The Best in Outdoor Summer Play Toys
Fun Backyard Toys To Keep Kids of All Ages Occupied This Summer
Jun 2, 2009
Kids won’t go outside if there is nothing to do, even in the summer. Here are some suggestions to make your yard a little more exciting for them.
Zip Line
A zip line is a fun activity to have in your backyard for kids ages 4 to 14, just be sure to supervise it with the younger ones. A zip line is a steel cable that runs from tree to tree across your yard. Your kids hold onto a trolley that whips down the line. How fun you make it depends on how much of an angle you put the cable on. Also, make sure that you keep the landing at least four feet away from the anchor tree to avoid accidents.
Bocce, Tetherball and other Lawn Games
There are many great backyard games including croquet, bocce ball, tetherball, badminton and horseshoes. When buying these games keep in mind cheaper sets will not last you more than one summer. For croquet you need a set with heavy balls, mallets with long, hard wood handles, and strong wickets. Bocce balls also have to be heavy in size to really play effectively.
Tetherballs, horseshoes and badminton require either poles or nets to be installed in the ground so keep in mind that they are not games you can just pack away. The best part is all of these games allow two or more people to play making them great activities for barbecues and parties.
Water Slide
If you don’t have a pool one of the best ways to cool off is an inflatable water slide. These slides are ideal for birthday parties or other events where you will have a lot of kids to entertain. The large water slides are being made from sturdy plastic to be more durable and withstand possible punctures, but it is still fairly easy for the seams to give out if you overload it with kids. Even though the water is cold, the kids usually love to slide and land in it. It is an investment that will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, which may be worth it if it's a long hot summer.
Slip and Slide
A much less expensive but fun option to the water slide is a slip and slide, especially for younger kids. They are usually under $30 and will probably only last the summer before they are punctured. Again, the water is cold coming out of the hose but on a hot day that won’t matter much. They come in a variety of options with two or three lanes so kids can race side by side, spraying sides, soaking jets, and landing zone with inflatable splash pools.
Trampolines
In the last few years, trampolines have become an extremely popular backyard activity, but they can also be a dangerous one if kids don’t know how to properly use them. So it is important to set out rules such as only one child on at a time, no somersaults, and no jumping without adult supervision. Trampolines come in various sizes with jumping areas that range from 7 to 14 feet.
In addition to the trampoline you will also have to purchase a safety enclosure net and a frame cover to protect it from the weather. Again, this is something where, for safety reasons and if you want it to last, you may be better to go with the more expensive ones, which can cost you upwards of $500.
There are so many fun and inexpensive games and activities to keep everyone in the family entertained outdoors. Any of these are sure to make your yard a popular spot this summer.
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