The Best Outdoor Toys

If you have children in your life, you probably want them to play outside as much as possible.  But what are they to do?  As adults, it is our responsibility to provide ideas and tools (outdoor toys and equipment) to help them get started.  And it is extra fun when parents and grandparents jump into the games with them!

On a hot summer day, water toys are cool and refreshing and great fun for children and adults.   Have you been soaked in a water gun fight lately?

Water slides are available with and without a pool.   If you don't own a pool, the water slides are an entertaining substitute.  When the temperatures are scorching, children love sliding around in the water.

Remember -- even the youngest toddlers will enjoy a bucket of water and a big paintbrush.  Allow your little one to "paint" the deck, the porch, the lawn furniture. 

If you have young atheletes, consider games that improve their skills.   Our grandson has a great time with batting practice equipment shown below.

Spend quality time with your children outside and have some fun!   Take the time to introduce them to some of the games from your own childhood.  Teach them how to hopscotch, jump rope, play Red Rover or Simon Says.  

If your children do not naturally take off screaming and filling and shooting their new water guns, set up a big piece of cardboard and draw on a target for the children to practice. 

If you have little children, remind the big kids to include them, too.

Teach the children to fill their water guns from the spigot.  It is not fun to have a passle of wet children trooping in and out of the house.