Outdoor Toys: A Great Way to Encourage Outdoor Play

As childhood obesity becomes a growing issue today, parents are becoming more aware of the effect of too much time spent playing video games, computer games or watching movies on their children. That’s why outdoor toys are a perfect way to get kids off the couch or away from the computer and video games and get outside. Not only do they encourage an active lifestyle, but they help kids get the exercise they need to stay healthy and strong. Exercise is important to kids for a number of reasons, including:

 they are less likely to be overweight and develop the health problems that come with excess weight
 they have a better outlook on life in general
 they are able to sleep better
 they handle he demands of every day life better
 they are happier and healthier in general

While exercise is a four-letter word for some adults, for kids exercise comes in the form of play! If your kids love to be outside but you’re afraid they’ll get bored, or if you want to encourage more outside play, outdoor toys are an excellent way for parents to encourage an active lifestyle in their kids.

There are a number of fun outdoor toys and games available today that kids will enjoy, each suitable to a variety of seasons. Some of these include:

 Volleyball/badminton net. A badminton set is great for the whole family, not just the kids! Volleyball and badminton sets can be purchased for around $20 and set it up in the backyard. This is a great activity for older kids as they get exercise and it improves hand-eye coordination. You can also get a volleyball and play with it, or a blow up beach ball or large playground ball and have fun hitting it back and forth across the net.

 Sprinklers. On a hot day, hook a sprinkler up to the hose and let your kids go wild. Running through the sprinklers is a fun way for kids to get exercise and cool off during the summer. Many stores sell sprinklers in fun shapes for kids, like bugs or fire hydrants.

 Playground balls. Playground balls, soccer balls and baseballs all have a wide range of uses, from kickball to playing soccer with the family, playing catch or playing baseball one-on-one or form a team. Investing in outside balls is a great way to get kids to play outside and get exercise.

 Bikes. A bike is a childhood staple for many families. Whether you have a toddler who can push himself around on a tricycle or an older child, a bike is great exercise. Family bike rides are a great way to enjoy quality time together and everyone gets needed exercise.

Outdoor toys are a great way to encourage kids to get off the couch or away from the computer and get outside and get some exercise. You don’t need to spend money to get your kids to play outside. Even if you don’t have a lot of toys for playing outside, that’s OK as kids love playing games like tag, an excellent form of exercise, or their own made up games.