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Stock up on pool toys for summer
I really like the review of pool toys at the end of this story on pool prep work we need to do as summer approaches. I can never understand how anyone gets through a Florida summer without a pool. And when our kids came along, I added pool toys to my growing list of must-haves.
Now is a good time to take inventory of your beach and pool toys, chuck the ones that are worn or broken and check out some ways to play in the water besides a rousing game of Marco Polo. And this might be a perfect weekend to go before you have the gang over for a Fourth of July party.
I agree with my colleague Patti Ewald in that review on the ones worth checking out:
Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy ($17.99 to $19.99 from Swimways)
The lowdown: A safe haven for baby — but only while being closely monitored by an adult. The float features a mesh play area for babies to splash or play with toys and the canopy protects tender skin from the sun.
Toypedo ($9.99 from Swimways)
The lowdown: This footlong torpedo glides up to 40 feet underwater with a simple throw. Trust us, it's a lot more fun than you might think. Look for variations that light up or come with targets
Dive Balls ($12.99 for three at Toys 'R Us)
The lowdown: Forget scrounging on the bottom for the penny your mom tossed in. These rubber-tipped balls have colorful, fluttering tails visible across the pool.
The Splash Bomb Pets ($1.49) and Deep Sea Splash Pets are ($9.99-$12.9)
The lowdown: Splash Bombs are nothing new, but Splash Bombs with sweet little faces are. We also like the Deep Sea Splash Pets you can pull apart and reattach to make new creatures.
I'm not so sure about her recommendation for the Log Flume Joust Set or the Motorized Inflatable Bumper Boat. Cheap noodles make fine jousting weapons and a slow boat across the pool will get old and ignored in short order (and at a $100 price).
One of our new pool toy additions this year is this inflatable alligator found at just about any beach town store that sells touristy stuff. It's very sturdy and seems to inspire lots of creative games like playing chicken or see-saw until someone falls off. I spent $19.99 on it at the concession stand at Clearwater Beach, but I've also seen it at Beall's for $14.99.
Our other favorite is this Big Shot Water Gun "Stream Machine." Unlike those cheap plastic water guns that seem to break in a week or shoot a measly squirt of water, this one fills up easily and shoots far. Place the barrel in the water, pull back to fill, and then you have a water cannon. Just remember to buy at least 2 to 4 of them because it's only fun if both sides of the water war are well-armed. I've seen them at both retail stores and sporting goods departments for $9.99-$19.99.
~ Sharon Kennedy Wynne
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THE AUTHORS
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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