While playing indoors was not a common practice a few decades ago, now it’s a trend on the rise. The advancement of technology and easy access to smartphones, tablets and more (even to little children) has immensely impacted that. How important is getting the kids to play outside, and how can you do that year-round?
Why Is It Important to Play Outside?
Unstructured outdoor play is crucial for children’s well-being. Here’s why it’s essential and why you should encourage your kids to spend more time outside.
Sun Exposure
Many experts (particularly dermatologists and skincare influencers) often criticise sun exposure, but it’s necessary for vitamin D production and is crucial for bone health and immune function. Sunlight regulates melatonin levels, contributing to healthy sleep patterns.
Physical Activity
Sedentary lifestyles lead to health risks, while outdoor activities like running, jumping, and climbing burn calories, preventing obesity and promoting bone/muscle strength. Outdoor toys can inspire movement and play.
Sensory Skills
These days, a growing number of kids deal with sensory problems. Because screens only provide the two senses of hearing and seeing, screen use has significantly contributed to this. Nature offers us everything our sensory system requires like puddles to jump in, various animals (seeing), and stunning, vivid hues (hearing and touch).
In nature, there are trees to climb (proprioception and dangerous play), varied fruits (taste), and lovely flowers (smell and touch). Each of these is crucial for fine and gross motor abilities. They also contribute to multitasking, planning, and organisational skills, which are essential for success on another level.
Socialisation
Kids can play together and socialise with other kids when they’re outside. Socialisation immensely benefits from these kinds of social activities.
Appreciation of Nature
Outdoor experiences cultivate a child’s appreciation for nature, fostering a love for simple pleasures and natural beauty.
How Do I Keep My Kids Busy Outside?
Some kids need extra motivation to play outside and disconnect from screens. One way to get youngsters outside to play is to keep an arsenal of age-appropriate, colourful and unique outdoor toys. Many outdoor toys come and go, much like many regular toys. You want to buy an outdoor toy that’ll stand the test of time and make your kids play outdoors for hours, days, and even years.
Even if you don’t have a pool or a large yard, your kids will still be active and exercising their imaginations with the best outdoor toys, which range from toddler toys to high-action activities for older kids. Toys can give parents and kids new ways to practice skills that aren’t possible to practice indoors. Here’s a list of some of the best outdoor toys for kids.
Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
Slip-and-Slide
A large plastic sheet with sprinklers lined within makes for the ideal outdoor summer toy: the slip-and-slide. When connected, the hose sprays water out, soaking the slide, which is why kids find it so enjoyable to slide along. When choosing an outdoor water slide for your children, ensure it’s appropriate for their age. Think about the material; if it’s only for one season, that shouldn’t be an issue. If you choose to splurge (pun intended!) on a more costly one, ensure it’ll endure for several summers.
Splash Toys
Skip, Hop and Splash
Playing hopscotch with an integrated sprinkler system is a hit with kids. The catch of the play is this: to avoid getting wet, you must hop and skip in the right place! To take kids to their dream world, get a model with a hose connector that fits any outlet and a mermaid, Bluey, or unicorn design.
Sprinkler
Because they’re big, simple to operate, and a great addition to any backyard, sprinklers are your best bet for keeping kids cool throughout the summer. Usually constructed from sturdy PVC vinyl, these water toys for the backyard provide a continuous stream of water that will entertain kids for hours without causing any damage to your lawn.
Splash Twister
Similar to the original Twister, players in the Twister Splash Game position their hands and feet following the spinner’s directions. But if there are any uncovered places, they spray you with water, making the ground slicker and introducing a new challenge to this power-and-agility game. And much as in the original Twister, the action picks up quickly – using a hose, you may effortlessly fill the mat.
Trampoline
It’s undeniable that most children enjoy jumping on trampolines. It’s an autonomous task or unrestricted gaming experience that people can complete whenever and however they choose. It feels less like work or learning than other exercises, so kids are more willing to do it alone.
If your child participates with other children, it’s an excellent method for them to socialise. A trampoline is one of the best backyard outdoor toys since it fosters friendships and keeps youngsters occupied while you take care of other things. It also promotes shared delight.
T-Ball Set
For toddlers to preschoolers, few sports compare to classic T-ball. These kids are eager to learn new things, and hitting a ball off the tee with a big bat is an exciting challenge. The game helps them develop their gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and they can play it alone or with others. The fact that youngsters can play with it so well together is entertaining. Both younger and older children can succeed since it allows them to use different ball sizes.
Sandbox
It may seem apparent, but kids thrive in sandboxes because they can create fun and adventures using the natural resources around them. If you buy this outdoor toy, opt for a model with an easy-to-secure cover, built-in moulded seats, and an attractive form. In particular, learning how to pour, build, measure, and experience a variety of textures is what makes the sand play so wonderful. We must promote more sensory-motor play like this because our children adore keyboards and computers.
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