There are many different types of play, including free play, creative play, constructive play, quiet play, social play and active play. The latter is the most physically intensive and helps children to hone their motor skills.

Of course, all types of play are equally important and should be explored on a regular basis. However, active play can sometimes be a seasonal activity.

Many of us don’t have room inside the house to foster a lot of active play. “Don’t play ball in the house!” isn’t a parenting cliche for nothing. Naturally, the weather has to be cooperative in order for you to send the children outside. This is one of the reasons why the coming months will present the greatest opportunities for active play.

Another reason why you should start thinking about active play is that many children are now entering their summer break. While their days were once occupied with school, now they have the chance to run off their energy. This can be their greatest weapon against childhood obesity, in fact.

Try not to overschedule the kids this summer, as playing jump rope in the backyard can be just as rewarding as organized programs. In fact, many experts warn parents about the repercussions of keeping your child too busy. Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and author of The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap, states:

Overscheduling our children is not only a widespread phenomenon, it’s how we parent today. Parents feel remiss that they’re not being good parents if their kids aren’t in all kinds of activities. Children are under pressure to achieve, to be competitive. I know sixth-graders who are already working on their resume’s so they’ll have an edge when they apply for college.

So, when your builders aren’t having fun on Konstruction Zone, make sure they go outside and get dirty!

If you are like everybody else, you have fallen in love with Hoss! This guy cracks me up every time I watch him. I can’t wait to buy this front end loader and trick it out. Check out my latest crew at Bigzee’s Garage.

I have to say that one of my favorite scenes is from “Sorting Things Out.” Hoss is sitting there watching his best “little” buddy Lil’Dig put the finishing touches on a pile of rocks they have been so busily sorting out. Then he utters, “don’t even breathe Little Dig…” I catch myself saying this one out loud whenever I see a tense moment starting to occur.

Let me know about some of your favorites, and what you liked about ‘em. We’ll get some of those special shots up for everyone to talk about.

- Bigzee

Don’t forget, builders — you don’t have to make creations out of construction toys. You can make them out of anything. One creative builder, SassyTexas, has just shared a colorful drawing called “Forklift Friend.” This drawing offers a great solution for a recent challenge episode, “Big Ole Rock.” (Watch the challenge here!)

Now, take a look at this awesome piece of art:

SassyTexas writes, “KZ could ask his new friend to lift the rock and carry it to the crusher. This is what I think he or she should look like. “

Wow, that’s a great drawing! See? Construction toys like LEGOs and Lincoln Logs are great, but drawings can be just as impressive. Now, use your imagination and see what you can come up with!

Making it to the finish line is only half the fun when you play Hill Climb! As BigZee told you before, doing flips with your vehicle can help you earn a lot of bonus KoinZ. Not only do you want to go for the flips, you will want to stay in the air as long as possible. In fact, airtime will also earn those bonus KoinZ. The higher you jump and the longer you stay in the air, the better!

Here is how you can jump high into the air:

1. Speed up as fast as you can when you see a ledge with a big drop.

2. Hold down the SPACEBAR until right before you drive off the ledge.

3. Boing! If you time this perfectly, you should fly high into the air and off that ledge!

In fact, I tried this today and did two flips in a row! Not only did I earn KoinZ for both flips, I earned KoinZ for an airtime of 1.5 seconds! Here’s a screen grab of the beginning of my two flips:

By the way, this was Level 4 — the tricky Robbery Shore. Try this jump on the first big ledge and let us know if you were able to get some bonus points!

KZ builder Sarge has just shared an awesome new creation with the community. Check it out:

Sarge writes, “My first bridge I built by myself. The workers are really cool! I drove my truck under it.”

What a great bridge, Sarge! I gave it five rocks. Keep those creations coming, everyone!

Wanna know a really cool way to rack up the KoinZ in Hill Climb? Then read on a little further my builder friends! Have you noticed that you are awarded extra KoinZ when you vehicle performs stunts? That’s right, every time you successfully flip your vehicle you are awarded extra KoinZ.

Here’s a snapshot of my KZ as he rolls off of his first flip in Prehistoric Playground - KACHING! Talk about a crazy way to cash in on the action!

Have Fun!

Bigzee

P.S. If you have any wild looking screenshots you would like to share, send ‘em on in! (comments-at-konstructionzone.com)

The quarry is behind schedule getting the rocks over to the crusher and the new crew is in a real hurry. KT, the supervisor, is counting on them to get caught up. They really need your help sorting things out.

