Most people who buy a Step2 playhouse or outdoor toy imagine their toddlers and preschoolers from around the neighborhood enjoying play time in their new clubhouse. Some imagine their playhouse occupied by a pet dog or cat. At least one pictured a mountain lion living in her Clubhouse Climber!
Nancy from Nevada sent us this picture of her pet mountain lion enjoying a Step2 Clubhouse Climber. This big cat is 7 feet long and weighs about 175 pounds, but she loves to nap and play in her playhouse!

AblePlay.org, an independent toy rating program developed by the National Lekotek Center, has recently rated five Step2 toys as appropriate for children with Special Needs. These toys are judged in four categories of strengths, including Physical, Sensory, Communicative, and Cognitive, making it easy for parents to identify toys that will help their child develop in the area of greatest need. What is truly unique about these Step2 toys is their strength across multiple categories. According to AblePlay.org, it is quite common for a toy to be strong only in one category on which it focuses. Four out of the five toys recently reviewed by AblePlay from Step2 have acheived ratings of 4 (Very Good) or higher in three out of the four rating categories! Star rankings as explained by AblePlay are as follows:

• 5-star: Exceptional
• 4-Star: Very Good
• 3-Star: Good
• 2-Star: Adequate
• 1-Star: Not suitable

Click here to view the Special Needs Ratings for:

• Deluxe Canyon Road Train & Track Table
• WaterWheel Play Table
• Doorway Playhouse
• Soft & Sturdy Giant Blocks
• Soft & Sturdy Timber Blocks