After all the time we spend indoors playing video games and watching television, nothing compares to having a child play outside. This has become a concern for many parents, as electronic games have practically absorbed our children. Having children play outside is good for their physical and mental health. One effective way that parents can encourage their children to play outside is by providing toys and equipment that are made for the outdoors. Here are some examples.

SMALL AND SMALL CHILDREN

When buying outdoor toys, parents should consider which toys are suitable for young children. If you have a backyard, you might consider a handmade wooden activity gym that comes with a slide, a crawling space made of tubes, and even net-encircled bridges. These activity gyms will provide children with hours of fun. It can also help develop their imaginations and encourage them to be more adventurous.

Bicycles have always been a popular outdoor toy that children can enjoy, and since we are talking about younger kids and toddlers, you can buy a tricycle or bike with training wheels.

Older children

A great outdoor toy for any child is a trampoline. Trampolines come in many different shapes and sizes, which is very useful for larger families or for families who don’t have a lot of space in their backyard. Trampolines will normally last for many years if properly cared for. This also makes it a good value in an outdoor toy.

Another outdoor toy for older children is a remote control airplane. I know it doesn’t seem like a child gets a lot of exercise while watching the plane fly. However, if you consider that the child may have to go to a park or area where there is an open space, they will exercise just by walking to and from that place. At the very least, you’ve kept your child away from television or computer games for a couple of hours.

Finally, I have never seen a parent go wrong with a soccer ball. A soccer ball can bring a group of children together to play for hours. Soccer balls come in different sizes and are made from a variety of materials, which can be helpful for younger children who prefer a soft soccer ball over a hard one.

If your child does not like very competitive sports, there is always a frisbee or he can try a game of badminton. Either way, there are plenty of options when it comes to outdoor games for kids.