It’s all about the getting down and dirty in this all out brawl of truck against sled! Come pull your weight as you try to pull the sled across the finish line!

Rearing children is complicated business, but gifted children pose even more challenges. Those who are advanced in their development are often more emotional than the average child and also grow easily bored with toys and games which they have outgrown.

Some parents make the mistake of treating their smart kids like tiny adults. Children are not adults, of course, and even the gifted ones need to play every day. Playtime is how children learn about themselves and the world around them. For more on this topic, I highly recommend the book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathy-Hirsh Pasek.

If you need some toy ideas for your little brainiac, try the following:

Imaginative Play

• Playhouses - Both Step 2 and Playskool design affordable playhouses that will capture your bright child’s active imagination. From just a simple play kitchen to a full-fledged outdoor structure, this type of toy offers open-ended playtime for children whose mind has no limits.
• Puppets - Puppetry offers many benefits, as the art form is both fun and helps to develop social skills. Advanced children can really harness the full potential of puppetry because they will understand the process of acting through the puppets. Melissa & Doug produce high-quality puppets and puppet theaters at an affordable price
• Art Supplies - A gifted child is a creative child and you should definitely be encouraging expression through art. From crayons to more advanced media, artwork should keep your smart one busy for a long time.

Construction Toys

• LEGOs - This classic toy from Denmark is as popular as ever, offering open-ended fun for children of all ages. From early building with Duplo blocks to the more advanced LEGO robotics, playing with these toys will foster a bright child’s imagination and eye-hand coordination.
• Rokenbok - If you have a particularly gifted builder who is growing tired of his or her LEGOs, you might want to give Rokenbok a try. This educational system of construction toys combines remote control technology with the open-ended fun of a classic building toy. Every set is compatible with the next, allowing you to expand your Rokenbok community over time.
• Capsela - Capsela toys are motorized building kits that will teach your children all about physics and how machines really operate inside. The body of these kits are mainly comprised of clear capsules which reveal engines and servos, demonstrating how and why the toys move a certain way.
• K’NEX - Known as “the world’s most creative construction toy,” K’NEX combines the creativity of LEGOs with the challenging aspects of Rokenbok or Erector sets. From working vehicles to giant roller coasters, the possibilities are endless with K’NEX. The company even offers lesson plans that you can integrate with your building, which should be perfect for your advanced child.

Brainteasers

• Rubik’s Cube - Yes, you can still find this 1980’s sensation in stores. It is also just as challenging as you remember and could be a great way to keep your gifted child occupied on long car trips. There is a whole community of Rubik’s cube enthusiasts who are dedicated to learning more about this mind-bending puzzle.
• Jigsaw Puzzles - There are jigsaw puzzles suited for children of all ages and skill levels, so all you need to do is find the right niche for your brainy child. Whether it is fun, oversized puzzles of licensed characters or intricate landscapes, this toy should appeal to advanced children everywhere.
• Wooden Labyrinth - Since 1947, the movable wooden labyrinth has entertained children of all ages. A marble is placed in the labyrinth and it is up to you to control where the marble rolls by moving the board with knobs. Find the toy at any major toy retailer and your child will be both entertained and challenged.

School is almost over for the year, which means you may have some very bored kids on your hands soon. Yes, summer break is exciting at first, but your freewheeling children can become couch potatoes in no time if you aren’t careful.

While your kids certainly deserve a break from strict schedules and waking up at the crack of dawn, you also don’t want their bodies and their minds to grow too idle for the next three months. Below are 25 ideas for keeping your kids active on summer break.

• Enroll them in summer camp.
• Regularly take them to the park.
• Consider some fun summer courses, such as an art or music class.
• Take an extended family vacation if you can.
• Schedule regular family camping trips.
• Take the family fishing on the weekends.
• Sign them up for a summer sports league.
• Send them to their grandparents’ house for a week.
• Buy them some outdoor toys to encourage outside playtime.
• Take them to the neighborhood pool.
• Suggest a summer job for your older teenagers.
• Assign summer chores, such as mowing the lawn.
• Take them to the library once a week to load up on books.
• Get season tickets to a local playhouse or amusement park.
• Throw regular slumber parties for your tweens.
• Sign them up for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
• Take a family bike ride every day.
• Teach them how to bake.
• Sign them up for a martial arts class.
• Encourage free play with open-ended toys.
• Limit their TV or video game time.
• Start a family game night once a week.
• Take an after-dinner walk with the family every day.
• Plan regular day trips, such as to the zoo or a museum.
• Lead by example and stay active yourself.