The Holidays are approaching once again, which means it’s time to start thinking about all those Holiday gifts like a children’s play mats for your niece. This is a busy time of year for business’ in general, but for internet companies like ours, it’s even more chaotic. I know online shopping is quick and convenient, but there are still things that can go wrong. As somebody that’s been in sales for a few years and been through my share of Holiday seasons here’s some tips to ensure you get your kids play rugs as quick and correct as possible. I can’t say for sure all companies are the same, but I’m sure it’s pretty similar:

#1- Place your order for your daughters tumbling mats as far in advance as you can. With high volumes of people ordering, stock can go quickly and many products have to be produced; especially custom items. There’s also the added stress on Delivery Services during this time of the year… especially as Holidays get closer. The mass amount of packages being shipped definitely causes delays.

#2 Call and ask questions. One of the biggest problems with online ordering is sometimes a picture doesn’t due the item justice.. or it looks better than it is. Give your sales people a call and pick their brain. You’re paying your hard earned money on something, it should be exactly what you want. I know all of our sales representative would never sell something to you that doesn’t work for you and we’re very educated in our products so we can probably give you a good suggestion.

#3- Make sure to check your Order Confirmation/ Receipt. You may think the person helping you listens correctly but sometimes there is miscommunication and your address could easily be a letter or number off which can delay your package. Also take a look at Quantity and color to make sure it’s correct.

#4- Bug Customer Service – Maybe not everyday, but depending on how long your lead time is, check in once or twice. And I know I said to “bug” them.. but in reality it’s their job. Don’t feel bad, but be patient. Keep in mind there’s probably 2 people for every 200 callers.

That’s literally 4 little things you can do to make sure your gifts get to where they’re supposed to be, in time to brighten somebody’s day.

It’s the middle of the summer and that means lots of outdoor activities. One of the most common and my personal favorite as a kid, aside from my favorite kids play rugs I loved, is the park. The monkey bars, multi-level climbing fixtures and bridges all make for a imagination filled day.

In modern times, however, I know more than a few parents who are reluctant to take their kids to play in a playground because it could be unsafe. A SoftPlay tumbling mat we think is great, but we are afraid of the jungle gym play areas we grew up with as kids.

With active supervision and some basic safety tips, there’s no reason why our kids can’t have the same fun we did. Falls are the most common type of playground injury, accounting for more than half of all playground-related injuries which is why eco-friendly interlocking rubber floor tiles are so important!. Lack of or improper supervision is associated the other percent of playground-related injuries. Actively supervise children on playgrounds. It won’t be hard – they’ll probably be calling for you to “watch”, because lets face it… kids are hams.

Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as Bounce Back rubber tiles, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt.

Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes.
Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.

A baby’s environment can greatly enhance his development, even at infancy, according to pediatrician Dr. William Sears. Each of the five senses can promote learning, including sight. In fact, visual stimulation may pose the most significant influence on a baby’s developing nervous system. So it is important that parents choose colors and patterns that encourage growth and create the right blend of comfort and stimulation.

Black-and-White Stripes

• Unlike an adult, a baby’s retinas are not fully developed at birth. Pastel or muted colors are therefore likely to blur until the retina is matured. It is still important, however, for parents to provide babies with visual stimulation that supports brain cell health, vision and learning. Contrasting colors deliver the strongest visual signals to a baby’s brain, helping the brain and eyes to develop more quickly. Those colors that appear most boldly to a baby are black and white, and striped patterns provide the greatest contrast. Blankets, bed sheets and toys that feature black-and-white stripes are ideal for a baby’s bedroom. Books, toys and children’s play mats in contrasting colors of light and dark can also be used for added stimulation.

Bold Colors

• In addition to accessories in black and white, parents should also use bold colors to stimulate a baby’s brain development. Orange is reportedly a color that promotes feelings of optimism, while yellow is believed to stimulate thinking. Similarly, red can evoke enthusiasm, and toys (kids play mat) in these bright hues will help draw a baby’s attention. While bold colors are not recommended for bedroom walls, they can be incorporated into a decorating scheme with accents. Playrooms can also feature bright colors, and one option for parents is to paint one wall in a bold shade of red while keeping the other three more neutral.

Pastels and Neutrals

• Over-stimulation can occur with babies who are excessively exposed to stripes and bright colors. Because rest is necessary for optimal development, bedrooms should provide the right mixture of stimulation and comfort. Pastel wall colors with bright accents can help parents achieve this delicate combination. Blue and green pastels, for example, are often associated with feelings of calm and tranquility. Neutral colors like cream and beige can be used for walls, kids play rugs and carpeting. These colors can then be emboldened with red, yellow and orange border or furniture pieces to provide stimulation when baby is awake.

Preferred Colors

• Dave Munger, a writer for “Cognition Daily,” reports that babies have preferences for certain colors. Although infants cannot distinguish between colors, babies at 2 months of age can normally differentiate between most colors. As such, Munger indicates that blues and purples are usually babies’ favorites, with greens, yellows and reds being less preferred. This may be important when parents select nursery decorating schemes, as preferred colors will draw a baby’s eye, while others may cause a baby to become fussy or cranky.

Our SoftFloor tiles are a great way to protect and stimulate you child in a fun colorful way. We have over 19 different colors and combinations so you can mix and match colors.

Read more: Colors That Stimulate Babies | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8231934_colors-stimulate-babies.html#ixzz2SFw42eDm

There were few things that excited me as much, when I was a child, as cars and trains. Perhaps it was the details of train sets and matchbox cars, or the novelty of large machinery that I had no idea how it worked.  Moreover, how it could be scaled down for me to interact with rearrange and play with how I saw fit.  Kids area rugs would have made all the difference and I would have been learning too!

My main peeve was always that there was no universal play set carpeted floor mats of sorts, that would really engulf and put me in a zone. I was lucky enough to have a fairly large train set, however, I do remember the train set not being conducive to the epic car chases in my head (since it was all very scaled and as my dad described not a toy).

Heroic cops vs robbers or just a plain busy day of construction was pretty much always on tile or plain carpet. I know that if I had kids play mats to play on it would have been so much cooler.  That’s why one of the products I know I would’ve loved as a kid (especially as a Christmas gift) is our transportation and construction themed play carpet. The details are awesome! It is perfect when playing with toy cars, planes, trains, and even boats. Let your kids imagination run wild with a simple yet effective alternative to a full blown expensive play set.

Play carpet or carpeted floor mats are excellent for day care centers, schools or home use. The quality of the kids play rugs as well as the large selection of colors, sizes and themes to choose from make it easy to find the perfect interactive educational rugs that will no doubt make learning fun! So, look at any of our many kids play carpets and I’m sure you and your child will find a carpet that will enhance their enjoyment!