible business run around our family life. My office is at home and our orders are packed, picked and dispatched from a warehouse some distance away. It’s great being able to work from home, as it can be as flexible as I need it to be, but I do have to be disciplined and know when to switch off. Winter is our busiest time and whilst I have all the right gear for the outdoors (obviously!),  working from home in the winter months has been either cold or costly. I cannot justify turning on the heating just for me and my tiny office – a little fan heater will suffice. Even waiting until 3.30 when the kids are home form school has mean’t eye watering winter fuel bills!

Anyway, a couple of winters ago, we started to discuss installing a log burner in our living room. It’s a big room with 2 large windows and 3 exterior walls so it’s rarely cosy unless the central heating is on full pelt. Shall we? Shan’t we? Which brand? What size? Is our chimney breast capable? It went on and we didn’t do it….and forgot about it until the cold weather kicked in again. We have a woodland garden and have literally spent a small fortune on tree maintenance in recent years, giving away wood which could have warmed us for years whilst paying through the nose for gas. What fools! We had to do it by next winter!

Clearview Solution 500 Multi Fuel Stove

And so, next winter is here. The stove, a Clearview Solution 500 was installed the week the boys went back to school and although there was mess (the living room was out of bounds for weeks what with the decorating and everything) it’s fab!

We have taken a couple of weeks to get used to what is “a beast of a stove” and are learning what burns well, what needs more seasoning and what not to burn. I have lit a fire for the first time in my life and love scrunching the paper, layering the kindling and adding the logs as the heat fills the room. I also feel rather smug, knowing we are doing the green thing, using a sustainable fuel and all that.

Log splitting is our favourite hobby at the moment and the whole family have become involved. We ordered a load of semi-seasoned wood from our tree surgeon which arrived as a truckload in pre-split rounds and all four of us spent the afternoon sorting, splitting and stacking until we could do no more!

Logs straight from the tree surgeon

Logs all nicely stacked for seasoning

And how has it changed things? I have a new homely workspace ie. my lap in the warmth of our lovely new living room. I can work part of the day in the office and then settle with my laptop in my cosy corner and enjoy the flames and the warmth as I work

Scandinavians know a thing or two about outdoor clothing and this range from Denmark has been designed for outdoor play in tough Scandinavian winters. We couldn’t wait to rip open the boxes and have a good look at these new and exciting Danish childrens rain suits.

We have started with a kids 2 piece rain suit and we have a whole lot of fun new waterproofs to come over the next few months! A tough, waterproof, breathable and windproof dungarees and jacket set in an ultra soft PU coated fabric. It is highly durable for childrens outdoor play and of course, as with all our waterproofs, the seams are taped to stop any water getting in through the stitching. At the moment, we stock 2 colourways, Petrol Blue and Fuchsia. Other colours are available and we have already put through a special order in navy for one of our school customers, so if you need a particular colour for your school or playgroup, please ask.

The quality is excellent (Waterproof (>8000 mm H2O) and Breathable (>2000 g/m2/24h)) for the price, since the suit comprises of a waterproof jacket and dungarees combo. This again is new for us, we have never actually sold a complete 2 piece suit before and we are thrilled with the low price. Once you buy one for your children, I am sure you will return next year for the bigger size! Try one and let us know what you think. Take some photos of your little one in their Mikk-Line Scandinavian rainsuit and send them to us. If your photo and feedback gets posted on our blog, we will send you a £20 Adventure Togs Voucher!

Hippychick fleece lined waterproof all-in-one suit

 The Hippychick fleece lined all-in-one waterproofs have been very popular since we added them to our range last winter. They protect from wind, rain and snow. Ideal for cold and wet days outdoors, your toddlers will be fully protected from the elements. If you are not familiar with the brand, please read the size guide below before you order.

Sizing in cm:
12-18mths
Outside leg – 53  Inside leg – 26.5  Chest – 80  Front rise – 44  Back rise – 51  Sleeve length – 40

18-24mths
Outside leg – 55  Inside leg – 27  Chest – 82  Front rise – 46  Back rise – 53  Sleeve length – 42

2-3yrs
Outside leg – 60  Inside leg – 32  Chest – 88  Front rise – 48  Back rise – 55  Sleeve length – 44

3-4yrs
Outside leg – 64  Inside leg – 36  Chest – 92  Front rise – 49.5  Back rise – 56  Sleeve length – 46

NB  All size specs have an accepted tolerance of +/- 1cm.

This year be organised, be prepared….you will thank yourself when you are knee deep in the white stuff.

Not convinced? Read on….

1. When the cold bites, you will be prepared. Your children will be warm and dry when others are left shivering!
2. You will feel smug! – just knowing that you are organised this year will give you a warm smug feeling even when it’s cold outside.
3. Your kids will thank you (because they will look cool and yet feel warm & cosy) and your mother can’t blame you for letting her darling grandchildren catch a cold.
4. When it snows, your post will be delayed…and so will your parcel of winter waterproofs
5. As the chill bites, choice will be less. Sales increase dramatically once the snow starts to fall and the choice becomes more limited. Our deliveries can also be delayed due to weather conditions 
6. Other parents will look upon you in awe and envy of your amazing organisational skills!
7. After purchasing for all your winter clothing needs, you can get on with the Christmas shopping!

I’ve always fancied it and as I am more adventurous in my 40′s than I ever was in my 20′s, my 13 yr old and I took to the trees together. It was damp and drizzly and I was wishing it to be called off as had been my 9 yr old’s football earlier in the day. No such luck! We were off…

I had to keep encouraging 13 yr old Lewys that he could do it and not to look down. He was in front of me and if he could do it, well….I could too. I was concentrating so hard I forgot about the rain and my worries about slipping. I knew we were harnessed in well and there was no chance of us actually falling more than an inch. The most difficult part was about half way along, and once I was over that I was flying (well, almost). I thought the Zip Wire was going to be the easy bit, but I just couldn’t jump. It just seemed so far, across the lake…OMG. I’m not sure what happened in the end. Did I jump? or Was I pushed? Whatever happened I was screaming my way accross the lake and my applauding family. I can’t wait to do it again!

A recent comment about the Target Dry Mac-in-a-sac Jacket, which is an excellent womens waterproof jacket despite being a unisex fit.

 ”I was sceptical that for only £20.00 the Mac in a Bag would deliver all it promised. At 63, I still power walk and tested it out on a day when there was fairly heavy rain. An hour’s walk found me absolutely dry. The only problem I had was with the wrists. I have very tiny wrists and it was a problem with the fastenings. How will it wear? Bearing this in mind, I would recommend it.”
Date: 25 August 2011     Rated by Buyer: Laraine Parker