Ask any child development expert and they will tell you that all children need about an hour of outdoor play everyday to help stimulate their mind and release built up energy. Believe it or not, there are tons of outdoor toys for all ages, sure to keep kids busy outside no matter what the temperature.
SAND AND WATER TABLE
Little Tikes makes a wonderful table that is half sand and half water. This table will keep young kids busy for hours outside as they splash in the water and play in the sand. Young children will explore the texture of the sand as older children enjoy dumping water around and building small sand castles. They won't get too dirty from the sand since you can pull a small chair up to the table and let them play freely. This table is perfect for ages eighteen months and up.
OUTDOOR SWING SET
Swing sets have come a long way since I was a child. You can now purchase full size sets that not only include swings, but rock walls, clubhouse, slides, see-saw, monkey bars and so much more. Your children will love the mini park they have in the backyard as they pull up the mini rock wall and build their muscles. These range in price from $300 up to nearly $2000 depending on the options on the swing set.
SPRINKLERS and WATER SLIDES
Beat that summer heat and let your little ones cool off by running through sprinklers and water slides. When I was a child, my parents would turn on the regular lawn sprinkler and let us run around, however toy manufacturers have taken those sprinklers a step further for your children. Little Tikes makes a huge inflatable ball that doubles as a sprinkler. Just hook it up to your hose and the water will fly out of four sprayers on the ball. This is the ultimate in water fun. Don't forget that children love slides and if you add water to the mix, you are sure to make them happy on that hot summer day. You can purchase water slides that resemble mini water parks. These are more fun than a swimming fun for a fraction of the cost.
INFLATABLE BOUNCERS
Inflatable bouncers are not just at Chuck E Cheese anymore; you can now find them in the backyards of many homes. They are inexpensive and loads of fun for your child. Just fill it with air and watch your children bounce around all while they are getting much needed exercise. These are much safer than a trampoline as with trampolines you risk injury from falls and bad landings. Also with trampolines, a lot of home owner insurance companies will NOT cover a homeowner to have one as they are much too dangerous. So stick with the safe choice and buy a bouncer. You can also buy the ones with balls and make a ball pit.
OUTDOOR PLAYHOUSES
Playhouses have come a long way in recent years. They are more than just four walls and a door. You can buy elaborate houses now for your child to have the ultimate pretend house outside. There are even playhouses with patios, phones, doorbells, and some even have pretend appliances inside. These playhouses range in price from $100 up to nearly $1000 of course depending on the simplicity of the house.
MERRY GO ROUND
We all remember the classic merry go round, well now you can purchase a WhirlyBounce Rider by Little Tikes with a similar concept but with a twist. The rider would sit on a seat with a bouncy ball underneath the seat and the child rides in a circle sometimes bouncing around. This helps them develop muscle strength and coordination all while having fun.
DON'T FORGET THE BABIES
Babies can go outside too! For the infant there are playmates and small play huts (tents) that you can set up outside so they can enjoy some fresh air. For the small toddler there are a ton of ride ons and the classic Cozy Coupe by Little Tikes is always a guaranteed hit. You can also purchase infant swings to attach to the larger swing sets so that your infant can swing with their older brother or sister.
SAFETY FIRST
Don't forget to never leave your children unattended outside and of course lots of adult interaction will add to the fun. Make sure to apply sunscreen, even on those cloudy days so your little one does not get a little sun burnt. And of course have fun!
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